Ticket to Work Boot Camp:

Foundational Knowledge

Understanding the Request for Quotation

(RFQ) to become an Employment Network

Hosted/Facilitated by: Miranda Kennedy, NDI Technical Assistance Team

Presented by Emily Malsch, Program Specialist, OSM Workforce Team

2012 Training Series

DEI Projects at the state level and/or local level participating LWIBs are required to become Employment Networks under Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work Program.

Training and Technical Assistance to DEI Projects in attaining Employment Network status and implementing effective EN operations is provided under U.S. DOLETA contract with NDI Consulting, Inc. and the National Disability Institute (NDI).

Evaluation of the impact of the DEI Projects implementation and outcomes as Employment Network will be provided under U.S. DOL ODEP contract with Social Dynamics.

2

Upon completion of this training webinar, DEI grantees and participants and partners from the public workforce system will have the following:

An understanding of the Request for Quotation (RFQ) process

An understanding of the contents of the RFQ, what applies to my organization, and how to submit the completed RFQ

An understanding of what occurs post- Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)

Background on SSA Program Managers Becoming an Employment Network (EN) Taking a Closer look at the RFQ (I – VI) Summary RFQ Assistance Discussion Opportunity Next Steps

4

SSA runs the Ticket to Work Program with the assistance of two Program Managers

Operations Support Manager (OSM) handles all activities related to Employment Networks (ENs)/service providers from recruitment, training, payment, etc.

Beneficiary Access and Support Services (BASS) Manager handles all Ticket-related activities for SSA’s beneficiaries.

MAXIMUS Federal Services was awarded a 5-year contract to serve as the Ticket Program OSM responsible for:

recruiting experienced and highly-qualified ENs; establishing and maintaining an EN Technical Assistance and

Support Center; facilitating/monitoring active Ticket program participation by

ENs; administering and supporting the Ticket assignment process;

and administering and supporting the EN payment process

Note: MAXIMUS also serves as the Ticket Program Data Operations Center Manager (TPDOCM) and is responsible for maintaining electronic systems supporting daily Ticket program operations and providing system support services and management information to SSA .

Booz Allen Hamilton was awarded a 5-year contract to serve as the Ticket to Work BASS Manager responsible for: designing, implementing and supporting the marketing the TTW

program and work incentives to SSA’s beneficiaries with disabilities/Ticket Holders;

administering a call center, web site and electronic mail response capability to answer questions about the TTW program; and

developing tools, resources and models to encourage beneficiary participation, coordinate with SSA to create local venues to promote the Ticket, and facilitate partnerships among ENs, local organizations, and beneficiaries to increase program outcomes and work opportunities for beneficiaries.

Get the EN RFQ at http://www.ssa.gov/work/enrfp.html

Download and complete on your computer

Cover letter provides information on how to contact SSA

Advised not to mail your RFQ, send by:Email: ENcontracts@ssa.gov orFax number: 1-410-597-0429

Must have an Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as the Tax ID #

Must have general business or professional liability insurance in effect (minimum of $500,000 per occurrence)

Must have a DUNS number (contact Dun & Bradstreet at 1-866-705-5711 or apply online at www.dnb.com if your agency does not have a DUNS)

Must register your agency’s DUNS number on the Contractor Registration (CCR) website: www.ccr.gov

Must complete the Online Representations and Certifications Application once the CCR profile is finalized and approved: https://orca.bpn.gov

9

Before Getting Started…Before Getting Started…

Contains 6 parts (see table of contents): Part I, BPA Agreement (required to submit) Part II, Price (review only) Part III, Statement of Work (review only) Part IV, Contract Clauses (review only) Part V, EN Quotation Documentation Requirements (required

to submit) Part VI, Solicitation Provisions (review only)

Part I- Blanket Purchase Agreement Required to complete and submit Outlines terms of BPA between the EN and SSAPart II- Price Do not need to submit Outlines supplies, services, and price Firm–Fixed-Price of BPA is $0- for satisfactory

performance of services provided, EN is paid in accordance with the Payment to ENs schedule (Part III--Section 11).

Contains 12 sections- all for internal review, does not need to be submitted

Describes the general and specific EN qualification requirements

Outlines Ticket assignment process Details of IWP Referral Agreements Ticket Training provided and by whom EN responsibilities Reporting requirements and EN evaluations EN payment system

Workforce eProcesses will: Streamline EN operations Reduce administrative burden Reduce paperwork involved with Ticket

assignment and EN payment process

Keep this in mind when reading the section on IWP, Ticket Assignment process, and the EN payments

4

Reviews and explains EN contract terms and conditions

Reviews liability insurance requirements – WIA One Stop Centers/Workforce Boards/Operators exempt from submitting proof

Explains the EN Security and Suitability Requirements

Paragraph H: EN Security and Suitability Requirements Purpose of this clause is to provide SSA policies and

procedures re: background investigations Investigations are to determine the suitability of the EN to

acquire, handle, and have access to beneficiary personally identifiable information (PII)

EN suitability process does not begin until after the BPA is awarded; at this time, only EN staff names who acquire, handle, or have access to PII are required

Step 1: after BPA award received, submit cover letter to SSA that provides EN name, the contract number, the CPOC’s name, the CPOC’s contact information, each applicant’s full name, each applicant’s Social Security number (SSN), each applicant’s date of birth, and each applicant’s place of birth

Step 2: Signatory Authority receives eQIP (http://www.opm.gov/e-qip/) invitation; time sensitive, must send to each applicant listed in cover letter to complete and submit

Step 3: Each applicant completes OF306 and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) Authorization Form

FD-258, Applicant Fingerprint Chart, sent by SSA, 2 charts per applicant, if not received contact TASC

Step 4: Forms submission: eQIP signature page, OF306, FCRA, Fingerprint charts

EN security/suitability questions? Email ENSuitability@ssa.gov

Section 1: Standard Form 1449 Box 17a: Offeror Name, Address, Phone, and Tax

ID/EIN number Box 17b if applicable Box 30 a, b, c: signature and date

Section 2: EN Information Sheet: all about you as an EN Offeror Name = Name placed in Box 17 on SF 1449 EN Name- optional, if listed in Directory, choose name customers know you

by EN Directory Contact Information: name provided here is the beneficiary POC

for your EN Type of Organization- at minimum check either WIA One Stop and/or

Workforce Board EN Employee Suitability- provide names of EN who have access/handle PII;

Bene CD is optional

Section 3: Information Sheet Addendum For each additional or different location to be published publicly in the online

EN Directory, complete one addendum for EACH different service delivery location.

Section 4: EN Checklist- for internal use only, do not submit

Review only, do not submit SSA evaluation of RFQ RFQ selection and award Offeror will be notified of missing or incorrect

information; given 60 days to correct deficiencies

Only submit Part I, BPA Agreement (pgs 4 and 5), and Part V ◦Remember: as a WIA One Stop/Workforce

Board/Operator- proof of EN qualifications and liability insurance not required to submit with RFQ

Obtain necessary signatures where needed◦Part I, Blanket Purchase Agreement, signature on page 4◦Part V, Section 1: SF Form 1449◦Part V, Section 2-T: Signatory Authority

Submit completed RFQ to ENContracts@ssa.gov

For further RFQ guidance contact:◦ Emily Malsch, Program Specialist, OSM Workforce

Team◦ emalsch@cessi.net◦ (443) 492-9846

Additional help is available through SSA’s Employment Network Contracts TeamE-Mail: ENContracts@ssa.gov Call: 866-584-5180

22

RFQRFQ AssistanceAssistance

Once you become an Employment Network:◦ OSM Workforce Team will schedule a TASC Orientation Call

introducing you to your TASC team at MAXIMUS who: √ Handles the process for assigning & un-assigning Tickets√ Maintains the list of approved ENs√ Processes Ticket payments√ Conducts timely progress reviews√ Staffs an EN Help Desk √ Provides training & technical assistance to ENs

Visit the MAXIMUS website at www.yourtickettowork.com

23

Post BPA AwardPost BPA Award

Ticket to Work Program Ticket to Work Program Resources:Resources:

Visit SSA’s Work Site at: www.socialsecurity.gov/work

Visit the MAXIMUS web site at www.yourtickettowork.com or call 1-866-949-3687

Visit the BASS website at: http://www.chooseworkttw.net or call 1-866-968-7842

24

Q & A Q & A

To ask a question/make a comment please click on the “raised hand icon” OR submit it via the Q&A panel, both are located on the right hand toolbar

26

Ticket to Work & Benefits Basics: DRC’s & One-Stop Staff Serving as a Resource on the TtW program◦ This webinar will help you understand following:◦ How the TtW Program compliments the objectives of the DEI project◦ Provide a clear picture of the DRC role in expanding the workforce system’s

capacity to serve as an EN ◦ Understand the learning models & partnerships that ensure benefits planning

services to Ticket holders served within workforce system EN◦ Downloadable TOOLKITs with TtW information and resources that help to build

One-Stop and customer awareness.

Registration

Tuesday, March 6th 2012 (3:00pm – 4:30pm EST)

Registration: In order to register go to:

https://ndi.webex.com/ndi/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=966691933

Emily Malsch, Program SpecialistSSA Ticket to Work Operations Support ManagerCenter for Strategic Initiatives, Workforce Team(443) 492-9846emalsch@cessi.net

28