Title
One-Stop Operator Services Request for Proposals Contract Award (Ordinance S-47571)
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a contract with Arbor E&T, LLC, dba Equus Workforce Solutions to provide one-stop operator (OSO) services. The term of the initial contract will be for approximately 13 months beginning on or about June 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, with three, one-year options to extend beginning on July 1, 2022. The aggregate value of the contract shall not exceed $3,100,000. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department, on behalf of the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board, is responsible for procuring and managing OSO Services in compliance with WIOA.
The OSO is responsible for ensuring services provided at the City’s three ARIZONA@WORK City of Phoenix comprehensive job center locations and throughout the One-Stop Network are easily accessible, customer-driven, personalized, and responsive to the community's workforce development needs. The ARIZONA@WORK City of Phoenix One-Stop Network offers comprehensive services and resources to job seekers while partnering with employers to help meet their workforce needs in the City of Phoenix.
The OSO will coordinate services throughout the ARIZONA@WORK City of Phoenix service network, convene ARIZONA@WORK City of Phoenix workforce system partners, provide the welcome function for customers at the comprehensive job centers, support and continuously implement Integrated Service Delivery, perform continuous internal improvement efforts, maintain a system for customer referrals among workforce system partners, and comply with all WIOA regulations.
Procurement Information
Solicitation RFP-CED20-OSO, One-Stop Operator Services, was issued on Nov. 30, 2020 and conducted in accordance with the City’s Administrative Regulation for procurement. The City received five proposals, four of which were responsive to the RFP’s requirements. An evaluation panel scored the responsive proposals based on the following criteria:
- Proposer's Qualifications & Experience (0-300 points).
- Assigned Staff's Qualifications and Experience (0-275 points).
- Approach to Scope of Work (0-225 points).
- Proposed Budget (0-200 points).
Staff recommends the proposal offered by Arbor E&T, LLC, dba Equus Workforce Solutions as the highest-scored, responsive and responsible proposal.
Contract Term
The initial term of the contract will be for 13 months starting on or about June 1, 2021, with three, one-year renewal options which may be exercised at the City’s discretion. The purpose of the 13-month initial term is to align the contract with the City’s fiscal year, which begins on July 1. Additionally, the City's current OSO contract with Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona expires on June 30, 2021. The overlap in services allows for a transition and seamless services for customers.
Financial Impact
The aggregate value of the OSO Services to be provided through this contract shall not exceed $3,100,000. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available from the City’s allocation of federal WIOA funds.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was recommended for approval by the Workforce and Economic Development Subcommittee at the April 28, 2021 meeting by a vote of 3-0. Additionally, this item was approved at the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board Executive Leadership Committee meeting on April 9, 2021.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Ginger Spencer and the Community and Economic Development Department.