Deadlines soon: Maryland DHS small procurement for pre-employment training (Caroline County DSS)

Executive takeaway

This is a small procurement for pre-employment training services supporting Caroline County’s Work Opportunities Program. The buyer plans one award and will select the most advantageous offer considering price and technical factors. A stated gate is at least two years of adult-learning teaching experience (employment-related training preferred). Solicitation documents are posted on eMaryland Marketplace under the referenced solicitation number in the notice.

What the buyer is trying to do

Caroline County Department of Social Services intends to provide structured training that helps participants seek, obtain, and retain employment, with the broader goal of helping individuals become self-sufficient. The population called out includes individuals receiving Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Supplement benefits, or participating in the Non-Custodial Parent Employment Program.

The notice states a one-year contract period running July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.

What work is implied (bullets)

• Design and deliver pre-employment training aligned to skills needed to seek, obtain, and retain employment.
• Provide instruction in an adult learning environment (must be demonstrable with at least two years’ experience).
• Serve participants tied to public assistance and employment programs (Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Supplements, and a non-custodial parent employment program).
• Operate in coordination with the Work Opportunities Program at Caroline County DSS.
• Support proposal evaluation under a best-value approach (technical + price), implying a clear technical narrative and measurable delivery plan.

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Bid if you can clearly document 2+ years teaching adults and can show outcomes or relevant experience in employment-related training.
• Bid if you have an existing training curriculum that can be adapted for job readiness and retention skills.
• Bid if you’re comfortable competing on best value (not lowest price only) and can write a strong technical response.
• Pass if you cannot substantiate the two-year adult teaching experience requirement.
• Pass if you lack capacity to deliver a full program as the notice indicates only one award (limited room for partial scope roles).

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

• Completed proposal per small procurement solicitation instructions (verify in attachments).
• Evidence of at least two years’ experience teaching in an adult learning environment (resume summaries, past performance, course rosters, references—format verify in attachments).
• Description of employment-related training experience (preferred; include examples where possible—exact requirements verify in attachments).
• Technical approach describing how training will build skills to seek, obtain, and retain employment (verify required format).
• Price proposal aligned to requested deliverables (verify pricing form/structure in attachments).
• Submission confirmation that you used the official solicitation package from eMaryland Marketplace (verify all amendments/updates in attachments).

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

• Because award is based on price and technical factors, treat pricing as one leg of a best-value story: align cost to a credible delivery plan and staffing model (specific staffing requirements: verify in attachments).
• Pull the solicitation documents from eMaryland Marketplace (the notice references a specific solicitation number) and look for: pricing sheet, pay items, training hours/seat counts, and any required reporting.
• If the package includes Q&A or amendments, confirm whether pricing must be all-inclusive or separated by labor/training sessions/materials (verify in attachments).
• Benchmark by reviewing your own historical pricing for adult workforce training and adjust for local delivery and program administration expectations (do not assume travel, facilities, or materials are reimbursed unless stated).

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• Team with a partner that already delivers employment-readiness curricula if you have strong adult instruction capacity but need job placement/employment content depth (ensure the prime can still present the required experience).
• Bring in a niche subcontractor for targeted modules (e.g., interviewing, workplace communication) if allowed by the solicitation (verify subcontracting rules in attachments).
• If you’re a larger provider, consider including a local delivery partner to strengthen credibility with county-level operations (verify evaluation criteria in attachments).

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Hard experience gate: offerors must demonstrate at least two years teaching adults; weak documentation is an avoidable disqualifier.
• Single award means the winner likely must cover the whole training requirement; partial offerings may not score well.
• Document location: the notice points to eMaryland Marketplace for solicitation documents—ensure you are working from the correct version and capture any amendments (verify in attachments).
• Timing risk: the notice includes a specific due time (3:00 PM). Late submissions are typically rejected—plan delivery and confirmation steps accordingly.

Related opportunities

• Maryland DHS: On-site confidential paper shredding services
• Maryland DHS: Interagency family preservation services (grant proposal)
• Maryland DHS: Psychiatric respite residential child care (PRRCC) programs solicitation

How to act on this

1. Download the solicitation package from eMaryland Marketplace using the solicitation number referenced in the notice; confirm you have all amendments (verify in attachments).
2. Assemble proof for the 2+ years adult learning instruction requirement and draft the technical narrative around job-seeking, job-obtaining, and job-retention skills.
3. Build a compliant price response using the solicitation’s pricing format (verify in attachments), then do a final compliance check against submission instructions and due time.
4. If you want a second set of eyes on compliance and positioning, route the package to Federal Bid Partners LLC for a bid/no-bid and response-structure review.