Welcome Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program Bidders’ Webinar Telephone Lines are Muted Presenters Rebekah Lashman, Commonwealth Corporation Theresa Rowland, Commonwealth Corporation October 14, 2014 Dial in to our conference line for the audio. Call: 1-888-265-4641 When prompted, enter passcode: 2300388045 © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 1 Today’s Webinar Will Cover… • Overview of Request for Proposals • Grant Application Package Attachments • Answers about the RFP or Application Package If you encounter any technical issues during this session please contact Angela Holley at 617-717-6911. © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 2 Status Attendee List Presentation Area Chat Box © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 3 Key Dates Activity Date Deadline for Written Questions October 28, 2014 Applications Due November 12, 2014 at Noon Applicants Notified of Status December 2014 Estimated Contract Start Date January 2015 Contract End Date April 2015 © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 4 Overview Funding Availability: $250,000 Match Requirement: None Duration of Contracts: 4 Months Maximum Amount Per Grant: $25,000 © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 5 Eligible Lead Applicants • • • • • • • Employers and employer associations Local workforce investment boards Labor organizations Joint labor management partnerships Community-based organizations Institutions of higher education Kindergarten through Gr. 12, inclusive, and vocational education institutions • One-stop career centers • Local workforce development entities • Private for-profit and non-profit organizations providing education and workforce training Page 4 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 6 Partners • A minimum of two employers with operations in Massachusetts and that employ Massachusetts residents in the target occupations. – – – – Have projected vacancies in the target occupations Willing to consider future graduates Engage in program design process Must sign the MOA • Applicants are encouraged to identify additional partners Page 4 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 7 Goals of the Grant Program • Work collaboratively through industry partnerships to: – design training and employment programs to prepare and place unemployed and underemployed individuals in information technology occupations; and – build regional training capacity across the Commonwealth for information technology occupations. Page 5 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 8 Goals of the Grant Program • Applicants may also focus their program design efforts to include the following activities: – improve employment in information technology occupations for low-income individuals, women and minorities; – develop strong career awareness and advising programs for kindergarten to grade 12, inclusive, postsecondary, disconnected youth, underemployed workers and unemployed adults; – increase support for internship and apprentice training; – boost industry-relevant instructor capacity for high school and postsecondary programs. Page 5 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 9 Information Technology Workforce Training and Placement Grants • Estimate that $3.35M may be available for this purpose • Grant Awards: not likely to exceed $350,000 • Grant Duration: up to two years in duration • Applicants will not be required to have applied for or received a Program Design Grant to be eligible for Training and Placement Grant funds Page 5 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 10 Target Population • Design training and employment programs for Massachusetts residents – Strong preference: Unemployed • Individual who is currently not employed – May qualify: Underemployed • Individual who is working in a low wage job – Not intended for incumbent workers • May include recent college graduates or career changers working in other occupations or low wage jobs • More information about Workforce Training Fund in RFP Page 6 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 11 Target Occupations • • • • • • • • • • • • • Computer Programmers (SOC 15-1131) Software Developers, Applications (SOC 15-1132) Software Developers, Systems Software (SOC 15-1133) Computer User Support Specialists (SOC 15-1151) Computer Systems Analysts (SOC 15-1121) Information Security Analysts (SOC 15-1122) Web Developers (SOC 15-1134) Database Administrators (SOC 15-1141) Network and Computer Systems Administrators (SOC 15-1142) Computer Network Architects (SOC 15-1143) Computer Network Support Specialists (SOC 15-1152) Computer Hardware Engineers (SOC 17-2061) Other –must provide description/definition of the occupation with SOC Code and supporting evidence of demand by employers Page 5-6 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 12 Allowable Costs • • • • • • • Assessing the relevance, quantity and quality of existing training, employment or education programs that serve as a source of workforce supply Developing a plan to improve or create programs to supply future workers with required skills/competencies Developing a plan to deliver the required training/education to unemployed or underemployed workers Developing a plan to successfully place training participants in employment in the target occupations Developing a plan to provide hands-on training and work experience, including internships, in the target occupations to participants; Development of curriculum Other activities required to develop a plan to address the expressed business need Page 7 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 13 Application Package • • • • Part 1: Application Summary Form Part 2: Application Narrative Form Part 3: Work Plan Form Part 4: Budget & Budget Narrative Forms (Excel) • Part 5: Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) • Part 6: Certificate of Good Standing • Part 7: Certification Pages 10-11 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 14 Part 1: Application Summary Form • Cover Page • Summary Level Information • Project Summary will be shared publicly for all organizations awarded funding Page 10 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 15 Part 2: Application Narrative Form • Narrative Questions • Do not exceed 10 pages Page 11 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 16 Part 3: Work Plan Form • All proposed program design activities • Basis for mid-point check in and final report • Sufficient detail to allow reviewers to assess likelihood of completing proposed activities Page 11 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 17 Part 4: Budget & Budget Narrative Forms (EXCEL) • Forms are in Excel File • Detailed instructions on Part 4 in RFP • Budgets will be used to evaluate applications • Budget Form (4a) • • Summary Level Budget Narrative (4b) • • • Narrative explaining how funds will be used Rate @ Unit calculations Actual Costs vs. Cost Allocation Page 11 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 18 Part 5: Memorandum of Agreement • Draft provided • Signed by all partners Page 11 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 19 Part 6: Certificate of Good Standing • Lead applicant • C.O.G.S. must be less than 6 months old • Certificate of Good Standing may be accessed online • Allow time for any delay in receiving C.O.G.S • Submit as PDF file Page 11 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 20 Part 7: Certification • Must be signed by an authorized signatory for the lead applicant • Submit as PDF file Page 11 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 21 Evaluation Process and Criteria • o o o o o Process Threshold Screening Compliance Screening Scored based on 4 criteria See Page 12 for list of criteria & point values Commonwealth Corporation reserves the right to consider other criteria in making competitive awards. Pages 12-13 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 22 Application Submission o Wednesday, November 12, 2014 12:00 noon o Electronic copy sent to srs@commcorp.org Page 10 of the Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program RFP © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 23 Questions © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 24 Thank You! Information Technology Workforce Program Design Grant Program Bidders’ Webinar Additional Questions Additional questions will be accepted until October 28, 2014 Email all questions to trowland@commcorp.org All Questions & Answers will be posted to www.commcorp.org © 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 25