request for proposals - worksystems...worksystems is seeking proposals for the development of an...

Request for Proposals

Integrated

Technology

Solutions to

Strengthen the

Regional Workforce

Worksystems is seeking proposals for the development of an online platform to allow customers of the public workforce system, WorkSource, and current workers to explore careers, access e-learning and online training, assess and certify their skills, and match their skills to regionally available careers. Released January 7, 2015

Worksystems, Inc. | 1618 SW First Avenue, Suite 450 | Portland, OR 97201 | 503.478.7300 | 503.487.7302 fax | www.worksystems.org P a g e | 2

Contents Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 2

Part I: Background .......................................................................................................................... 3

Part II: Solicitation Objective & Available Funding ........................................................................ 4

Part III: Project Phases ................................................................................................................... 5

Part IV: Contractor Qualifications .................................................................................................. 5

Part V: Project Objectives .............................................................................................................. 6

Part VI: Project Requirements ....................................................................................................... 7

Part VII: Proposal Narrative Content and Evaluation Criteria ....................................................... 7

Consortia Applications ................................................................................................................ 8

Section A: Qualifications ............................................................................................................ 8

Section A: Evaluation Criteria: ................................................................................................ 8

Section B: System Description ................................................................................................... 8

Section B Evaluation Criteria ................................................................................................... 9

Section C: Training Content ........................................................................................................ 9

Section C Evaluation Criteria ................................................................................................... 9

Section D: Project Implementation........................................................................................... 10

Section D Evaluation Criteria ................................................................................................ 10

Section E: Budget Narrative ..................................................................................................... 10

Section E Evaluation Criteria ................................................................................................. 10

Part VIII: Proposal Review Process ............................................................................................... 11

Part IX: Proposal Submission ....................................................................................................... 11

Part X: Award Notification ........................................................................................................... 12

Part XI: Administrative Details ..................................................................................................... 12

Inquiries .................................................................................................................................... 12

Withdrawal ............................................................................................................................... 12

Appeals ...................................................................................................................................... 12

Timeline..................................................................................................................................... 13

Resource Documents ................................................................................................................ 13

Part XII: Additional Provisions and Disclaimers ........................................................................... 14

http://www.worksystems.org/


Part I: Background Worksystems, Inc. is a non-profit agency that supports economic growth in the City of Portland, Multnomah and Washington counties by pursuing and investing resources to improve the quality of the workforce. We design and coordinate workforce development programs and services delivered through a network of partners to help people get the skills, training and education they need to go to work or to advance in their careers. Our partners include employers, labor groups, government, community colleges, high schools, community-based and economic development organizations. Since 1998, Worksystems has invested nearly $300 million in our community. While we focus on Multnomah and Washington Counties, the labor shed served and our partnerships represent a diverse and complex region composed of: 6,600 square miles, a population more than 2.2 million, a workforce of nearly 1.7 million, more than 50,000 businesses, seven counties in two states, 24 cities, 27 colleges and universities, 28 business chambers, 41 school districts, and 61 economic development organizations. It is within this region that Worksystems is working to achieve the goals of the Governor’s Workforce Plan. In 2012, Oregon Governor Kitzhaber delivered a powerful charge to the State and Local Workforce Boards: Build a sustainable, systemic approach to workforce development that produces a highly-skilled workforce, advances more people into family-wage jobs, and helps our businesses and workers succeed in a fundamentally transformed economy. Through this solicitation we are seeking to address two key initiatives embedded within the Governor’s plan:

1. Establishing Work Ready Communities. Oregon communities must have and be able to demonstrate the skilled workforce necessary for companies to locate and grow here. Workers must have the foundational skills to be able to succeed in and grow the companies in their communities.

2. The 40-40-20 Goal to raise the education attainment of Oregon citizens.

To achieve these goals, at this level of scale and complexity, our region’s workforce needs new ways to access high quality, value added skill development services. They need “just in time” training, career exploration, job placement and advancement options and our region’s businesses need ways to objectively validate worker skills. By following skill development roadmaps like the Department of Labor’s Competency Model Clearinghouse and offering related training, we can help our region’s workers to develop and document their competency along the skills continuum:

Foundational Competencies: Workplace, academic and personal effectiveness skills

Industry-Related Competencies: Industry-wide technical skills

Occupation-Related Competencies: Technical, knowledge, and management skills


http://www.oregon.gov/gov/skilled_workforce/Documents/Oregon's%20Strategic%20Plan%202012-2022.pdf

http://www.oregon.gov/gov/skilled_workforce/Documents/Oregon's%20Strategic%20Plan%202012-2022.pdf

http://www.oregonworkready.com/

http://www.oregonbusinessplan.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=533pZLPtbeU%3D&tabid=99

http://www.careeronestop.org/competencymodel/default.aspx


Readily available assessment, career guidance and skill building tools will help workers meet their career goals while ensuring industry has an adequately skilled workforce. In response to the Governor’s expectations, Worksystems is looking to integrate online options for career awareness, skill building and learning, training, skill certification and job search into services through the public workforce system - WorkSource Portland Metro. We are seeking a cost effective solution that increases the efficiency and quality of service delivery while expanding access to the public workforce investment system.

Part II: Solicitation Objective & Available Funding For many years, Worksystems has used an industry sector approach to serve key sectors and support regional workers. Our current sectors of focus are Manufacturing, Healthcare, and IT/Software. Worksystems engages with these key sectors to understand labor market trends, identify current and emergent workforce needs, engage partners, and to access grants, tax credits, and subsidies to craft comprehensive workforce solutions developed and driven by industry. Our role in promoting and pursuing sector strategies is to build the regional partnerships, coordinate the dialogue, develop the actions, secure and invest the resources and evaluate the outcomes. Through the sector work, Worksystems has identified a variety of workforce development needs for incumbent workers, underemployed and unemployed individuals. Our challenges include training capacity, cost and accessibility that we believe can be addressed through online learning technology. For some occupations, the traditional training system is not producing skilled workers and graduates at a rate which matches industry demand. Additionally, small businesses frequently struggle to access training for their workers due to time constraints and resources. Through online learning we intend to expand regional training capacity and offer our region’s job seekers and businesses a new level of training customization, responsiveness, user flexibility, ease of access and affordability. For incumbent workers, we intend to offer opportunities to identify skill gaps, potential career options, and training to get them there. This will increase the employee’s overall value to their employer and lead to career advancement, job retention and wage gains. For job seekers, our goal is the following: after engaging with the public workforce system, they are able to: 1) meet basic workplace skill requirements and are ready to work, 2) demonstrate transferable, technical skills that make them competitive for high-wage, high-demand jobs, and 3) are prepared to succeed in post-secondary education. We intend to offer foundational skills assessment, career exploration tools, industry and occupation specific skills assessment, and integrated job search and training options for both technical skills and work readiness preparation. For regional employers, we intend to offer simple, accessible and cost effective ways to help develop the skills of their workforce to maintain and increase business competitiveness.



We are seeking competitive proposals to contract with an organization to design and implement a multi-phase roll-out of an online learning platform and targeted training content. Through this solicitation, we will select a contractor to collaboratively design and implement an online learning program that will support worker skill development and business growth in the region. Funding is estimated for the total project at $500,000.

Part III: Project Phases A contract will be developed with the successful respondent that outlines a detailed statement of work which includes deliverables and associated timelines. Examples of the potential deliverables include: Phase I: Program Design and System Architecture – Work with our team to understand our public workforce system and how to achieve our goals within those boundaries. Detailed work plan development, integration of technical aspects, marketing plan development. Phase II: Program Implementation – Training content identification and alignment with local industry and individual needs, assessment development, packaging of training pathways, employer and job seeker outreach. Phase III: Training Provision – Job seeker and incumbent worker training, content updates, technical assistance, ongoing evaluation, program modifications and support.

Part IV: Contractor Qualifications We are seeking respondents that have a demonstrated history of success and proven expertise in providing targeted online training content and delivery systems for job seeker and incumbent worker training. Successful respondents must demonstrate:

Experience packaging and providing high-quality, online training content based on industry and individual employer needs.

Experience providing technical assistance and support to customer on delivery system, training content, reporting and administration.

A group of two or more respondents may submit a consortium proposal. For awarded consortium proposals, Worksystems will contract with one lead organization; the lead organization will be responsible for subcontracts with other consortium members.



Part V: Project Objectives Worksystems is seeking to fund a proposal that will:

Provide foundational skills assessment and remediation in support of the State’s Work Ready Community goal.

Provide online industry and occupation specific skills assessment to recommend learning content specific to individual skill gaps and employment goals.

Offer a continuum of skill development content to help workers develop and document skill competency at the various levels of the DOL Competency Model pyramid.

Support career exploration and exposure for job seekers through survey courses.

Integrate job search and training options so that job seekers have tools to assess how their skills and experience align with actual job descriptions and begin mapping out the necessary training to qualify them for the job.

Provide modular and stackable training options so participants can incrementally enhance their skills and advance their careers.

Provide a conduit for Worksystems to serve as a broker of online training for target sector businesses in the region.

Provide training content focused on the following occupations:

Tech Healthcare Manufacturing

Coders Programmers Web Developers IOS Application Developer Software Engineer Human Resources Network Administrators

Front-line Supervisors Coding/Billing EMT Human Resources

Machine Operators Assemblers Machinists Welders Engineers Project Managers Front-line Supervisors Human Resources

Provide cross-cutting training content, applicable across all three target sectors, such as leadership/supervisory, continuous improvement, project management, customer service, basic skills, human resources, small business and entrepreneurship, IT and network administration.

Provide training content which is aligned with national industry certifications or which qualifies for industry CEU credit – Training content will prepare users to take and pass national certifications such as NIMS, MSSC/CPT, PMP, Six Sigma, APICS, Microsoft Certifications, and Cisco.

Provide user friendly administrator and participant dashboards for tracking and reporting system use, completions and user progress.

Issue certificates of completion for individual courses and/or course sequences.

Provide industry recognized credentials in support of Oregon’s 40-40-20 goal.



Part VI: Project Requirements Successful respondents will:

Ensure the system is able to interface with Worksystems’ I-Trac participant database through the MyWorkSource website. This requires access using the single-sign on (SSO) that is the WorkSource authentication to assure participants are properly enrolled. Further, information must be securely shared in real-time with the I-Trac database via web services. The technologies used in the systems include:

o Web Server: Windows Server 2008 R2 (IIS 7.5) o RDBMS: SQL Server 2008 o Programming Language: ASP.Net (C#)

Ensure the system can interface with a labor exchange system for integration of job search and training options.

Ensure training content is high quality, relevant, and where possible, aligned with industry recognized skills or certifications. The design and delivery should meet diverse learner needs and reflect best practices in adult learning theory.

Work with Worksystems and other partners to package training content to the needs of job seekers and target sector employers.

In partnership with Worksystems, support project launch and roll-out to the business community and through WorkSource.

Support system branding to match that of WorkSource.

Provide technical assistance and recommendations based on best practices for learning reinforcement for unemployed participants such as simulations, real-world application and hands on activities.

Provide technical assistance related to administration, reporting, training project deliverables and outcomes.

Part VII: Proposal Narrative Content and Evaluation Criteria Worksystems cannot enter into contract negotiations with an organization(s) that is not legally established to conduct business within the State of Oregon, is debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any Federal department or agency. Format: Proposals should be no longer than 12 pages, single sided, single spaced. Font size of 12 point is preferred. Respondents may include mock ups for key elements to help reviewers visualize functionality and workflow. Page limitation excludes the Proposal Cover Sheet, Budget Narrative, Consortium section if applicable, Reference List and any system mock ups. System Demonstration: Finalists will be asked to provide a proposal presentation and detailed system demonstration to the evaluation committee.



Consortium Applications (0 points)

Consortium applications must include a response to this section. 1. Describe the consortium and identify each member’s roles and responsibilities. Identify

the lead partner/fiscal agent.

2. Describe your past experience working with the identified partner(s).

3. Describe why these partnerships support your ability to meet the project objectives.

4. Describe how the lead applicant will subcontract with and ensure deliverable commitments are met by consortium member(s).

Budget Narratives detailed in Section E must clearly articulate and delineate the rates and fees of each consortium member relative to their part of the proposal.

Section A: Qualifications (Maximum 15 Points) 1. Describe your organization. Describe your experience working with target sector

companies and other organizations to package and deliver large scale workforce training technology solutions.

2. Provide two references from organizations for which you have provided similar services. The reference list is to be attached at the end of the proposal and is not included in the page limitation.

Section A: Evaluation Criteria:

Description demonstrates manufacturing, healthcare and/or IT/Software industry knowledge and experience.

Description demonstrates experience packaging and delivering workforce training technology solutions on projects of comparable scope and budget.

Reference list is complete with contacts, organization type and project summary.

Section B: System Description (Maximum 25 Points) 1. Describe your online training/e-learning platform. Include descriptions of the user and

administrator interface, training management and reporting features. Describe how the system could position Worksystems as a broker of training for target industry businesses.

2. Describe user access options and potential processes for both businesses and job seekers.

3. Describe system flexibility and adaptability. Can it interface with other learning management systems? Can it accept additional training content? How can it interface with existing participant databases?



4. Describe your approach for integrating job search and training options.

5. Describe the system’s tools and capabilities for assessing foundational skills, industry and occupation specific skills.

6. Provide information related to participation in current offerings and post training employment or retention. What is the completion rate of people who begin training pathways?

Section B Evaluation Criteria

The learning system description is complete, appropriate and relevant to project objectives. Description includes potential approach for Worksystems to broker training.

User access options are detailed and clear with potential process descriptions.

Description demonstrates system flexibility and adaptability to new training content, interfacing with other learning management systems and other user needs.

Description demonstrates methods and approach for comparing job seeker skills to actual job descriptions and recommending training content.

Methods are described for industry and occupation specific skill assessment and foundational skill assessment.

Data is provided related to training participation, completion and post-training employment or job retention.

Section C: Training Content (Maximum 20 points) 1. Describe existing training content related to the targeted sectors and occupations.

Provide examples of packaged training content by occupation and time estimates for completion. Identify which courses are aligned with nationally recognized industry credentials or meet CEU requirements.

2. Describe your approach for packaging training content based on the targeted sectors, targeted occupations and results of individual skill assessments.

3. Explain how training content is kept current and assessed for quality. How does design and delivery meet diverse learner needs and reflect best practices in adult learning theory?

4. Describe career exploration training content related to the targeted sectors and occupations.

5. What support is provided or available for learners? What feedback is available to learners who are stuck or confused during courses or content?

Section C Evaluation Criteria

Description demonstrates substantive training content related to target sectors and occupations, estimated completion time and identifies content aligned to industry credentials.



Description demonstrates realistic and comprehensive approach for packaging training content based on business and job seeker needs.

Process outlined for identifying and assembling quality content. Design and delivery reflects best practices and understanding of adult learning theory.

Description demonstrates career exploration content, learning objectives and link to target sectors and occupations.

Description demonstrates available support for learners.

Section D: Project Implementation (Maximum 20 points) 1. Describe the project activities within each project phase and the timeline for

implementation and system roll out. Include key milestones and deliverables.

2. Describe how you will work with Worksystems to meet the Project Requirements in Part VI.

Section D Evaluation Criteria

Description provides a clear summary of the activities associated with each project phase, timeline, sequencing of activities, key milestones and rationale.

Description articulates roles, responsibilities and approach for ongoing technical assistance and support related to project implementation.

Section E: Budget Narrative (Maximum 20 points) 1. Describe cost structure options and pricing. Include any additional resources or

leverage you can bring to the project.

2. Outline costs associated with each phase of the project. For any FTE assigned to the project include their hourly rate and estimate of total project hours.

3. Outline relevant licensing and/or access fees, and the fee structure for customization.

4. If responding as a consortium, clearly articulate and delineate the rates and fees of each consortium member relative to their part of the proposal.

Section E Evaluation Criteria

Budget is realistic and reasonable given the proposal and prevailing market cost for similar services in the Portland Metro area.

Costs are consistent, essential and sufficient to accomplish the statement of work. The budget justification and any leverage are sufficiently detailed and demonstrate how cost estimates were derived. The budget contains no unexplained amounts, is complete and accurate, competitive and reasonable.



Part VIII: Proposal Review Process Proposals will be evaluated by a review panel based on a scoring matrix using the elements described above and previous performance where applicable. The review panel’s recommendation will be reviewed by members of Worksystems’ Leadership Team where provisional funding decisions will be made. Top proposals will be invited to make a presentation to include a demonstration of the system; final decisions will be made after consideration of presentations. The review panel will contact references provided; and may also request additional information as necessary to evaluate proposals.

Part IX: Proposal Submission Proposals must be submitted as follows:

Where and When to Submit: Worksystems, Inc. must receive the proposal and all related documents marked “(Name of Applicant) Integrated Technology Solutions – Training” no later than 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 11, 2015. The Cover Page must be signed by an individual authorized to represent the organization, to act on its behalf and to legally bind it in all matters related to the RFP. Submit one (1) original with signature, along with (3) three copies of the entire proposal package to:

Edie Timmermans Worksystems, Inc.

1618 SW First, Ave, Suite 450 Portland, OR 97201.

Additionally, please send an electronic copy of the proposal package to [email protected] with “(Name of Applicant) Integrated Technology Solutions – Training” in the subject. Worksystems will send an email confirmation to the address on the cover page acknowledging receipt.

Proposal Package: Complete proposal packages will include the following documents in collated sets:

Proposal Documents Submit Hardcopy AND Electronically to

[email protected]

Completed, signed Proposal Cover Sheet

(1) One signed original, (3) three copies

PDF format

Consortium Response (if applicable) Proposal Narrative Budget Narrative

(1) One original, (3) three copies

PDF format

Reference List (1) One original (3) three copies

PDF format


mailto:[email protected]


It is the respondent’s responsibility to ensure the submission was received. If a Worksystems email has not been received it is the respondent’s responsibility to follow-up with another email or telephone call before February 11, 2015, 5 p.m. PST. Late proposals will not be considered.

Part X: Award Notification Provisional award results will be sent via e-mail by February 27, 2015.

Part XI: Administrative Details

Inquiries All questions related to this solicitation are to be submitted electronically via email with the subject “Integrated Technology Solutions – Training RFP Inquiry” and sent to: [email protected]. Questions received after the solicitation has been published and before close of business February 5, 2015, will be responded to within two business days by posting in the “Questions and Answers” section for this RFP at www.worksystems.org. It is the responsibility of the applicant to review all questions and answers and notices related to this RFP, which will be regularly posted to Worksystems’ website. Questions received after February 5, 2015 will not be answered.

Withdrawal A submitted RFP response may be withdrawn at any time. A written request to withdraw the response must be submitted electronically to: [email protected].

Appeals The following process has been established to address appeals:

The appeal must be due to what the respondent considers a flaw in the Evaluation Committee’s funding recommendation process.

The appeal must be submitted in writing by March 4, 2015. Appeals must be sent to: [email protected]. All appeals are public information.

The organization/individual filing the appeal must specify the basis of the appeal and provide an alternative the appellant would find acceptable. Proposal rating scores may not be appealed. The mere fact that a proposal was not recommended for funding is also not open to an appeal, nor is a complaint about the amount of funding granted. The appeal must be a violation of the process established for the solicitation.

During any part of the review or consideration, the appellant may be asked to clarify or amplify statements or to provide proof of claims or other statements. Any such requests must be fully responded to within the time period designated by Worksystems. In the event an appellant fails to respond, the appeal will be dismissed and no further appeal will be accepted.







Worksystems’ Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer will review the appeal and issue a written response that is intended as a complete and final answer to the appeal.

Timeline DATE ACTIVITY

January 7, 2015 RFP solicitation available on Worksystems website February 11, 2015, 5:00 p.m. Proposal package due to Worksystems February 12 - February 25, 2015 Proposal Review Period

February 25, 2015 (tentative) Proposal Presentations/System Demonstrations (Top ranked proposals; by invitation.)

February 27, 2015 Provisional award notification/contract negotiation begins

March 4, 2015 Appeal period closes March 15, 2015 Estimated Contract start date

Resource Documents

Proposal Cover Page and submission checklist



Part XII: Additional Provisions and Disclaimers Worksystems reserves the right to waive

informalities and minor irregularities in offers received.

This RFP does not commit Worksystems to award a contract.

Worksystems may accept any item or group of items of any offer, unless the bidder qualified its offer by specific limitations.

Worksystems reserves the right to request additional data or oral discussion or documentation in support of written offers.

No costs will be paid to cover the expense of preparing a proposal.

All data, material, and documentation originated and prepared by the bidder pursuant to the contract shall belong exclusively to Worksystems and be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Applicants are advised that most documents in the possession of Worksystems are considered public records and subject to disclosure under the State of Oregon’s Public Records Law.

Formal notification to award a contract and the actual execution of a contract are subject to the following: Receipt of anticipated funding, results of negotiations between selected bidders and Worksystems staff, and continued availability of funds.

Proposals submitted for funding consideration must be consistent with – and if funded, operated according to – relevant federal legislation, all applicable federal regulations, State of Oregon policies, and Worksystems policies and procedures.

Additional funds received by Worksystems may be contracted by expanding existing programs. These decisions shall be at the discretion of Worksystems.

Worksystems may decide not to fund part or all of a proposal even though it is found to be in the competitive range if, in the opinion of Worksystems, the services proposed are not needed, or the costs are higher than Worksystems finds reasonable in relation to the overall funds available, or if past management concerns lead Worksystems to believe that the bidder has undertaken more services than it can successfully provide.

Worksystems has a right to fund a lower-ranked proposal over a higher ranked proposal because of valid policy considerations, including but not limited to, geographical considerations, leveraging of outside resources, and target populations.

All bidders must ensure equal opportunity to all individuals. No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any WIA-funded program or activity because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or political affiliation or belief.

All bidders must ensure access to individuals with disabilities pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Worksystems reserves the right to determine both the number and the funding levels of contracts finally awarded. Such determination will depend upon overall fund availability and other factors arising during the proposal review process. The proposal warrants that the costs quoted for services in response to the RFP are not in excess of those that would be charged any other individual for the same services performed by the bidder.
