On the Job Training Supportive Services

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC) have issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking qualified organizations to provide On the Job Training Supportive Services for building career opportunities in the heavy highway industry. The program aims to recruit, train, and place 60 new participants and 12 former graduates who are currently unemployed or underemployed in heavy highway construction jobs. Key services include work maturity skills training, High School Equivalency (HSE) preparation, construction skills training, industry certifications (such as OSHA-10, CPR/First Aid, and CDL), and comprehensive job placement assistance. Proposals are due by September 23, 2022, at 2:00 PM CDT, with vendor questions accepted until September 6, 2022. Submissions can be made electronically through MissouriBUYS or by mail through USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Evaluation criteria include experience and reliability (25 points), method of performance (20 points), references (12 points), in-kind contributions/cash match funding (15 points), partnerships/collaboration (18 points), and past success with placement and retention (10 points).

The RFP encourages participation from minority business enterprises (MBE) and women business enterprises (WBE), with target participation goals of 10% MBE and 5% WBE. The program is specifically designed to increase employment opportunities for minorities, women, and economically disadvantaged individuals in Federal-aid highway projects. The total funding available is $305,492, divided into three separate geographic awards: $101,830.67 each for the St. Louis and Kansas City areas (defined as within 45 miles of their respective MoDOT district offices), and $101,830.66 for the outstate area. The contract period runs from the date of award through August 31, 2023, with an option for a one-year renewal. Proposed budgets can include staff personnel/fringe benefits, student wages, travel and childcare support, administrative expenses, tools and equipment, and placement/retention incentives of $1,800 per successful placement. The funding is provided by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the contract may be awarded to multiple vendors based on the responses received.