Senior Community Service Employement Program

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), seeking qualified vendors to provide job training services for Florida residents aged 55 and older who are unemployed and have limited financial resources. The program aims to enhance participants' skills, transition them into unsubsidized employment, and provide valuable community service. Proposals are due February 25, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET, with technical questions accepted until February 11, 2025. The contract will cover Planning and Service Areas (PSAs) 2-11 throughout Florida, with a 36-month initial term from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, and an optional 36-month renewal period. Evaluation criteria include a comprehensive technical proposal (covering management plans, transition strategies, and technical approach), past performance references, and a cost proposal. Proposals will be scored on a 0-5 point scale by at least three evaluators, with specific focus on administrative cost management (6.5-9% of total budget) and allocation of at least 75% of funds to participant wages and fringe benefits.

The procurement is open to public agencies and private nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and at least two years of experience administering SCSEP or similar programs. The program includes provisions for minority business participation, with a Certified Minority Business Subcontractor Expenditures (CMBE) form required for all invoices. The total anticipated annual funding is $4,694,249.90 in federal funds, with a total contract value of $14,115,021 over three years, funded 90% through a U.S. Department of Labor grant and requiring a 10% match from the awarded subrecipient. Funding allocations vary by Planning and Service Area, with the largest allocations going to PSA 8 (102 positions, $5,317,380 total funding) and PSA 6 (81 positions, $4,330,638 total funding). Successful respondents must demonstrate financial stability to sustain operations for at least three months, as this is a cost reimbursement contract. The DOEA intends to make multiple awards but reserves the right to make a single award or no award at all.