RFP
RFP questions regarding the below proposal will be posted here until March 22nd. If you have a question please email [email protected]. Answers will be posted below as they come:
Questions & Answers
Q: How many employees currently work under (or will be anticipated to work under) this contract?
A: 4 staffers, the same as specified in the current RFP.
Q: Who are the present vendors?
A: United Labor Agency of Cleveland.
Q: How many vendors will be awarded as a result of this solicitation?
A: This a single, sole source request.
Q: What are the current billable hourly rates or percentage mark-up rates?
A: This is will be a “Unit Rate” contract. The current Unit Rate is $49.53.
Q: What were the hourly bill rates or percentage mark-up rates at the time of award?
A: Same.
Q: How much was spent (dollar value) on this service last year?
A: The current and previous contracts were $412,080 annually.
Q: How much is intended to be spent (dollar value) once the contract is awarded?
A: The Cost Price Estimate factors are in the RFP.
Q: Is there a Prevailing/Living wage requirement associated with this project?
A: Wage specifications are listed in the RFP.
Q: Are additional points awarded to firms who are or have Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) partners?
A: The proposal evaluation criteria is listed in the RFP.
Q: May we attend the bid opening meeting in-person?
A: Yes. Date and time are listed in the RFP.
Q: Is this a new initiative? If not, please provide the names of the current vendor(s) providing the services.
A: No. United Labor Agency of Cleveland.
Q: Can you please let us know the previous spending of this contract?
A: The current and previous contracts were $412,080 annually.
Q: Please confirm if we can get the proposals or pricing of the incumbent(s).
A: The Cost Price Estimate factors are in the RFP.
Q: Are there any pain points or issues with the current vendor(s)?
A: No. Provider is currently meeting performance measures and goals.
Q: Please confirm the anticipated number of awards.
A: This a single, sole source request.
Q: Please confirm if there are any local vendor preferences.
A: We prefer vendors have a physical presence in the area and surrounding communities.
Q: Is there a cap on the amount of hours each youth will have available for paid work experience?
A: Per our work experience policy, Paid Work Experience is budgeted to average of 200 hours per participant, but the actual amount of Work Experience will be determined by the participant, case manager and the worksite host and properly documented in the Individual opportunity Plan.
Q: What is included in the JFS method for calculating the unit rate? For example, is it the total program expense divided by staff hours = the unit rate?
A: The method for calculating the Unit rate is dividing the total operating expenses (Staff costs, Operational costs, and Equipment costs) by the total number of Lake County Department of Job & Family Services units Purchased. (Ex. 1 FTE = 2080hrs. , 0.5 FTE = 1040hrs. , .25 FTE = 520hrs. etc.) Total operational costs/total staff hours dedicated to the program = Unit Rate.
Q: Can the dedicated program manager have a case load as well as manage the program? Or, are you looking for at least 4 dedicated staff for CCMEP including the program manager?
A: Our RFP states that:
• Case Manager to participant ratios should be proposed and budgeted at twenty (20) participants to one (1) Case Manager using a comprehensive service delivery method.
• All programs should be proposed and budgeted with not less than three (3) Case Managers and with designated back-up coverage for case management services.
If the dedicated program manager is the designated back-up coverage for cast management services, a minimal case load can be accommodated with approval of the CCMEP Supervisor and WDB Director.
Q: In regard to the OhioWorksFirst (OWF) RFP, it talks about an employability assessment. Can you tell us what the current provider is using as an employability assessment or if Lake JFS has a current employability assessment that must be used.
A: Lake JFS recommends utilizing the Career assessments available through OhioMeansJobs.com as the employability assessment. The current provider utilizes the OMJ Career Assessment tool.