Title
Workforce Development Board Consulting Services Contract Award - RFP-CED23-WBCS
Description
This report requests the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee recommend City Council authorization to contract with Samira Cook dba Purposeful World Strategies (Contractor) for consulting services to support the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board (the Board). The aggregate value of the contract will not exceed $345,000. There is no impact to the General Fund.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
The Board is a local workforce development board established by federal law in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The Board is a collaboration of local business, education, and community-based partners working to address and solve workforce and economic development issues in the greater Phoenix community by actively engaging the local workforce development system and stakeholders.
The Board is required by WIOA and the State of Arizona to develop a four-year Local Workforce Development Area Plan (Local Plan). The Local Plan is an action plan to develop, align, and integrate service delivery strategies across the ARIZONA@WORK City of Phoenix System. The Local Plan is a business-led, results oriented plan that must support the achievement of Arizona's visions, goals, and strategies as outlined in the State Plan and supports an integrated workforce system. Contractor will lead the Board through a long-range planning process including labor market analysis, stakeholder input, and synthesis of the State Plan to develop the 2024-2028 Local Plan.
Contractor will provide additional consulting services, including conducting a workforce development system environmental scan (Environmental Scan) of the greater Phoenix area. The Environmental Scan will identify workforce development providers in the City to ascertain which populations they serve, including individuals facing barriers to employment. The Environmental Scan will additionally allow the Board to understand program duplications, similarities, differences, and gaps in services to drive better solutions for garnering a robust talent pipeline for employers.
Procurement Information
The Workforce Development Board Consulting Services Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on Dec. 8, 2023, and conducted in accordance with the City's Administrative Regulation for procurement. The City received six proposals, four of which were responsive to the RFP's requirements. An evaluation panel scored the responsive proposals based on the following criteria:
- Primary Consultants Qualifications and Experience (275 points).
- Approach to the Scope of Work (250 points).
- Proposer's Qualifications & Experience (250 points).
- Fees (225 points).
Staff recommends the proposal offered by Samira Cook dba Purposeful World Strategies as the highest-scored, responsive and responsible proposal.
Contract Term
The term of the contract is for one year with four one-year renewal options that may be exercised at the City's discretion.
Financial Impact
The aggregate value of the contract shall not exceed $345,000. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available from the City's allocation of federal WIOA funds.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
Procurement of Workforce Board Consultant Services was approved by the Board on Nov. 10, 2022.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager John Chan and the Community and Economic Development Department.