DATE: June 22, 2021
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services
SUBJECT: Agreement with Vocational Management Services, Inc.
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Vocational Management Services, Inc. for Job Ready Services for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Welfare-to-Work participants with disabilities, effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024, total not to exceed $2,381,918.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow Vocational Management Services, Inc. (VMS) to provide California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Welfare to Work (WTW) participants with a specialized training program for those who have been assessed with, or disclosed having, a learning disability, intellectual disability, or physical disability, and assist them in obtaining their employment, vocational, or educational goals, with no increase in Net County Cost. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If your Board does not approve the recommended action, the Department will be out of compliance with the Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC), section 11320 et seq., which mandates employment services for WTW participants.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The maximum cost of the recommended agreement ($2,381,918) will be offset using the CalWORKs Single Allocation. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5610 FY 2021-22 Recommended Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests.
The County has a required Maintenance of Effort (MOE) of $4,022,882 for FY 2021-22 for the CalWORKs program. Once the MOE has been met, all expenses over that amount will be 100% funded with State and Federal dollars up to the amount of the annual CalWORKs Single Allocation. Social Services Realignment funds will be used to meet the CalWORKs MOE.
DISCUSSION:
Job Ready Services are State-mandated employment services that the Department provides to recipients of CalWORKs WTW assistance. Services must be in accordance with the WIC Division 9, Part 3, Chapter 2, Section 11320 et seq., which requires the County to deliver a structural sequence of employment-related activities to WTW recipients. The Department offers a primary Job Ready program and in addition, offers a Job Ready program tailored to the needs of WTW participants with disabilities.
Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 21-034 for Job Ready Services for CalWORKs Participants with Disabilities was issued February 26, 2021. The RFP was sent to 24 potential bidders and four bids were received, with all proposals deemed responsive by the Internal Services Department - Purchasing Division. The proposals were evaluated by a review panel comprised of three Department staff and two community partners. The VMS proposal was unanimously recommended for funding.
The VMS proposal demonstrated a profound knowledge, with over 20 years of experience, in providing employment services for participants with disabilities. The VMS proposal stood out as a specialized training program for participants who have been assessed with, or disclosed having, a learning disability, intellectual disability, or physical disability, by including in their services specialized Adult Basic Education, vocational training, counseling, and case management, along with employment soft skills, job search, job placement and job retention assistance. The proposed services will lead participants to employment and/or transition to an WTW approved activity within 180 days of start of services.
Proposed services will be offered to participants throughout Fresno County remotely, or in-person with an office location in the City of Fresno. The program will allow flexibility with open entry every Monday, daily morning and afternoon workshop sessions, as well as accommodating participants with 4-40 hours of service per week, based upon their required WTW hours of participation.
The recommended agreement includes deviations from standard County contract language to streamline the contractual process and increase continuity of services. These include language that allows the Director of DSS to terminate the agreement or reduce the maximum compensation payable under the agreement if necessary due to a reduction in funding, and to terminate without cause through written notice of termination with a 30-day notice. The recommend agreement also allows for the Director to modify the budget line items in an amount not to exceed 10%, without changing the maximum compensation.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with VMS
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa