© 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 1 Welcome Employment Programs for Special Target Populations: Individuals with Disabilities Bidders’ Webinar Telephone

© 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 1

WelcomeEmployment Programs for Special Target Populations: Individuals with Disabilities

Bidders’ Webinar

Telephone Lines are MutedPresenters

Rebekah Lashman, Commonwealth CorporationTheresa Rowland, Commonwealth Corporation

April 10, 2013Dial in to our conference line

for the audio.

Call: 1-888-265-4641When prompted, enter pass-code: 2300388045


Today’s Webinar Will Cover…

• Overview of Request for Proposals• Grant Application Package Attachments• Answers about the RFP or Application

Package

If you encounter any technical issues during this session please contact Angela Holley at 617-717-6911.


Presentation Area Chat Box

Attendee ListStatus


Key Dates

Activity Date

Required Letter of Intent Due Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 5pm

Deadline for Written Questions Friday, June 14, 2013

Applications Due Monday, July 1, 2013 at Noon

Applicants Notified of Status October 1, 2013

Estimated Contract Start Date November 1, 2013

Contract End Date October 31, 2015


Overview

Funding Availability: $1MillionMatch Requirement: NoneDuration of Contracts: 2 YearsMaximum Amount Per Grant: $250,000Grant Type: Performance Based


Eligible Lead Applicants• Employers with operations in Massachusetts and that employ

Massachusetts residents• Nonprofit employers with operations in Massachusetts and that employ

Massachusetts residents• Business or Industry Associations • Labor organizations• Community-based organizations, including adult basic education providers• Institutions of higher education• Vocational education institutions• One-stop career centers• Local workforce development entities• Non-profit education, training and other service providers• Local workforce investment boards

Page 3 of the Employment Programs for Special Target Populations: Individuals with Disabilities RFP.


Partners

• This solicitation does not require any specific quantity or type of partners

• However, successful applicants will demonstrate that they have two types of organizational relationships • Business/Employer Relationships• Other Program Support Relationships



Goals of the Grant Program

• Commonwealth Corporation seeks proposals from applicants to prepare, support and place un/underemployed individuals with disabilities into jobs.



Target Population

• Un/underemployed Massachusetts residents, 18 years or older, with a physical or mental disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

• Underemployed– Working part-time (fewer than 35 hours per

week), OR– Working in a low-wage job ($14 or less per hour),

OR– Working multiple jobs



Program Services

• Applicants should propose a set of services that are necessary for the target population to enter employment.



Participant Eligibility1. Letter from Drug or Alcohol Rehabilitation Agency 2. Letter from Child Study Team Stating Specific Eligibility 3. Medical Records 4. Observable Condition 5. Physician Statement 6. Psychiatrist’s/Psychologist’s Diagnosis 7. Rehabilitation Evaluation 8. School Records 9. Sheltered Workshop Certification 10. Social Service Records\Referral 11. Social Security Administration Disability or Veterans Admin. Records 12. Vocational Rehabilitation Letter 13. Workers Compensation Record 14. Applicant Statement if no other forms of documentation are available – must be

supported with a corroborative contact or reliable witness15. Telephone verification if other forms of documentation are not readily available 16. Document Inspection if provided document cannot be legally photocopied

Page 5 of the Employment Programs for Special Target Populations: Individuals with Disabilities RFP and Questions & Answers posted on Commonwealth Corporation’s website.


Payment Terms-Performance Based– Payments will be contingent upon enrollments and job placements– 50% of grant award allocated toward each milestone– Payments per participant will be calculated based upon planned enrollments and job

placements– Enrollment = an individual must have attended a minimum of 75% of the scheduled

class days for a two week period– Job placement = an individual must have retained continuous employment for 30

days with the same employer

Example– Organization X is awarded a grant of $250,000 and agrees to serve 50 participants

and place 30 participants into jobs. – $125,000 allocated for enrollments

• This is the maximum that the organization can be paid for enrollments• Per Participant Enrollment Payment = $2,500

– $125, 000 allocated for job placements• This is the maximum amount the organization can be paid for job placements• Per Participant Job Placement Payment = $4,166



Letter of Intent

• Attachment A: Letter of Intent Form• Required• Due May 15, 2013 at 5pm• Submit via email to [email protected]



Application Package

• Part 1: Application Summary Form• Part 2: Application Narrative Form• Part 3: Budget & Budget Narrative Forms

(Excel)• Part 4: Outcome Chart Form (Excel)• Part 5: Certificates of Good Standing • Part 6: Certification



Part 1: Application Summary Form

• Cover Page• Summary Level Information• Project Summary will be shared publicly for

all organizations awarded funding



Part 2: Application Narrative Form

• Narrative Questions• Do not exceed 15 pages• Feel free to provide additional information

beyond the questions we have provided



Part 3: Budget & Budget Narrative Forms (EXCEL)

• Forms are in Excel File• Detailed instructions on Part 3 in RFP• Budgets will be used to evaluate applications• Payments will be issued on performance basis• Budget Form (3a)

• Summary Level• Formulas to calculate cost per enrollment & cost per outcome• These rates will become the basis for distributing funds on a

performance basis• Budget Narrative (3b)

• Narrative explaining how funds will be used• Rate @ Unit calculations• Actual Costs vs. Cost Allocation



Part 4: Outcome Chart Form (EXCEL)

• Form in Excel file• Detailed instructions on Part 4 in RFP• Outcome Rate Formulas



Part 5: Certificates of Good Standing

• Must be submitted for all partners benefiting financially from grant funds

• Complete Part 5 to determine which partners must submit a Certificate of Good Standing (C.O.G.S.)

• C.O.G.S. must be less than 6 months old• Certificates of Good Standing may be accessed online• Allow time for any delay in receiving C.O.G.S• C.O.G.S are required and must be submitted in order

to meet threshold criteria• Submit as PDF file



Part 6: Certification

• Must be signed by an authorized signatory for the lead applicant

• Submit as PDF file



Evaluation Process and Criteria

• Processo Threshold Screeningo Compliance Screeningo Scored based on 6 criteriao See Page 13 for list of criteria & point valueso Commonwealth Corporation reserves the right

to consider other criteria in making competitive awards.

Pages 12-13 of the Employment Programs for Special Target Populations: Individuals with Disabilities RFP.


Application Submission

o Monday, July 1, 2013 12:00 noon

o Electronic copy sent to [email protected]



Questions


Thank You!Employment Programs for Special Target Populations: Individuals with Disabilities

Bidders’ Webinar

Additional Questions

Additional questions will be accepted until June 14, 2013

Email all questions to [email protected]

All Questions & Answers will be posted to www.commcorp.org

Documents

© 2012 Commonwealth Corporation 1 Welcome Employment Programs for Special Target Populations: Individuals with Disabilities Bidders’ Webinar Telephone