Resources & Funding > Funding Opportunities > PY 2008 Procurement Archives

REQUEST FOR IDEAS - CLOSED May 15, 2009

On behalf of the Workforce Investment Council of Clackamas County, the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council and Worksystems, Inc., we are seeking ideas to help prepare for an anticipated competitive grant request from the Department of Labor (DOL). Based on our experience, we expect DOL to specify a significant role for workforce boards and the public workforce system in the development and implementation of these grants. Collectively, we manage almost $40 million in annual workforce investments and oversee a public system that serves approximately 200,000 workers and 5,000 businesses a year. DOL is expected to release a solicitation for workforce development services under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by 6/30/09. The purpose of the attached document is to solicit ideas and concepts for one or more proposals that could be further developed, in partnership with training providers, community based organizations, and industry.

These pending DOL grants offer significant opportunities to engage in coordinated, regionalized problem solving that links and align key assets of the Portland/Vancouver Metropolitan Area. We are committed to regional approaches to talent development and management, as evidenced by our collaboration in the WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) initiatives. We believe that working together makes us more competitive for these resources and results in better services for the region’s workers and businesses.

We look forward to seeing your ideas.

Submissions due to charkaway@worksystems.org by 4:00 p.m. on 5/15/2009

Click here for a copy of the Request for Ideas Guidance Document

Summer Jobs RFQ -- RFQ was withdrawn

Worksystems is administering resources for the implementation of a comprehensive Summer Jobs program for low income youth between 16 – 24 years old who live in Portland, Multnomah, and Washington Counties. Key features of the program model are subsidized internships, academic remediation and credit recovery, and college and career exploration. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will pay for all Summer Jobs program activities.

The purpose of this Request for Qualifications and Interest is to identify qualified and interested entity(s) to deliver worksite development and coordination services for the Summer Jobs program. The successful bidder will:
  • Recruit public, nonprofit and private sector employers who will provide internship sites for eligible youth
  • Train worksite supervisors to develop learning objectives for internships and evaluate youth work readiness
  • Coordinate with youth service providers that recruit and support participating youth for internship matching
  • Support employer success in summer jobs

Click here for copy of full RFQ

Responses are due on Friday, April 10, 2009. All inquiries related to this RFQ are to be submitted electronically to summeryouth@worksystems.org. Answers will be posted at www.worksystems.org within 48 hours.

Northern Oregon STEM Scan RFP - CLOSED

Click here for a complete copy of RFP

 

Four Northern Willamette Valley and SW Washington Workforce Investment Boards are participating in the Department of Labor’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Grant aimed an increasing the number of individuals pursuing STEM education, training, and employment. As part of this grant, the region is required to conduct a STEM Scan to identify STEM related resources and gaps and to develop recommendations for closing gaps. SW Washington has already conducted their portion of the Scan and these deliverables will serve as a framework for the Northern Oregon portion of the STEM Scan. The Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council (SWWDC), as the fiscal agent for this initiative, is managing this STEM Scan.

There does not appear to be a clear nor pervasive understanding of what these resources are and how to access them. Nor does there appear to be a comprehensive understanding of who is doing what and for which target populations. Having this understanding will enable Northern Oregon to effectively access and leverage resources to address this growing workforce issue as required under the STEM Grant

Electronic copy of proposals are due February 13, 2008 to bstewart-wood@swwdc.org

Questions may be directed to: Brandi Stewart-Wood, SWWDC, at bstewart-wood@swwdc.org

Oregon Workforce Partnership Staffing RFP - CLOSED

Click here for complete copy of RFP

Purpose:

The purpose of this RFP and any resulting contract award is to solicit proposals to qualify vendors for long-term professional staffing services to the Oregon Workforce Partnership. Successful applicant will demonstrate in writing and through interview demonstrated experience and successful performance in the areas defined under the scope of work.

Staffing Summary:

Under the direction of the OWP Board of Directors, develops policy positions that represent the shared interests of the association’s members, represents the Oregon Workforce partnership in meetings and negotiations, enables learning and professional development among association members and the statewide workforce development system, increases public awareness of the workforce development system, disseminates information to the statewide membership, maintains and expands organizational capacity, and oversees daily operations of the Oregon Workforce Partnership

jweller@worksystems.org

Sustainability Training Modules Proposals: CLOSED

Click here for a complete copy of RFP

Worksystems, Inc. (WSI), part of a consortium of partners including the City of Portland and Multnomah and Washington counties, is creating a series of training modules designed to provide worker skills under the broad umbrella of “sustainability.” These training modules will be targeted for three audiences: pipeline, incumbent workers, and management. The theme of the training will be a focus on the “triple bottom line” or “three P’s” of sustainability: People, Planet, Profit, consistent with Natural Step Network and other philosophies and practices. Topics will include an overview of sustainability, worker innovation, lean processes and resource conservation. The goal will be an improvement in the region’s workforce, achieved through workers who are:

  • Educated about the need for sustainable practices and minimizing individual and company carbon footprints
  • Aware of current paradigms in efficiency and productivity
  • Conscious of the fact that they play a critical role in the success of their organization

Questions should be sent to WSI via email: sustainabilitymodules@worksystems.org. Questions must be received by 4:00 PM on Friday, January 30, 2009. Answers will be posted at www.worksystems.org within 48 hours.

 Proposals are must be received by4:00 PM on Monday, February 9, 2009. Send proposals via email to jweller@worksystems.org and hard copy versions to Worksystems Inc., Sustainability Modules Project, c/o Jenny Weller 111 SW 5th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204. Late proposals will not be considered.

Defense Industry Manufacturing Consortia Grant CLOSED

  • Closes August, 2009 or until funds are expended
  • Grants of $20,000-$50,000 allocated to defense industry manufacturing consortiums
  • Defense Industry Manufacturing Consortia Grant Timeline (pdf)
  • Funding training that will increase competitiveness through workforce development in a wide geographic area
  • Eligible applicants: companies and/or training providers that meet qualifications
  • Qualifications:
    • Participating employers must make and sell a product or component whose ultimate end user is the US military
    • Companies submitting proposals must bid as part of a consortium or industry association
    • Training providers submitting proposals must have letters of commitment from qualified companies

    Request for Proposal (pdf)

  • Resource Document 1: RFP information letter (pdf)

Solicitation for Incumbent Worker Training - CLOSED

 Up to $150,000 of Employer Workforce Training Funds are available for incumbent worker training for the solar manufacturing industry. If your organization is interested in applying to provide this training please click here (pdf) for more information.

Submit your training proposal to charkaway@worksystems.org at Worksystems, Inc by 3:00 p.m. on January 7, 2009.

Global Competitiveness Assessment - CLOSED

Scope of Work:

  • Regional Identity - The successful bidder will be expected to deliver a presentation to the WIRED Regional Workforce Council on regionalism in workforce and economic development. The discussion should include a full analysis of the benefits, trade-offs, and compromises involved in regional models using examples from peer regions whenever possible. This discussion will be expanded upon in a subsequent written report which also examines the suitability of the currently defined WIRED region to serve as a unit for economic and workforce development.
  • Global Competitiveness - The successful bidder will be expected to provide a written report and presentations to stakeholders that analyze the WIRED region’s economic strengths and weaknesses in comparison to at least 5 (preferably more) peer regions. Peer or comparable regions may be national or international, as appropriate for the analysis, and must be justified. The analysis should include and justify a set of benchmarks by which workforce and economic developers can continue to monitor our region’s progress and status in the global marketplace. The analysis should conclude with strategic recommendations for regional economic and workforce development planners based on our competitive strengths.
  • Request for Proposal (pdf)
  • Proposals must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Janaury 2, 2009
  • A decision will be made by Friday, January 9, 2009 and all respondents will be notified of the results by the end of the following week.

Workforce Audit -CLOSED

Scope of Work:

  • Accurate workforce demand, supply, and training data are essential for regional talent management. We will contract with an expert consultant to identify current and projected manufacturing workforce demand, supply, and training capacities. The project will identify skill and training gaps and inform the Regional Workforce Council, local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), and stakeholder organizations.
  • Request for proposal (pdf)
  • Closes 4:00 p.m. on December 17, 2008
  • A decision will be made by January 9, 2009 and all respondents will be notified of the results by the end of the following week.
  • Questions should be sent to Cary Harkaway. Questions must be received by 4:00 p.m. on December 2, 2008
  • Request for proposal
  • Questions and Answers Document

Service Provider RFP (closed)

Worksystems, Inc. (WSI) will open an RFP solicitation to select providers for delivery of workforce preparation services through the WorkSource Portland Metro system of WorkSource Centers in Multnomah and Washington Counties and the City of Portland. The services will be funded with U. S. Department of Labor WIA Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth Program formula funds. Services must lead to unsubsidized employment.

Agreements awarded through this RFP will be for the program year 2008 (PY08) which runs July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. Up to four Agreement extensions will be available for subsequent program years’ at WSI’s sole discretion. Approximately $8,000,000 will be available to fund the system of WorkSource Centers and program services described within this RFP. This estimate is based on anticipated funding levels which may increase or decrease depending upon the Region’s WIA allocation.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be available on the WSI website at www.worksystems.org on March 3, 2008. Service Provider RFP pdf