Maryland DHS/Caroline County DSS: Pre-Employment Training Services (Proposals due June 6, 2014)

Executive takeaway

Caroline County Department of Social Services (under the Maryland Department of Human Resources / Department of Human Services) is seeking one provider for Pre-Employment Training Services supporting individuals receiving Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Supplement benefits, or participating in the Non-Custodial Parent Employment Program. Proposals are due 3:00 PM on Friday, June 6, 2014, with award to the most advantageous offer (price and technical). If your firm can show at least two years teaching adults and can deliver job-readiness training tied to seeking, obtaining, and retaining employment, this is a time-sensitive bid worth a quick go/no-go.

What the buyer is trying to do

The Work Opportunities Program at Caroline County DSS intends to acquire training services that help participants build the skills needed to seek, obtain, and retain employment, with the broader goal of helping individuals become self-sufficient. The notice indicates a one-year contract term beginning July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.

Solicitation documents are referenced as available through eMaryland Marketplace under the listed solicitation number in the notice (verify in the posted solicitation package).

What work is implied (bullets)

• Deliver pre-employment training for participants connected to Temporary Cash Assistance, Food Supplement benefits, and/or the Non-Custodial Parent Employment Program.
• Provide instruction focused on job readiness skills needed to seek, obtain, and retain employment.
• Operate within a one-year performance period (July 1, 2014–June 30, 2015).
• Support a competitive evaluation where both technical approach and price matter (“most advantageous”).
• Demonstrate at least two years of teaching experience in an adult learning environment (employment-related training experience is preferred).

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Bid if: You have documented experience teaching adults (2+ years) and can show outcomes-oriented, employment-related training experience.
• Bid if: You can credibly align curriculum and delivery to job search, job placement readiness, and job retention skills for public-assistance and related program participants.
• Pass if: You cannot clearly document the required adult-learning teaching experience.
• Pass if: Your business model is not suited to a single-award, county-level program with a defined one-year term.

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

• Completed technical proposal (format, page limits, and required sections: verify in attachments).
• Price proposal aligned to the solicitation’s pricing structure: verify in attachments.
• Evidence of at least two years teaching in an adult learning environment (e.g., prior contracts, performance history, resumes, or references as permitted): verify in attachments.
• Description of employment-related training experience (preferred) with examples relevant to job-seeking, job attainment, and retention.
• Submission by 3:00 PM, Friday June 6, 2014 (delivery method and copies: verify in attachments).
• Any required certifications/forms (including any minority business participation documentation if applicable): verify in attachments.

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

• Start with the evaluation method: the State is selecting the “most advantageous” offer considering both price and technical factors. Use this to calibrate whether to price aggressively or to protect margin based on your strength in adult-learning credentials and employment-training outcomes.
• Pull the full solicitation from eMaryland Marketplace: confirm the pricing form, unit basis (per participant, per class, per hour, etc.), and any not-to-exceed or budget constraints (verify in attachments).
• Benchmark with your own historicals: use your last 2–3 comparable workforce/job-readiness training efforts to validate staffing assumptions and delivery costs against the contract’s one-year term.
• Align price narrative to delivery reality: since only one award is anticipated, remove optionality that makes pricing look uncertain; price to what you can actually deliver consistently for the county program.

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• Team with a local organization that can strengthen participant engagement and logistics while you remain prime for curriculum and instruction (roles and deliverables: verify allowable subcontracting in attachments).
• Consider adding a partner that brings employment-related training credibility if your adult-learning teaching experience is strong but your employment-training portfolio is thinner (ensure the prime can still document the required experience).
• If minority business participation is emphasized, identify qualified MBE partners aligned to training delivery support functions (specific requirements: verify in attachments).

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Hard qualification risk: the notice states offerors must demonstrate at least two years teaching adults; weak documentation can sink an otherwise solid proposal.
• Single-award dynamic: only one award is expected, so differentiation in training approach, delivery discipline, and proof of experience matters.
• Document sourcing: the full scope, deliverables, and submission instructions appear to be in eMaryland Marketplace—do not rely on the notice snippet for compliance details.
• Timing: proposals are due June 6, 2014; build a rapid internal schedule to retrieve attachments, draft, review, and submit on time.

Related opportunities

• Maryland DHS: Summer Youth Employment Program (RFP 633)
• Maryland DHS: Administration of the Public Private Partnership (Request for Grant Proposals materials)

How to act on this

1. Download the solicitation package from eMaryland Marketplace using the solicitation reference in the notice and confirm all submission instructions (verify in attachments).
2. Run a fast go/no-go against the two-year adult-teaching requirement and your employment-related training examples.
3. Draft a technical approach focused on job-seeking, job attainment, and job retention skills, then align pricing to the required pricing format.
4. Submit ahead of the 3:00 PM, June 6, 2014 deadline with all required forms.

If you want a second set of eyes on compliance and positioning, Federal Bid Partners LLC can help you pressure-test the response package and strategy before you submit.