WSB NextForce Career Coaching Model – Job Readiness Workshops

Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB), a regional workforce development board serving six counties in far West Texas (Brewster, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, and Presidio), has issued a Request for Quote (RFQ) for qualified vendors to deliver job-readiness workshops as part of the NextForce Career Coaching Model. The procurement seeks comprehensive workshop services targeting three youth populations: Opportunity Youth (ages 14-24, new to workforce), College Youth/Recent Graduates (ages 18-24, near graduation or recently graduated), and Youth and Young Adults with Disabilities (ages 14-24). The service delivery consists of two phases—Phase 1 provides pre-internship preparation addressing workplace expectations, communication, professionalism, and goal setting, while Phase 2 delivers ongoing career coaching during internships ranging from 220 to 480 hours. Required workshop topics include effective communication, career exploration and goal setting, workplace etiquette, job search strategies, resume writing, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and peer learning sessions. Qualified vendors must demonstrate experience working with youth ages 14-24, experience serving opportunity youth and individuals with barriers, proficiency in trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices, and the ability to facilitate interactive group-based workshops, with preference given to vendors with demonstrated experience supporting justice-involved youth and recent postsecondary graduates. Vendor proposals must include an organizational overview, relevant experience documentation, proposed workshop model and curriculum outline, delivery structure, facilitation approach, pricing structure, and at least two professional references. The RFQ was released on April 2, 2026, with proposals due by 3:00 PM (MST) on April 23, 2026, an anticipated award date of May 7, 2026, and a program start date of May 2026.

The procurement does not indicate set-aside designations or restrictions limiting organizational type eligibility; however, vendors must submit complete administrative and compliance documentation, including a completed vendor packet, EIN documentation, and a valid Certificate of Insurance, with failure to submit these materials by the deadline rendering proposals non-responsive and ineligible for award. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The program is funded through multiple federal sources including the Department of Labor/ETA WIOA Formula Grants and Wagner-Peyser, the Department of Health and Human Services TANF and Child Care Development Fund, and the Food and Nutrition Service SNAP Employment & Training. While a specific contract award value or budget range is not disclosed in the RFQ documentation, the multi-source federal funding structure indicates substantial resources allocated to this workforce development initiative.