Deadlines soon: Maryland DHS pre-employment training services (Caroline County DSS) — proposals due June 6, 2014

Executive takeaway

Caroline County Department of Social Services (within Maryland’s Department of Human Resources/Human Services ecosystem) is soliciting Pre-Employment Training Services under a small procurement solicitation. The program targets job-seeking and retention skills for individuals receiving Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Supplement benefits, and/or participating in the Non-Custodial Parent Employment Program. The buyer indicates only one award and plans to select the most advantageous offer considering both price and technical factors. Proposals are due 3:00 PM, Friday, June 6, 2014.

What the buyer is trying to do

The Work Opportunities Program at Caroline County Department of Social Services intends to acquire training services that help participants:

• Build skills needed to seek, obtain, and retain employment
• Move toward self-sufficiency

The solicitation describes a one-year contract period beginning July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.

What work is implied (bullets)

• Deliver pre-employment training services aligned to job search, employment readiness, and retention skills
• Serve populations including individuals receiving Temporary Cash Assistance and Food Supplement benefits, and participants in the Non-Custodial Parent Employment Program
• Provide an instructional approach appropriate to an adult learning environment (experience requirement noted)
• Operate under a one-year performance window (July 2014–June 2015) as described in the notice

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Bid if:
  • You can demonstrate at least two years’ experience teaching in an adult learning environment (explicitly required)
  • You have experience in employment-related training (preferred in the notice)
  • You can support a program focused on moving participants toward employment and self-sufficiency
• Pass if:
  • You cannot document the two-year adult learning instruction experience requirement
  • You are not positioned to compete in a single-award environment where both technical approach and price drive selection

Response package checklist (bullets; if unknown say “verify in attachments”)

• Completed proposal package per solicitation CARLN/FIA/15-002-S (verify in attachments)
• Technical narrative describing your training approach for job-seeking, job attainment, and retention (verify in attachments)
• Evidence of at least two years’ experience teaching in an adult learning environment
• Description of employment-related training experience (if applicable)
• Price proposal structured to support “most advantageous” evaluation (verify in attachments)
• Submission instructions and any required forms from eMaryland Marketplace posting (verify in attachments)

Pricing & strategy notes (how to research pricing; do not invent pricing numbers)

• Start with the evaluation basis: the notice states award will be made to the most advantageous offer considering both price and technical factors. That typically rewards clear outcomes, credible delivery capacity, and a price that aligns with the scope described in the solicitation documents.
• Pull the full solicitation from eMaryland Marketplace and map every deliverable and reporting expectation (if any) into a cost driver list. Do not guess at required class hours, cohort sizes, locations, or materials—confirm them in the attachments.
• Benchmark internally against similar workforce/pre-employment training efforts you’ve delivered (adult learning context), then adjust for the one-year period stated in the notice.
• Align the narrative to the cost: ensure your training design, staffing, and any participant support elements described are consistent with the proposed price.

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• Consider teaming with organizations that can complement employment-readiness training (verify what is allowable in the solicitation documents).
• If you are strong in instruction but lighter on workforce connections, consider a partner that can strengthen job-seeking and retention support (as consistent with the scope described).
• The notice states Maryland encourages Minority Business Enterprises to participate—explore MBE participation where it strengthens delivery (confirm any required forms/commitments in attachments).

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Single award: competition risk is higher; your technical differentiators and documented experience matter.
• Hard experience gate: the notice requires offerors to demonstrate at least two years teaching in an adult learning environment.
• Submission source of truth: solicitation documents are stated to be on eMaryland Marketplace (ensure you are working from the latest version and any amendments).
• Deadline sensitivity: proposals are due 3:00 PM, Friday, June 6, 2014; plan for platform access, upload time, and any signature requirements (verify in attachments).

Related opportunities

• Department of Human Services — RFP 633 (Summer Youth Employment Program)
• Department of Human Services — The Administration of the Public Private Partnership (Request for Grant Proposals)

How to act on this (short steps)

1. Download the solicitation package from eMaryland Marketplace referenced in the notice and confirm all submission requirements (attachments, forms, format).
2. Validate you can document the two-year adult learning instruction experience requirement and assemble proof for the proposal.
3. Write a technical approach that directly addresses job-seeking, job attainment, and retention skills for the participant populations described.
4. Build pricing from the verified scope in the attachments, then cross-check that your staffing and delivery plan match the cost.
5. Submit before the stated deadline.

If you want help identifying the compliance items hidden in the attachments and shaping a responsive, evaluator-friendly package, consider partnering with Federal Bid Partners LLC.