Request for Quotes
For the period of October 2021-June 2022
For
Workforce Accounting Services Provider
Quotes Due:
October 12, 2021
Midwest Urban Strategies
2745 North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Suite LL1
Milwaukee, WI 53212
RFP Release Date:
October 5, 2021
Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS, Inc.) is an equal opportunity employer.
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to persons with disabilities.
Any agreement resulting from this RFP will be funded through grants provided by the US Department of Labor(US DOL). Any organization awarded a contractual agreement resulting from this RFP must comply with all applicable regulations and the terms and conditions of the grant provided by US DOL.
GENERAL INFORMATION
This section provides general and background information needed to understand the regulatory and programmatic context of this RFQ. This section also describes important details regarding the services and stakeholders related to this RFQ, as well as characteristics of any agreements that may result from this RFQ.
About Midwest Urban Strategies
Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS) is an intermediary of urban workforce development boards (WDB) serving their local communities to connect the workforce ecosystem. This system includes employers, job seekers, training providers, and community partners all working together to better prepare jobseekers and support employers in the attraction and retention of talent. By combining innovative and traditional workforce development practices with economic development strategies, these WDBs are driving change in their local economies. Through MUS’s organizing, these WDBs share and apply best practices in workforce development, integrating efforts and resources to fully maximize federal, state, and local funds that support a competitive regional workforce system aimed at revitalizing the Midwest economy.
The goal of MUS is to take the micro-successes and strengths of each WDB and replicate them on a regional scale. Through intentional industry engagement that connects employers to well-prepared workers, MUS improves the effectiveness and efficiency of the workforce system (both regionally and locally) there by bolstering the Midwest’s place within the national economy.
The consortium emerged in2014 in response to a shift in policy at the Department of Labor and out of a shared set of challenges that impacted urban communities. From the Ferguson (MO) uprisings to the Detroit rebirth, the Midwest’s urban communities were facing an inflection point. At the center of that point was the disjointed labor market and the need to connect people to family sustaining jobs and (as the national economy continued its rebound) employers to qualified job seekers.
Between 2015 and 2021 Midwest Urban Strategies applied for and secured more than $24M in federal grants to coordinate regional economic development, design and deliver career-track training, and engage local employers in a regional growth strategy. Its collective impact model ensured that more investment was made in employer-led models focused on regional growth driven from coordinated planning and administration that is centralized and vetted by a “backbone organization”.
Purpose of this RFQ
MUS is issuing this Request for Quotes (RFQ) to solicit grant writing specialists that MUS will utilize as projects require. The purpose of this role is for someone that can write, research, compile, collaborate, and execute various writing proposals that may be for public or private funding.
Who can apply?
An individual, Nonprofits, for profits, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and other entities operating in accordance with federal, state, and local law, and with at least 3 years of grant writing experience. Applicant should be able to do research and writing on their own and be familiar with workforce and economic development. Previous experience with department of labor grants or other federal grant writing is strongly preferred.
Price Quote
Applicants should include their pricing for the time spent writing, researching, compiling, collaborating, and executing various grant proposals. The selected vendor will enter into a contract with MUS that will include billable milestones and will submit invoices in accordance with those milestones. Invoices that are submitted must be certified true and correct by the authorized signer. All costs must be reasonable, allocable, and allowable, according to all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including but not limited to the Uniform Guidance and WIOA regulations.
How to Apply
Priority will begiven to all interested and qualified parties that submit quotes by Tuesday, October12, 2021, at 5:00 pm CST to RFQs@midwesturbanstrategies.comEmails should have the subject line “[Individual/Company Name] Grant Writer Quote.” Quotes must be submitted in PDF format. The quote must contain all the following content:
1. Cover Sheet: Attach certificate of insurance and a copy of the organization’s most recent audit if applies.
2. Organization Description: (limit to one double spaced page) – Describe each of the following for your organization as it applies:
a. Basic organizational description, including mission, principal programs and services, and number of paid staff.
b. Description of previous grant writing experience. Department of Labor and federal grant writing preferred.
c. Organization’s adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
d. Provide one of the following: (1) most recently submitted IRS 9-90, (2) most recent in dependent audit, or a (3) letter from a Certified Public Accountant attesting to the fact that the entity is using accepted accounting practices.
2. Project Description: (limit to two double spaced pages):
a. Structure of your proposed strategy for grant writing.
b. Any other services, programs, or resources you offer, if applicable.
3. Project Costs:
a. Hourly and/or Project Rate.
b. A brief narrative describing the proposed cost, including all program-related and administrative cost items. All costs must be reasonable, allocable, and allowable, according to all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including but not limited to the Uniform Guidance and WIOA regulations.
4. Attachments
a. At least 3 technical writing samples (For example, previous grant abstract, grant application, success stories, articles and more).
Review and Selection Process
MUS will review quotes according to the required content described in the “How to Apply section" with attention to clarity, completeness, relevancy, and quality. Successful bidders will be invited to enter into a vendor agreement with MUS. Such agreements will be issued on an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity(IDIQ) basis.
Review Timeline (all dates are subject to change):
Release of RFQ:
October 5, 2021
Questions Regarding this RFQ due:
October 7, 2021 by 5:00 pm CST
Bid due date:
October 12, 2021 by 5:00 pm CST
Selection of providers:
October 15, 2021
Questions or Requests
All questions or requests for additional information must be made in writing to RFQs@midwesturbanstrategies.comby 5:00pm CST on October 7, 2021. Answers will be posted publicly at www.MidwestUrbanStrategies.comInterested parties are encouraged to check the website frequently for updates. Questions received after 5:00 PM CST on October 7, 2021, will not be answered.
Disclaimers
· This Request for Quotes (RFQ) does not commit Midwest Urban Strategies to award any contract or agreement.
· Midwest Urban Strategies may select a firm based on its initial quote received, without discussion of the quote. Accordingly, each quote should be submitted on the most favorable terms, from a price and technical standpoint, that the bidder can submit to Midwest Urban Strategies. Midwest Urban Strategies may, however, have discussions with those provider sit deems in its discretion to fall within a competitive range.
· Midwest Urban Strategies reserves the right to request additional information from any bidder, request oral presentations from bidders, or conduct site visits from any bidder before a contract award.
· Midwest Urban Strategies reserves the right to fund portions of a bid, or to reject any and all bids in whole or in part. Rejection of a portion of a bid does not necessarily negate the entire bid.
· No costs will be paid to cover the expense of preparing a bid or procuring a contract for services or supplies.
· All data, material, and documentation originated and prepared by the bidder pursuant to the contract shall belong exclusively to Midwest Urban Strategies and be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, Right to Know Law, or other applicable legislation.
· The contract award will not be final until Midwest Urban Strategies and the successful bidder have executed a mutually satisfactory contractual agreement. Midwest Urban Strategies reserves the right to make an award without further discussion of the bid submitted. No activity may begin prior to final Midwest Urban Strategies approval of the award and execution of a contractual agreement between the successful bidder and Midwest Urban Strategies.
· The submission of the bid warrants that the costs quoted for services in response to the RFQ are not in excess of those that would be charged any other individual for the same services performed by the bidder.
· Bidders are advised that most documents in the possession of Midwest Urban Strategies are considered public records and subject to disclosure. Midwest Urban Strategies reserves the right to issue additional RFQs if and when it is in Midwest Urban Strategies’ best interest to do so and, may elect to negotiate and issue multi-year contracts to successful bidders under this or subsequent RFQs.
All programs and activities are designated as equal opportunity employers/programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Contact staff to request
