2015-16
Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities
Program Delivery Support Branch
33 Bloor Street East, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M7A 2S3
Issued: June 11, 2015
CFP Closing Date: 11:59 p.m. (EST) on Monday August 31, 2015

Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2015

Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide
1.1
Context ........................................................................................................................................ 4
1.2
Overview of Employment Ontario ............................................................................................... 5
1.3
Overview of Employment and Training Service Integration (ETSI) ............................................. 5
1.4
Overview of the Pilot ................................................................................................................... 5
1.5
Project Principles ......................................................................................................................... 8
1.6
Roles and Responsibilities ........................................................................................................... 8
................................................................................. 8
1.7
Timelines/Schedule of Delivery ................................................................................................... 9
1.8
Pilot Outcomes ............................................................................................................................ 9
1.9
Performance Measures ............................................................................................................. 10
1.10
Pilot Evaluation ......................................................................................................................... 11
2 APPLICATION PROCESS ............................................................................................................ 12
2.1
Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 12
2.2
Eligibility .................................................................................................................................... 12
2.3
Budget ....................................................................................................................................... 13
2.4
Proposal Evaluation .................................................................................................................. 14
2.5
Stage I ....................................................................................................................................... 14
2.6
Stage II ...................................................................................................................................... 14
2.7
Stage III ..................................................................................................................................... 15
2.8
Proposal Timelines .................................................................................................................... 15
2.9
Obligations and Responsibilities ............................................................................................... 15
............................................................................. 15
2.10
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), 2005 ................................................. 15
2.11
Collection and Use of Personal Information ............................................................................. 16
2.12
Visual Identity and Communications ........................................................................................ 16
2.13
Prohibited communications ...................................................................................................... 16
Negotiation of Agreement ........................................................................................................ 16
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide
2.15
Conflict of Interest ..................................................................................................................... 16
2.16
Performance Management ....................................................................................................... 16
2.17
CFP Submission Instructions ...................................................................................................... 17
3 RESPONSE TEMPLATE .............................................................................................................. 17
3.0
Instructions ................................................................................................................................ 17
3.1
Sector Identification .................................................................................................................. 17
3.2
Applicant Contact Information ................................................................................................. 18
3.3
Project Information ................................................................................................................... 18
3.4 Declaration ...................................................................................................................................... 18
3.5 Project Summary ............................................................................................................................. 18
3.6 Project Impact ................................................................................................................................. 19
3.7 Organizational Capacity .................................................................................................................. 19
3.8 Curriculum Development ................................................................................................................ 20
3.9 Work Plan ........................................................................................................................................ 20
3.10 Proposed Budget Template ........................................................................................................... 21
4 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................ 22
4.1
Appendix I: Definitions .............................................................................................................. 22
4.2
Appendix II: Funding Categories ............................................................................................... 23
4.3
Appendix III: Examples of Eligible and In-Eligible Expenses ...................................................... 23
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide
Background:
Emerging evidence, from Canada and internationally, suggests that strategies that bring together local employers, training providers, and workers within particular sectors, are achieving positive employment outcomes. These kinds of sector-based partnerships that combine public and private resources can move trainees into better-paying, higher-quality jobs and build workforces that meet the unique skills needs of particular industries.
Research shows that individuals without a high school diploma who participate in training have higher levels of employment and earnings when basic skills training is offered in the context of specific workplaces or postsecondary paths. This type of integrated, focused training can also support adult learners to progress from basic skills training to higher levels of occupational and postsecondary training.
Results are particularly promising when training programs are designed to meet the specific needs of individual industries or occupations, and integrated with other employment supports.
Canada-Ontario Job Fund Agreement:
On March 28, 2014, Ontario signed the Canada-Ontario Job Fund Agreement with the federal government, which will provide Ontario with $192 million per year for the next six years.
The Agreement is a key source of funding for new employer-led training and represents an opportunity for the province to listen to and work with employers so more Ontarians can obtain the skills required to find, and succeed in, employment.
Canada-Ontario Job Grant:
Under the Agreement, Ontario will use the new Canada-Ontario Job Grant to support three new training initiatives:
1. Canada-Ontario Job Grant (grant program, launched September 26, 2014) – Direct financial support for individual employers who wish to purchase training for their workforce;
2. Canada-Ontario Job Grant: UpSkill (pilot) – Short-duration sector-specific technical and essential skills training to meet the shared workforce development needs of employers in specific sectors; and,
3. Canada-Ontario Job Grant: Customized Training (pilot) – Short-duration training that is customized to meet the firm-specific needs of individual employers.
Expression of Interest:
An Expression of Interest (EOI) process was launched on September 26, 2014 for the Canada-Ontario
Job Grant: UpSkill and Customized Training pilots to gather additional information about from trainers and employers on sector skills training needs and to gauge interest and capacity for carrying out sectorfocused projects based on the training pilot design.
The EOI submission period closed on November 14, 2014. Key findings from the UpSkill EOIs included:

Strong evidence that partnerships would be in place to deliver an UpSkill pilot project;
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide

Diverse range of sector interest in UpSkill; and,

Validation of the need for skills training supports that included curriculum development.
The vision of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (the Ministry) is to have the most educated people and highly skilled workforce in the world in order to build the province's competitive advantage and quality of life.
As part of delivering on this vision, the Ministry is responsible for the development, management and evaluation of a diverse suite of employment and training services. These programs and services have evolved over time to respond to changing labour market circumstances and priorities. The Ministry operates Employment Ontario (EO) as a one-stop source of information, services and programs for jobseekers and employers.
The Employment Ontario Service Promise is to:

Ensure the highest quality of service and support to help individuals meet their career goals;

Provide opportunities to make it easier for individuals to improve their skills through education and training

Ensure that no matter which EO office individuals walk into, they will get the help they need; and,

Work with employers and communities to build the highly skilled, highly educated workforce that
Ontario needs to be competitive.
While the government currently invests over $1 billion per year in employment and training services through several ministries, the 2012 Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services
(Drummond Commission) identified opportunities to improve the efficiency and quality of employment and training services by integrating governmentwide services with EO. The Drummond Commission’s recommendation is supported by internal Ministry research, broad consultation, as well as a comprehensive, evidencebased review of the effectiveness of Ontario’s programs and services.
Building on the solid foundation of EO, the government is exploring new ways to meet the needs of jobseekers, workers who require training, and employers, and is moving forward with the integration of employment and training services across government in a carefully sequenced and phased manner.
Purpose of Pilot:
The Canada-Ontario Job Grant: UpSkill (UpSkill) pilot will test a model of sector-focused skills training by funding partnerships to develop and implement sector-specific, integrated essential and technical skills training for employees.

UpSkill will help employers in participating sectors to meet their shared workforce development needs by providing employees with short-term essential and technical skills training aligned with the needs of the sector.

In addition to supporting sector-wide workforce development needs, UpSkill aims to help employees to develop skills they need to maintain employment or to move to a higher position within the business and the sector.
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide

As a part of the Canada-Ontario Job Grant, the pilot will be cost-shared between government and employers, encouraging greater employer investment in skills training. The results of the pilot will inform the longer-term delivery of the Canada Ontario Job Grant (COJG), as well as the future suite of employment and training services available through Employment Ontario.
Key Activities:
Skills Training:
Training supported through UpSkill is driven by sector demand and must be directly related to the skills needs identified by sector employers:

Sector employers identify the types of training required to meet their skills needs and the individual(s) who will be trained.

Skills training is intended for employed individuals acquiring new skills for their current job or in preparation for another job with the same employer.

Individuals cannot participate in training funded through UpSkill unless they have been identified by their employer as a training participant.
Training must be delivered by one of the following third-party providers:

Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology

Publicly assisted universities

Union-based training centres

School boards

Product vendors with manufacturer-recognized training certifications

Private trainers operating in compliance with the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005

Sector-specific / industry-based trainers, potentially including industry associations o For partnerships in which an industry association would be the training provider, additional accountability criteria would be required. Depending on the legal status and the governance structure of the industry association, it could be eligible as a training provider, provided that it:
 Is a distinct legal entity, separate from the employers who will benefit from the training (i.e. unambig uous “third party” to the employer and the employee);
 Does not use UpSkill supported training to train its own employees;
 Clearly demonstrates past experience as a training provider, and as an organization with the mandate to serve the sectoral employers that will be participating in the proposed training; and,
 Declares all potential conflicts of interest in their proposal / in advance of signing an agreement.
Curriculum Development:
UpSkill supports the development of sector-specific , integrated essential and technical skills training to meet the shared workforce development needs of a sector. Curriculum developed and delivered through UpSkill is intended to be of short duration and should not generally exceed 90 hours of instructional time per participant.
Curriculum supported by UpSkill is required to integrate both essential and technical skills:
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide

Essential skills provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change. Essential skills include not only reading, writing, document use and numeracy, but also, oral communication, working with others, thinking, computer use and continuous learning.

Technical skills are those skills related to new or existing business processes, such as providing customer service(s), and operating machinery, or other technology, as identified by participating employers.
Curriculum must, to the extent possible

Be based on the nature of the training required:

Reflect the workforce development needs of all participating employers;

Align with industry standards, where they exist, and with the core occupational competencies of the positions supported by the training;

Result in certification or other documentation that demonstrates completion of training, articulates what skills have been learned, and is endorsed by all participating employers; and,

Allow for flexible delivery methods / channels, based on the business needs of participating employers, and the learning needs of training participants.
Essential Skills Assessments:
Essential skills assessments are required for all training participants in advance of training to:
 Support the development of training curriculum that meets training participants’ essential skills needs in the context of business practices and technical / occupational skill requirements; and,

Determine the level of and extent to which essential skills are integrated into training delivery, including how the essential skills levels of training participants may inform instructional delivery and the accomplishment of training objectives and goals.
Essential skills assessments are also required for all training participants upon completion of training to support the evaluation of UpSkill, including providing means to assess the impact of training.
An essential skills assessment is a process to determine an individual’s essential skills strengths and areas to consider for improvement. It can also measure the progress of an individual by assessing their skill level prior to and after training. This form of assessment will support the curriculum developer to understand the essential skills needs of training participants, and/or inform instructional delivery. The nine Essential Skills that will be assessed are:

Reading Text - reading different types of material such as notes, letters, memos, manuals, specifications, books, reports and journals.

Document Use - reading tables, graphs, lists, blueprints, drawings, signs, labels.

Numeracy - using numbers to perform calculating and estimating tasks such as handling cash, budgeting, measuring and analyzing.

Writing - doing tasks such as filling in forms, writing text and using computers to write.

Oral Communication - using verbal skills to exchange ideas and information with others.

Working with Others - doing tasks with partners or in a team.

Continuous Learning - the requirement of workers to participate in an ongoing process of acquiring skills and knowledge.

Thinking Skills - knowing how to problem solve, make decisions, plan and organize tasks, find information and make good use of memory.
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide

Computer Use - working with computers, from entering information, to knowing a software package, to managing a network, to analyzing and designing systems.
Canada-Ontario Job Grant: UpSkill is designed to be compatible with the parameters of the Canada-
Ontario Job Grant (COJG), as outlined in the Canada-Ontario Job Fund Agreement (March 2014), and as further developed in the Canada-Ontario Job Grant guidelines (September 2014).
The COJG supports skills training that meet the workforce development needs of employers.

The employer identifies the individual(s) who will be trained.

The employer identifies the type(s) of training required.

The employer contributes towards the cost of training.

Training is delivered by an eligible third party.
Roles and responsibilities of project partners:
Employers:

Working with the training provider and any other relevant sectoral partners to support the development of training curriculum that meets their workforce development needs;

Supporting, approving, endorsing, and recognising the developed curriculum

Recognising the completion of training and outcomes for participating employees as a result of training, e.g. avoiding lay-off/improvement in employment status, increased hours of work, increased wages, promotion/access to advancement, etc.; and

Developing formal agreements and/or memorandums of understanding with their partners to whom funding may be flowed, where necessary for accountability and agreement management, and for the purposes of clarifying the project.
Applicant:
Important roles the applicant could play include, but are not limited to:

Bringing together employers and the training provider to support curriculum development;

Ensuring employer support, approval, endorsement, and recognition of the developed curriculum;

Working with sectoral employers to support workforce access to training (e.g. identifying training sites); and,

Spreading awareness of training to other employers, employees, and other sectoral stakeholders.

Managing the agreement with the Ministry, submitting required reports and assisting in monitoring and pilot evaluation.

Ensuring that objectives and outcomes are being met, keeping a record of progress and accomplishments to-date and maintaining accurate financial records.

Ensuring that funding is being used for its intended purpose and that objectives stated in the agreement are being met.
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide
Training Providers:
Training providers are responsible for:

Working with the applicant, participating employers, and any relevant sector bodies to develop curricula that meet identified workforce development needs (i.e. sector-specific skills requirements);

Delivering, or procuring, pre-training essential skills assessments for all training participants o Assessment results will be available to individual training participants upon request o Assessment results should inform curriculum development and training delivery (see Activities /
Program Components – Pre-Training Essential Skills Assessments for further details);

Delivering training curriculum to identified training participants; o Training may be delivered through any channel (e.g. in-person or electronically) or combination of channels, as long as it is delivered in a manner which support s training participants’ access;

Delivering, or procuring, post-training essential skills assessments for all training participants;

Updating the training with input from both participating employers and training participants (within the scope of the agreement); and

Checking in regularly to ensure that the training is progressing well to the satisfaction of all concerned parties.
The Ministry:
Review and approve proposed projects based on the CFP submissions;

Confirm UpSkill program pilot projects through a letter from the Director of the Regional branch; and,

Release UpSkill program pilot funding to successful applicants upon signing of the agreement by both the applicant and the Ministry.

Training may be part-time or full-time and may be delivered to employees through staggered intakes, depending on the operational needs of employers.

Depending on the nature of the proposed training, all or parts of the training can be delivered inperson (e.g. at a worksite or local training institution) or by electronic means (e.g. by webinar or other distance learning methods), provided that it can be accessed by participants in Ontario.

UpSkill agreements must not exceed two years, and must end by no later than September 30 th ,
2017.

Curriculum developed and delivered with UpSkill funding support is intended to be of short duration and should not generally exceed 90 hours of instructional time per participant.
The project outcomes and defined timelines are to help the applicant meet established goals.
Short-term (immediate)
Participating employers report:

UpSkill training meets sector needs and individual business priorities;
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide

Increased ability to meet immediate workforce development needs;

Satisfaction with training; and,

Sector recognition of training and credentials.
Participating employees report:

Satisfaction with training;

Improved employment situation (e.g., part-time to full-time employment, or retention of employee who have received notice of layoff);

Increased job-related knowledge and skills, relevant to sector needs and employer priorities; and,

Increased labour market attachment.
The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities reports:
 Increased knowledge of employers’ workforce development needs in different sectors; and,

Increased ability to identify suitable / effective sector-focused workforce development initiatives.
Medium-term (intermediate)
Participating employers report:

Increased capacity to meet employment needs and increased productivity; and,

Increase in sectors developing curriculum and recognized credentials to provide skills training aligned with sector needs and business priorities.
Participating employees report:

Increased retention and opportunity for career advancement;

Increased employment opportunities for individuals in entry-level positions resulting from training; and,

Increased labour mobility as a result of sector-recognized training.
The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities reports;

New relationships with employers and organizations acting on behalf of sectoral employers.
UpSkill presents a new way of engaging sectors and employers to support their workforce development needs. The ministry’s priorities for pilot performance focus on the measurement and collection of data to support further pilot development, as well as future decisions on the size, scale, and permanency of the intervention. Should UpSkill become a permanent program, data collected would inform the development of baseline performance standards.
UpSkill is subject to the Ontario government performance measurement framework, as well as the performance measurement framework established under the Canada-Ontario Job Fund Agreement.
Performance measurement is based on the following measures:

Effectiveness

Customer Service

Efficiency
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide
Within each dimension of service quality, core measures of performance are identified. At maturity, the three dimensions will be balanced and weighted to indicate their value when combined to measure overall service quality.
1) Effectiveness
Effectiveness is measured by two core performance measures:
A) The service impact , or what the pilot achieves; and,
B) The customer value of the pilot, as perceived by those whom the pilot serves.
Service impact is a measure of the impact or outcome of the services provided. It measures what is different for the employer or participant as a result of participation in training through the Canada-
Ontario Job Grant. Service impact is measured as follows:

For employers: at exit (i.e., u pon closure of the employer’s service plan), as well as at 3 months and 12 months after exit.

For trainees: at exit (closure of the individual’s service plan), as well as at 6 months and 12 months after exit.
Customer Value is a measure of the employer’s and trainees’ overall assessment regarding value of the program. For employers it measures whether the Canada-Ontario Job Grant is considered a worthwhile investment to support employers’ workforce development needs. For trainees it provides a measure of the perceived return on government investment for the program.

Customer Value is measured at exit for both employers and trainees.
2) Customer Service
The Customer Service dimension captures one core performance measure: Customer Satisfaction .
Customer Satisfaction is a measure of feedback from employers and trainees about the service they have received. The service provider must follow-up with 100% of employers and trainees at exit to obtain Customer Satisfaction feedback.
At exit from service, employers and trainees who have received the Canada-Ontario Job Grant are asked by the service provider to rate (on a scale of 1 to 5) how likely they are to recommend the program to other employers requiring assistance with their workforce development needs.
3) Efficiency
Efficiency is the third dimension of service quality, and includes one core performance measure, with three indicators that measure program intake.

Number of employers that comprise UpSkill training agreements.

Number of employees participating in, and completing training.

Number of sector groups and/or industry associations participating as partners in UpSkill training agreements.
The UpSkill pilot will be monitored and evaluated

to report back to the Ministry on the implementation of the pilots in terms of service delivery, employer outreach, program uptake, and immediate outcomes;
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide

to provide useful information for informing program design, development and delivery modifications if required;

to enable assessment of data quality and inte grity, extent of service providers’ engagement with employers, including new partnerships and training delivered; and

assess congruence between employer and sector needs and training though employer and trainee follow-up survey data collected at exit, and 3, 6, and 12 month intervals
The data obtained from monitoring and evaluation is intended to provide evidence to inform the relevance and suitability of the pilots in meeting the strategic needs of the ministry.
The Ministry is seeking proposals to deliver the UpSkill pilot program as described in section 2.2 of this package. All parts of the response template, as outlined in the following section, must be completed in order to receive full consideration during the evaluation process.
The Ministry will administer the application process through the following steps:

The Ministry will post the UpSkill Call for Proposal (CfP) package on the Employment Ontario
Partners Gateway (EOPG) website to invite eligible organizations to apply.

Applicants will submit a detailed project proposal and employment form as described in section 2.7 of the UpSkill CfP package.

The Ministry will review and evaluate submitted project proposals and select the proposals that best support UpSkill priorities.

The Ministry will make a decision regarding funding allocations and inform successful applicants.

The Ministry will advise all organizations on the status of their application.

Funds for approved projects are flowed to successful applicants upon signing of an agreement with the Ministry.
The Ministry will only accept proposals submitted by a lead applicant on behalf of multiple sectoral employers who have shared needs for workforce development. Proposals may be submitted by any legal entity, such as an industry association, employer consortium, union training hall (if not trainer), or an individual lead employer willing to sign an agreement with the ministry and be accountable on behalf of all participating employers.
Prior to submitting an application, the applicant would be responsible for convening / recruiting sectoral employers to participate, including obtaining employer commitments to make minimum contributions toward the cost of training. There may be flexibility in the amounts each individual employer contributes, but the applicant / agreement holder will be responsible for one third of eligible training costs.
UpSkill takes a sectoral approach to training, and integrates sector-specific technical and essential skills training to meet the shared workforce development needs of employers in identified sectors.
The pilot is designed to help employers and training providers work in partnership to develop and deliver sector-specific training curriculum. Employers should use the UpSkill pilot funding to support
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide permanent, sustainable full-time jobs, enable incumbent workers to remain in their current positions or for incumbent workers to take new positions within the business that offer job advancement.
Multiple employers can partner together to apply for the UpSkill pilot program, however, there must be one “lead” applicant that enters into an agreement with the Ministry and assumes accountability for deliverables and outcomes. The UpSkill pilot program will be funded through Transfer Payment agreements.
The budget for this pilot is fixed, and within the funding available, the Ministry will determine which proposals demonstrate the most impact and value for money. Project costs should demonstrate value for money, fair market value and reasonable pricing. The proposal should include a detailed budget of forecasted project costs, cash contributions from participating employers, and the amount of funding requested. The applicant must complete the Proposed Budget Template.
Applicants must complete the Proposed Budget Template (Section 4.10) and must include a detailed budget of forecasted project costs, the applicant’s financial cash contributions, the partners’ financial cash contributions and the amount of funding requested.
Consistent with Canada-Ontario Job Fund Agreement requirements and Canada-Ontario Job Grant guidelines:

The applicant, on behalf of participating employers, contributes at least one third of eligible costs; o Subject to agreement from participating employers, the partnership may allow for flexibility in employer contribution requirements, provided that its total contribution to training is at least one third of eligible costs. o The government contributes two thirds of eligible costs, up to $10,000 per training participant.
UpSkill (including both employer and government contributions) will provide funding for the following eligible costs:

Curriculum development, including partnership building; o As previously indicated, curriculum development, related partnership-building activities, and any additional needs assessment(s) required. o Essential skills assessments, including pre-training and post-training assessments;

Delivery of training; o This funding category includes:
 Tuition and other training fees;
 Textbooks, software, and other required materials;
 Mandatory student fees; and,
 Examination fees.
Applicants are required to maintain documentation for audit purposes.
For a detailed description of the Funding Categories, please refer to Appendix II.
For examples of eligible and in-eligible expenditures, please refer to Appendix III.
Financial Considerations
Applicants have discretion over the use of their funds within the following parameters:

The Applicant shall use the funds only for the purpose of carrying out the project;
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide

The Applicant shall spend the funds only in accordance with the Budget;

The Applicant shall use the funds to carry out the Project in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement; and in compliance with all federal and provincial laws and regulations, all municipal by-laws, and any other orders, rules and by-laws related to any aspect of the Project.
Audit Considerations
An Auditor’s Report is required when the Ministry funding contribution totals $100,000 or more. The
Statement of Revenue and Expenditure Report must be audited by an external auditor in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. The auditor should verify, at a minimum, that proper and distinct accounts and records are maintained for project funds/expenditures by each budget line.
The Auditor’s Report must include an opinion on the Statement of Revenue and Expenditure
Report. The successful Applicant should instruct their auditor to prepare the Auditor’s Report according to Ministry requirements.
Proposed Budget Template
The proposal should include a detailed budget of forecasted project costs and the amount of funding requested. The Applicant must complete and submit the Proposed Budget Template (section 4.10 of the Response Template). The proposed budget should include all costs associated with the project activities.
2.4
The objective of the evaluation process is for the Ministry to select applicants with the best proposal submissions in a manner that is fair, defensible, transparent and well documented.
In order to receive full consideration during evaluation, the submitted proposal must provide a clear and detailed response to all questions listed in the response template.
Stage I will consist of a review to determine which proposals comply with the standard eligibility requirements. Proposals which do not meet all of the standard eligibility requirements, may, subject to the express and implied rights of the Ministry, be disqualified and not evaluated further.
The standard eligibility criteria are:

The proposal must be received by the specified date and time;

The Applicant is eligible under the criteria outlined in the CFP; and

Sectoral partners have each provided a letter of commitment.
Stage II will consist of scoring by the Ministry of each eligible proposal on the basis of the Applicant ’s response to all information requested in this CFP.
The following outlines the categories and weighting for the rated criteria of this CFP.
Rated Criteria Category Weighting
Project Impact
Organizational Capacity
15%
20%
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide
Rated Criteria Category
Curriculum Development
Feasibility of Work Plan
Budget (Value for money)
Total
Weighting
20%
15%
30%
100%
Stage III consists of compiling all Applicant scores, the highest scoring Applicant(s) will be awarded the contract(s).
If Applicants within a sector group are tied, the Ministry will have the existing proposals re-evaluated by different staff.
At the conclusion of the CFP process, all Applicants will be notified. Unsuccessful Applicants may request a debrief meeting with the Ministry.
Deadline for applicants to ask questions
MTCU response to questions posted on
EOPG
Friday June 26, 2015
Friday July 17, 2015
Submission deadline
Applicants notified of results
Monday August 31, 2015
Monday October 5, 2015
Last day to request a debrief if not successful Friday October 16, 2015
Anticipated start date of UpSkill Pilot November 23, 2015
Roles and responsibilities of project applicant:

The detailed project proposal and employment form must be submitted by the project applicant.

The project applicant is the signatory to the agreement, along with the ministry.

The project applicant has responsibility for all financial and other reporting on the project.
Through the AODA, Ontario is developing mandatory accessibility standards that will identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities in key areas of daily living. Standards are being developed to achieve real results in stages. The AODA is expected to be fully implemented by 2025.
The areas addressed by the AODA standards will include: Customer Service; Employment; Information and communication; Transportation; and The Built Environment.
Additional information on the AODA is available at e-Laws Ontario . (Frequently Accessed Law section)
Or through: Publications Ontario
777 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario
Tel: 1-800-668-9938, or in Toronto at (416) 326-5300
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Applicants are solely responsible for familiarizing themselves, and ensuring that they comply, with the laws applicable to the collection and dissemination of personal information, including resumes and other information concerning employees of the applicants or other collaborators. If this CFP requires applicants to provide the Ministry with personal information of employees who have been included as resources in response to this CFP, Applicants will ensure that they have obtained written consent from each of those employees before forwarding such personal information to the Ministry. Such written consents are to specify that the personal information may be forwarded to the Ministry for the purpose of responding to this CFP and use by the Ministry for the purposes set out in the CFP. The Ministry may, at any time, request the original consents or copies of the original consents from Applicants, and upon such request being made, Applicants will immediately supply such originals or copies to the
Ministry.
All projects shall comply with the Visual Identity and Communications Guidelines for Employment
Ontario Services, which may be amended from time to time at the sole discretion of the Ministry, available on the Employment Ontario Partners’ Gateway web site.
Applicants must not attempt to communicate directly or indirectly with any employee, contractor or representatives of the Province, including the evaluation committee for any Catchment Area and any elected officials of the Province, or with members of the public or the media, about the project described in this CFP or otherwise in respect of the CFP, other than as expressly directed or permitted by the Province.
2.14
This CFP is not an agreement to purchase goods or services. The Ministry is not bound to enter into an
Agreement with any Applicant. Proposals will be assessed in light of the evaluation criteria. Notice in writing to an Applicant that it has been identified as a successful Applicant and the subsequent full execution of a written Agreement will constitute an Agreement for the project.
Each Applicant must declare whether it has an actual or potential Conflict of Interest.
If, at the sole and absolute discretion of the Ministry, the Applicant is found to be in a Conflict of
Interest, the Ministry may, in addition to any other remedies available at law or in equity, disqualify the proposal submitted by the Applicant.
The Applicant, by submitting the proposal, warrants that to its best knowledge and belief no actual or potential Conflict of Interest exists with respect to the submission of the proposal or performance of the contemplated agreement. Where the Ministry discovers an applicant ’s failure to disclose all actual or potential Conflicts of Interest, the Ministry may disqualify the Applicant or terminate any agreement awarded to that applicant pursuant to this CFP process.
The successful Applicant will be subject to performance management of its project(s), expenditures and reports by the Ministry as set out in the signed agreement, to determine how effectively the Applicant is meeting the agreement requirements. The overall success of the project will be determined through
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide ongoing year-round monitoring, submission of reports and completion of risk assessment(s) if necessary.

All sections of the response template must be completed.
Response to the Call for Proposals must be submitted by August 31, 2015. Late submissions will not be accepted. Proposals submitted in any other manner will not be considered.
Completed responses must be submitted electronically to the appropriate Ministry e-mail below, based on sector.

Accommodation and Food Services: MTCUCentralRegion@ontario.ca

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting: ESRD.Eastern@ontario.ca

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction: ESRD.North@ontario.ca
 Manufacturing including Food: mtcuwesternregion@ontario.ca
If an applicant has any questions with regard to the application process, they may contact the Ministry on or before Friday June 26, 2015 at UpSkill@ontario.ca
.
The following format and sequence should be followed to ensure that each response receives full consideration.
Each response must meet all the eligibility requirements in the Call for Proposals to be considered for funding.
An Expression of Interest process with employers was launched in September 2014.
The expression of interest process gave the Ministry insight into the level of interest, capacity and readiness of employers and training providers to participate in the pilots.
Based on the analysis of the Expression of Interest submissions, the following sectors are recommended as part of the application parameters for the UpSkill pilot: manufacturing, accommodation and food services, mining and forestry, and agriculture.
Please identify the sector for which you are proposing training:
Accommodation and Food Services
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
Manufacturing including Food
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide
Legal name of organization
Contact name
Mailing address
Telephone number
Email address
List of all participating employers:
:
Name of curriculum developer:
List any other partners working with you to develop curriculum
Name of training provider if different than curriculum developer:
Project Start Date:
Project End Date:
This section is to be signed by a person with authority to bind the Applicant.
The enclosed proposal is submitted in response to the above referenced Call for Proposal. Through submission of this response I agree to all of the terms and conditions and that the information provided in this response is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.
Signature
Print name
Job title
Provide a brief synopsis of the project including how the project addresses a training need within the sector. 250 words.
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide
i. Describe the impact your project will have on the following groups and how you will measure its success. 400 words. a. Sector b. Individual Employers c. Trainees ii. Describe how the project will be beneficial to employers and the sector in the long-term?
250 words.
iii. How will the curriculum developed be used within the sector post-project? 150 words.
Accessibility i. ii.
Have you confirmed that all participating employers are in compliance with the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA)? 100 words.
Does your agreement with the trainer ensure that training materials will be made accessible to trainees with accessibility needs? 25 words.
i. Provide information regarding your role as a sector organization in terms of current business, number of years in operation, services, and any other relevant and appropriate information. 250 words. ii. Provide highlights of the qualifications of key staff undertaking the UpSkill pilot project.
Please indicate current number of employees, specific areas of expertise, and relevant experience. 250 words.
iii. Discuss how the pilot objectives and activities align with your organizational mandate.
250 words.
iv. Describe your capacity to successfully complete this project on time and the specialized knowledge you have to achieve the desired outcomes. 250 words.
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide v. Are there any potential risks that might delay the completion of the project? Indicate how these risks will be mitigated. 250 words. vi. What projects of similar scope have you worked on in the past, if applicable? Who did you engage or collaborate with? 250 words.
i. Describe the essential skills assessment tool(s) that will be used to conduct the assessment of trainees. Is it an existing tool? 250 words. ii. What consultations have you done with employers to determine your sector ’s needs?
250 words. iii. Please describe in detail the skills gaps that were identified. 250 words.
A. Technical skills (sector specific)
B. Essential skills (i.e. reading, writing, oral communication, etc.).
iv. What research did you do that indicated there were no existing training resources to address specific skills gaps? 100 words. v. Will the curriculum developed be purchased outright or licensed from a developer? 50 words. vi. Will you be building on existing curriculum to enhance it or will you be developing new curriculum? 250 words.
vii. Please describe the certification or other documentation that trainees will receive at the end of the training to demonstrate completion of training. What skills will have been achieved as a result of the training? 250 words.
Describe the activities that will lead to the intended project outcomes, including timelines.
As indicated in the section 1.7 Timelines/Schedule of Delivery, all eligible organizations must be able to complete their projects by September 30, 2017.
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide
Activity
Curriculum Development
Essential Skills
Assessments (Pre and
Post)
Partnership Building
Training Delivery
Deliverables Start Date End Date
Please create a
which details how you will undertake the activities described in this response in consideration of the factors indicated below.
The Ministry will only contribute two-thirds of the total cost of training, up to a maximum of $10,000 per participant.
Information about funding categories can be found in Section 4.3, Appendix II and Appendix III.
Item # Budget Item Total Cost Employer
Contribution
Partner(s)
Contributions
Amount
Requested from the Ministry
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Curriculum
Development
Essential Skills
Assessments
(Pre and Post)
Partnership
Building
Tuition and other
Training Fees
Textbook, software and other required materials
Mandatory student fees
Exam Fees
Cash Cash
8 Audit Costs
(Projects over
$100,000 will be required to submit a final detailed accounting statement) Max amount $5,000
TOTALS
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide
The following terms have the meanings assigned in this CFP:
“Accessibility” means EO service providers will provide clients with clear paths to the training, employment information, and services they need. Employment Ontario provides reasonable and equitable access to services across the provinces, which includes accommodation for special needs as outlined by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
“Applicant” means an organization that is applying for consideration to undertake the activities described in the call for proposal.
“Employment Ontario” means the comprehensive suite of services and programs designed to assist everyone from employed workers seeking skills upgrades to unemployed individuals in need of basic training.
“EOPG” means the Employment Ontario Partners’ Gateway, a Ministry-maintained site which provides support to service providers delivering Employment Ontario programs and services as part of the Employment Ontario network.
“Evidence-based” means policy-making that is grounded in extensive research – where the problem and options are defined against thorough research and analysis; policy options are evaluated against specific measurable criteria; information is collected and evidence is explicitly considered; and knowledge gaps are proactively identified and addressed.
“Fiscal year” means the period running from April 1 in one calendar year to, and including, March
31 in the next calendar year.
“Integration” means service delivery goals, processes, infrastructure and technology are aligned across channels, allowing all EO service providers to meet client needs and provide seamless service.
“Labour market” means a defined geographic area in which workers offer their skills, experience and knowledge to employers in exchange for wages and benefits.
“Legal entity” means an individual, a sole proprietorship, a corporation, a partnership, a joint venture, or another legally recognized entity that conducts business in the province of Ontario.
“Participant” means an individual identified by their employer as a training recipient funded through UpSkill.
“Partnership/Partners” means a relationship where two or more parties, having compatible goals, have an arrangement to work, share the risk and share the results or proceeds. Partnership implies the sharing of decision making, risks, power, benefits and burdens. It should add value to each partner’s respective services, products or situations.
“Response” means all the documentation submitted by the Applicant in response to the CFP.
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide
“Stakeholder” means somebody or something with direct interest: a person or group with a direct interest, involvement or investment in something; individuals or groups that are affected by a decision and have an interest in its outcome.
“Statement of Revenue and Expenditure Report” means the report which is a consolidation of the detailed project costs submitted to the Ministry by the successful applicant at the end of each fiscal year using a template provided by the Ministry. This report is used as the basis for the annual reconciliation of Funds.
“Successful Applicant” means an organization that has entered into an agreement with the Ministry.
“Training Provider” means the individual responsible for conducting training for employee training that falls in line with the employer objectives.
Successful applicants have discretion over the use of their funds within the parameters outlined in their agreement with the Ministry.
Direct Expenses

Curriculum development, including partnership building; o As previously indicated, curriculum development, related partnership-building activities, and any additional needs assessment(s) required. o Essential skills assessments, including pre-training and post-training assessments;

Delivery of training; o This funding category includes all eligible training costs set out in the Canada-Ontario Job
Grant guidelines (Section 2.6.2):
 Tuition and other training fees;
 Textbooks, software, and other required materials;
 Mandatory student fees; and,
 Examination fees.

Audit Costs; o Projects over $100,000 will be required to submit a final detailed accounting statement that has been independently audited.
Eligible Expenses
Eligible expenses shall be claimed to the extent that they are reasonable and are within the intent of the project agreement in the opinion of the ministry. Such expenditures are actual cash outlays that can be documented through invoices or receipts. Evidence of payment must be maintained for audit purposes.
The Ministry will have the final word in determining expenditure eligibility and valuation.
Eligible expenses are directly related to the development and delivery of the approved
UpSkill Pilot, which includes the cost categories cited above (see section 4.2).
In-Eligible Expenses
In-eligible expenses are not directly related to the development and delivery of the project and include but are not limited to:
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Employment Ontario Call For Proposal Application Guide

Administrative costs

Initiatives that are already fully funded

Capital costs

Supplies or equipment not directly related to the delivery of the project

Legal costs (other than those described under Eligible Expenses)

Debt reduction costs

Indirect and fixed expenses which are not directly attributable to the implementation of the initiative
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