INFORMATION BULLETINS (PY 2004)

ALAMEDA COUNTY WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD WIA YOUTH PROGRAM BIDDERS’ CONFERENCE CORRECTIONS, QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

ALAMEDA COUNTY WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD

WIA YOUTH PROGRAM BIDDERS’ CONFERENCE

CORRECTIONS, QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

January 21, 2005

I. CORRECTIONS TO RFP PACKETS

Part I – General Guidelines
· Please correct Page 3 Item 8. Replace the date as follows:
“Workforce Investment Board Acts on Youth Policy Council Funding Recommendations on Thursday, March 11 10, 2005.

· Please delete and ignore paragraph on Page 20 starting with:
“A postmark is not adequate to demonstrate…
that submission deadlines were met and any proposal mailed must be received, regardless of when it was postmarked, by 4:00pm. Friday, January 16, 2004. There is no basis for a dispute of disqualification for not meeting the deadline”.

WIB staff will accept hand delivered and courier delivered proposals between 8:30am and 5:00pm on a daily basis, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. If an agency decides to mail in their proposals before the February 1st deadline, it is recommended that all proposals mailed be sent by certified registered mail.

· Please keep intact the last line on Page 20 “ Late proposals will not be accepted”.

· Please correct “Announcement” after page 29.
The correct date for WIB Funding Recommendations and Final Approvals will be Thursday, March 10, 2005.

Proposal Forms
· Please correct Green Forms, page 3 “Younger Youth Services,” the top
box/matrix and strike the word “Older Youth Enrollments” and insert Younger Youth:

A. Proposed Geographic Service Area Funds and Proposed # of Younger Youth Enrollments:
GEOGRAPHIC AREA DOLLARS OLDER YOUNGER YOUTH ENROLLMENTS







II. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q1: How many Request For Proposals (RFP) will be accepted from each geographic area?
A: The minimum of 1 RFP will be accepted from each geographic area.

Q2: Can a Faith Based Organization apply for the ACWIB Targeted Youth funds?
A: Yes. Faith Based Organizations are eligible to apply and are usually considered under the category of Non-Profit Organization.

Q3: How many copies of the RFP should we submit?
A: Eight (8)copies of the RFP must be submitted. One copy must have original signatures. Due to the need for original signatures, proposals may not be faxed, or electronically transmitted. The deadline for receipt of proposals is 3:00p.m. Tuesday, February 1, 2005. Late Proposals will not be accepted.

Responses to the proposals can be on white paper. WIB staff is not mandating color-coding paper responses. WIB staff suggested at the bidders conferences, “it is optional” for agencies to submit responses for the “Foster Youth Services” on yellow paper, is fine. Many agencies have accessibility to yellow paper in their paper supply and it will help the WIB staff to distinguish agencies applying for Foster Youth category.

Again, if agencies do not have access to yellow paper, your responses on white paper is okay for High Risk Older Youth, High Risk Younger Youth and Foster Youth Services.

Q4: How many copies of the Single Audit do we need to submit?
A: One complete copy. A “Management Letter” from the CPA firm will not suffice. One complete summary copy of the latest agency audit is required.

Q5: Can WIB staff email the RFP in Word format and are there any page requirements for margins in answering the RFP?
A: Yes, there are requirements for page format. Please refer to page 25. WIB staff announced at bidders conferences 1” margins on top, bottom left and right side of each page. Please be sure and have Header on each page with the funding category you plan to apply for: “High –Risk Older Youth”, “High Risk Younger Youth”, or “Foster Care Youth Services”.

To request a copy of the RFP, refer to page 19, top of page. To request an RFP packet (by e-mail), please email Jzaraspe@acgov.org Please send a formal request and include your name, organization, address, phone, FAX and e-mail address when requesting a copy of the RFP either hard copy or e-mail form.


Q6: Can we serve youth who are incarcerated?
A: Yes. If a youth is incarcerated, residence for participation in the program is based on the address the youth will return to upon release, not the address of the facility of incarceration. There is an Offender Residence Form in the MIS Eligibility Technical Assistance Guide.

Q7: Can you serve youth living outside of the geographic areas/Alameda County? Can we serve youth who reside in other counties, but attend school in Alameda County?
A: Agencies may submit proposals to serve a single geographical area or multiple areas within Alameda County (Excluding City of Oakland). The Eligibility Technical Assistance Guide states that residency waivers are allowed especially for out-of-school youth who are transient or for youth who attend a school outside their city of residence. Providers requesting to serve a Youth who resides outside of their service area must gain permission from the area that would normally serve the youth participant. The Eligibility Technical Assistance Guide provides a copy of the residency waiver form.

Q8: What is an objective assessment?
A: An objective assessment is an independent comprehensive evaluation of an individual to identify skills, abilities, aptitude, and interests. The assessment determines the plan and/or strategy for each participant. ACWIB does not mandate the type of assessment tools to use. There are several state approved testing instruments such as the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) or CASAS Survey Achievement Tests.

Q9: What is the “American Customer Satisfaction Index Survey”, located on page 16?
A: Youth Contractors will not be required to use this survey. Contractors will be required to use their own internal “satisfaction survey” to measure youth satisfaction of services provided by their agency. A survey is normally conducted on a quarterly basis throughout a program year and especially when a youth contractor exits a youth from their program.

Q10: Is there a required percentage of matching funds?
A: No

Q11: Can funds from a city govt. be used as matching funds?
A: Yes

Q12: How will we know if a partner or employer has a conflict of interest?
A: You can review the list of WIB members and Youth Policy Council members on the Alameda County website: www.acwib.org.

Q13: Is there a limit on the number of pages for the proposal? Is the Narrative Summary the same as an Executive Summary?
A: Yes, the Narrative Summary under Part III, page 4 of the RFP Application Forms is the same as an Executive Summary. Please provide a brief and concise overview of the youth services that you are proposing.

There is not a limit on the number of pages for proposals submitted. Though responses should be specific, complete and concise. The norm is one to two paragraphs response per question. Use of additional paragraphs is acceptable.

Q14: Under the 10 required elements, occupational skills training is listed. Are we required to use the States Eligible Training Providers List for youth training providers?
A: No. Operators/Agencies are not required to use the State Eligible Training Providers List for youth.

Q15: What is the age breakdown for Younger Youth and Older Youth?
A: Younger Youth are 14 – 18yrs. Older Youth are 19 – 21 years of age.

Q16: Are the current Alameda County WIB Youth providers eligible to apply for this money? Can new providers partner/subcontract with them?
A: The current Youth providers are eligible to submit proposals and they can partner and/or subcontract with new providers.

Q17: Can WIB staff email a copy of the sign-in sheet from the Bidders’ Conference?
A: Yes. See below the last page. A listing of agencies attending the Bidders Conferences has been included in this document.

Q18: Is there any way we can look at the required MIS documentation?
A: Yes. You can visit the WIB Admin office and review the MIS Eligibility Technical Assistance Guide.

Q19: Since performance is important, are the funds tied to meeting benchmarks?
A: Yes. Renewal of contracts each year is dependent upon your ability to meet enrollments and exit benchmarks, as well as State mandated performance standards.

Q20: Do we need to provide information on organizations we plan to subcontract with?
A: Yes. Lead agencies that intend to subcontract any portion of their services must include all details of the subcontract(s) in their proposal (see Part I General Guidelines page 7, bottom of the page- Collaborations).

Q21: Are letters of support allowed?
A: Yes. Letters of support are allowed but not required.

Q22: Does the number of participants need to remain the same from year one to year two, or can the number increase? (i.e. enroll 28 clients in year one, enroll 35 clients year two).
A: Providers will document the number of planned enrollments on their contract for each program year they are awarded funds. This RFP will cover the first year funding allocation. Subsequent program years contracts requirements may be subject to change.

Q23: Are the readers for the proposal from other WIB’s?
A: Yes



Q24: Will the readers have an opportunity to look at past performance reports?
A. Yes. Readers will have available and upon request ACWIB “Performance Indicators Report” for Program Year 2003-2004.

Please refer to section IV. Proposal Narrative Questions B. Demonstrated Performance Ability (15 Points): Describe the agency’s experience working with WIA youth target populations. Your responses should be specific and concise. Use quantifiable information where necessary. Be sure to include any past employment & training funding and specific activities provided and goals achieved. As attachments, you may include past demonstrated performance evaluation and/or documents that your agency uses internally to demonstrate performance outcomes.
LIST OF ATTENDEES

LAST NAME, FIRST AGENCY PHONE EMAIL
Alley, Jaime Youth Radio (510) 841-5123x310 Jjaime@youthradio.org
Biggs, Doug Alameda Point Collab. (510) 898-7849 dbiggs@apcollaborative.org
Brady, Taylor EBAC (510) 268-3770 taylor@ebac.org
Burnette, Danielle Pivotal Point Youth Svcs. (510) 536-6604 Danielle@ppys.org
Chao, Chosarn Lao (510) 533-8850 chaosarn@laofamilynet.org
Faberova, Yelena Students In Business (510) 795-6488x6488 yelena@beamentor.org
Finch, Ched Contra Costa Boys Org. (510) 677-3009 Chedfinch@yahoo.com
Goetsch, Bob Students In Business (510) 795-6488 goetsch@beamentor.org
Gravino, Leslie Las Positas Com College (925) 371-3810 lgravino@laspositascollege.edu
Gums, Denise ACAP (510) 259-3819 dgums@acgov.org
Hansen, Rose Hayward Adult Sch (510) 293-8595x5429
Lansangan, Geronima Vallecitos CET, Inc. (510) 537-8400 x221 bayL@vcet.org
Lewis, Alison Eden Youth Center (510) 887-1146 Alison.lewis@acgov.org
Llanes, Sylvia Vallecitos CET, Inc. (510) 537-8400
Lumpkins, La Tronda Pivotal Point Youth Svcs (510) 536-6604 Pivotal4@aol.com
Miller, Mary Eden One Stop Center (510) 265-8323 mpmiller@acgov.org
Morrison, Kathy Students In Business (510) 795-6488x6175 Kmorrison@beamentor.org
Nielsen, Cathy Ala. Unified Sch. Dist. (510) 337-7019 cnielsen@alameda.k12.ca.us
Ny, Thou SSA/Foster Youth (510) 268-2843 nyt@acgov.org
Olachea, John Vallecitos (510) 537-8400 johno@vcet.org
Toro, Jason La Familia Center (510) 785-8679 Jtoro-eyfc@hotmail.com
Turner, Ellen Tri Valley Comm. Found. (925) 998-5472 etfoundation@yahoo.com
Valle, Richard TRI-CED (510) 471-3850
Williams, Kevin BYA (510) 647-0711 Kevin@byaonline.org
Yoder, Dorothy Jubilee Restoration Inc. (510) 540-8111x25 Dorothy@jubileeretore.org