Welfare-To-Work Assessment Services RFP

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is soliciting proposals for Welfare-to-Work (WTW) Assessment Services under the California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Program. The procurement seeks a contractor to conduct comprehensive assessments for CalWORKs participants, with an estimated annual volume of 519 standard assessments and 27 learning disability assessments. Key deliverables include one-on-one client interviews, identification of vocational skills, evaluation of employment barriers, and recommendations for career pathways. Assessors must possess specific qualifications, including a bachelor's degree with career counseling units for standard assessments and a master's degree for learning disability evaluations. The RFP's evaluation criteria will consider the proposer's experience, service approach, management capabilities, and quality assurance processes. Proposals are due on October 30, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time, with tentative interviews scheduled for December 7, 2023. The contract term is anticipated to be three years, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, with a potential two-year renewal option.

The procurement includes a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) preference, which will apply an additional 5% to the scoring of certified DVBE proposers. Services will be provided at three regional centers in Anaheim, Laguna Hills, and Santa Ana, targeting non-exempt parents or caretakers receiving CalWORKs assistance. The client population is predominantly English-speaking (84%), with 7% Spanish-speaking, 2% Vietnamese, and 7% speaking other languages. The maximum funding obligation for the contract is $1,425,000, with an estimated annual amount of $475,000 for each contract year. Funding is contingent on state and federal budgets, and the County reserves the right to terminate or modify the contract if funding becomes unavailable. Proposers must submit fixed pricing for assessments, with unit prices covering all costs related to completing standard and learning disability assessments. The primary objective of the contract is to support family well-being by placing individuals in high-demand jobs and advancing their progression toward economic self-sufficiency.