RFP Q&A
Questions & Answers for Available RFPs
We want to ensure that you have all the resources available to submit a high-quality proposal for our funding opportunities. All questions and answers published to this page only pertain to the 2022 WIOA-Funded Services RFPs.
- Questions can only be submitted by sending an email to admin@spokaneworkforce.org or through our RFP Question Submission Form.
- Q&As discussed at the Bidders’ Conference on Thursday, March 10, 2022, will also be published on this page 24 hours after the event ends.
Q&A Received for WIOA-funded services RFPs
A: Please budget $12,000 for rent and $500 for Other Shared Costs annually per FTE.
A: Our response has been updated since the bidders’ conference. Agencies only need to submit one form and one set of documents for the supplemental information regardless of how many proposals they submit.
A: Co-enrollment is the cornerstone of the Spokane integrated service delivery model and will be used when Basic eligibility criteria is met and it is appropriate for the individual customer.
A: Yes, please see RFP for specific information requested to be included in this section.
WS Campus Center Operations RFP
Q: Page 20 A in the summary of this section you state consortium. Are you asking/requiring a consortium to respond to the WS and RCSC Operator roles?
A: No, only one agency will be selected for each Operator role – consortium is a typo.
Q: Budget-For the RCSC should we include IFA cost of $500?
A: No, IFA costs do not need to be included for the RCSC.
WorkSource Spokane Service Providers Consortium RFP – No questions asked
General Questions for all RFPs:
Q: It is communicated that for holidays indicated with an asterisk, that fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, the day prior to or following the holiday, the office will be closed to customers, but open for staff. Question: Will staff be expected to work if the organization recognizes one of those days as a paid holiday (Friday after Thanksgiving)?
A: We included this because some of agencies offer some holidays (eg, Friday after Thanksgiving) that other organizations do not recognize as a holiday. We did this as a benefit to the existing partnerships and any new organizations to offer flexibility so that any staff required to work on a day offered as a holiday by other partner organizations would not be required to serve customers that day.
Q: It states that funding can only be used to support the goals and services outlined in the RFP and that awarded funding may not be used to support any work specific to the agency or in advancing individual agency goals without prior approval. Question: Can any amount be applied to the budget for training provided through the organization, if in alignment with the goals and services outlined within the RFP
A: Yes, we are supportive of having a reasonable amount of funding be utilized for agency staff training. The goal of this guideline is to protect client services time, to ensure staff are not being pulled off of their primary work. However, relevant staff training is considered an appropriate use of funds.
Q: Information and Risk Assessment Form – Question: If an organization is responding to multiple RFPs, can the Information and Risk Assessment Form and all supplemental attachments be submitted once or do we need to submit individual packages, specific to each RFP (Service Provider, Operator, TST, Next Gen)?
A: Agencies only need to submit one form and one set of documents for the supplemental information regardless of how many proposals they submit. Please note this answer has been updated since the bidders’ conference.
Talent Solutions RFP – No questions asked
Next Generation Zone RFP
Q: In the Design section question Af- Working on diverse/divergent issue agendas to reach outcomes. Would you elaborate on diverse agendas? Is there room to consider integrated needs like housing?
A: Yes, there is room to consider additional needs. This question was related to understanding that different agencies have different goals and priorities, and we want you to explain how you would work together and through different goals and priorities.
Q: Regarding the section on “A” question “G” – As a council, how do you see the director and consortium agency leadership working together to accomplish this? Specifically, the cross-training and session planning activities are explicitly mentioned in the Next Generation Zone’s operator policy.
A: Yes, we encourage everyone to read the policy – we want to see our consortium working together to meet the goals of the policy, and we want to know how you will work to meet those priorities and what you might do above and beyond to support staff.
Q: On Page 11 Partnership with Open Doors the last sentence implies that blending or leveraging of funds is encouraged but goes onto to say it is “not a specific requirement nor funding allocated in this RFP for blended funding”. Is a bidding entity able to propose a blended position leveraging funding?
A: Absolutely yes. If your consortium has the ability to leverage other funding along with the funding in this RFP, you are welcome to do that. Please specify the position or positions, how much funding would be from this RFP, and the source(s) of leveraged funding.
Click below to see the Questions and Answers from the March 7 bidders' conference
Questions submitted by Email:
A: Functional Supervision is the premise of integrated service delivery across the Spokane WorkSource Campus, and as referenced in the RFP, is the design we are seeking. The Spokane integrated service delivery model has been recognized in a variety of studies and publications, staff report preferring the model, and our board has adopted it as our local standard; therefore it is non-negotiable.
A: We are seeking a single consortium to deliver all services outlined in the RFP. Interested agencies should identify partners capable of fulfilling various aspects of the required work to ensure that the model described in the RFP is achieved.
A: The selected consortium will be awarded a total of $305,000 for Program Year 2019-2020 (July 2019-June2020).
A: The SWC will reimburse for administrative/indirect costs pursuant to OMB 2 CFR §200.414, an approved federally recognized indirect cost rate negotiated between the subrecipient and the Federal Government; or, if no such rate exists, either a rate negotiated between the pass-through entity and the subrecipient, or a de minimis indirect cost rate as defined in §200.414 shall be used. Please click here for more detailed information about allowable indirect rates.
- A: Yes, Federal awards to foreign entities under title I of WIOA are allowable. They are required, however, like all recipients to follow the Uniform Guidance at 2 CFR part 200, including any exceptions identified by the Department under 2 CFR part 2900. The full guidance can be found at the following link.
A: Yes, the majority of meetings related to this contract must be held on-site.
A: No, all work for this contract must be done on-site.
A: Yes, we accept electronic proposals. Please submit to admin@wdcspokane.com.
A: Please see page 16 of the WorkSource Service Providers RFP and page 12 of the Next Generation Zone Service Providers RFP to see detail about the cohort trainings. Trainings will be sponsored by the SWC; there is $50,000 set aside for Adult customers, $50,000 for Dislocated Worker customers, and funding to support 25 youth customers.
A: There are two separate bullets – one about being innovative in an environment with a multitude of regulations, and another about operating inclusive workforce programs. In that instance, inclusive can include various racial, socioeconomic, and persons with a disability populations.
A: Although fold-out exhibits are permissible, we cannot guarantee correct printing size for foldouts. Please assume all submitted materials may be printed on 8.5×11 paper.
