Welfare-to-Work Expanded Subsidized Employment Program

The County of Solano, Department of Health and Social Services is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) seeking statements of interest from qualified organizations to support the Expanded Subsidized Employment (ESE) Program, established under Assembly Bill 74. This procurement targets service providers capable of delivering job training, job coaching, and placement services to CalWORKs clients, as well as employers willing to hire welfare-to-work participants with subsidized wages. Key deliverables and objectives include helping CalWORKs clients gain paid work experience, enhance job skills, and transition into permanent, unsubsidized employment through structured work site agreements that clearly define work assignments and responsibilities. Qualified respondents must demonstrate organizational credentials, background and history, years in business, multiple office locations, employee and client capacity, and provide details regarding any mergers or acquisitions within the past ten years. Employers participating in the program must comply with all California State Labor Laws, maintain current business and payroll taxes including FICA and workers' compensation insurance, provide comprehensive general liability insurance, serve as the Employer of Record, and conduct monthly job coaching and counseling meetings with participants. The County will reimburse employers on a tiered wage subsidy basis beginning at 100 percent reimbursement for the first three months, tapering to 25 percent by month six, with options for up to two extensions at fixed 25 percent reimbursement rates. The RFI was released on February 10, 2026, with responses due by April 2, 2026, at 5:00 pm via the OpenGov Solano County Portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/solanocounty, and the service area encompasses all of Solano County.

The RFI does not explicitly establish set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to specific types of organizations, though non-profit status verification, annual audit reports, and compliance with OMB Circular A-133 may apply to applicable contractors. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. Contractors must maintain Errors and Omissions insurance and professional malpractice insurance in amounts no less than $1,000,000 combined single limit per claim and in the aggregate, with policies remaining in effect for no less than three years following work completion, and must comply with the Drug-Free Workplace Act, HIPAA requirements as a Business Associate, and confidentiality provisions under California Welfare and Institutions Code sections 5328, 10850, and 11478.1. Either party may terminate the contract for good cause with 30 days written notice, and the County reserves the right to terminate without cause upon written notice with reimbursement limited to unpaid amounts and good faith expenditures not exceeding the maximum contract value. While specific award values or budget ranges are not explicitly stated in the available documentation, the requirement for contractors to obtain bonds covering startup funds provided by the County and provisions for reimbursement based on subsidized wage percentages indicate substantive financial engagement with participating organizations.