To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program Contract for Regional Organizer and Training Coordinator.title
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve and authorize the Board Chair, to sign contract agreements with Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation (Attachment 1 - 4) to perform WIOA workforce activities in compliance with the terms and conditions as set forth by the California State Employment Development Department;
2. Approve and authorize the Board Chair to sign contract agreements with Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation (Attachment 5) to perform the duties as Regional Organizer and Regional Training Coordinator under the Local Workforce Development Board; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return the signed original agreements with Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation to the Economic Development Division.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Economic Development (1120)
DISCUSSION:
The County Administrative Office-Economic Development Division (Economic Development) receives annual non-competitive grants from the US Department of Labor allocated through the State of California Employment Development Department. These funds provide low-income adults, at-risk youth, and dislocated workers the opportunity to participate in training and/or educational programs to obtain employment. Funds are also used to cover costs associated with the development and implementation of local and regional plans, and to provide training for local workforce partners. Additionally, Economic Development receives a portion of both competitive and non-competitive grants to support administrative overhead.
In July 2014, the US Congress passed, and the President signed the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (WIOA), as an amendment to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. The WIOA required the Humboldt County Workforce Development Board (HC-WDB), with the agreement of the chief elected officials, to designate or certify American Job Centers of California (AJCC) operators through a competitive process. On Jan. 19, 2016, a three-agency consortium was approved by your Board that included College of the Redwoods (CR), Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA), and Department of Health and Human Services, Employment and Training Division (DHHS-ETD). As of June 30, 2018, DHHS-ETD discontinued its role as an operator of the AJCC. As a result, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was released to procure an AJCC operator to replace DHHS-ETD. A proposal was received from SMART Business Resource Center who was approved as the third AJCC operator by your Board on July 24, 2018.
On March 5, 2021, SMART Business Resource Center informed the County Administrative Office of their intent to terminate all contracts with the county effective June 30, 2021. On April 6, 2021, your Board directed county staff to explore several options to improve workforce efforts in Humboldt and authorize the release of an RFP for workforce services related to WIOA-funded programs. Due to the failure of the RFP, on June 29, 2021, your Board chose to move forward with the option to remain a Local Workforce Area and regional planning unit, and direct Economic Development to sole source a WIOA provider and services and other WIOA support functions to Humboldt County Workforce Coalition partners.
The five contract agreements attached to this staff report are a result of your Board’s direction to remain a Local Workforce Area and regional planning unit. These agreements will provide the county with the following WIOA funded services:
• Youth Services
• Adult Services
• Dislocated Worker services
• Rapid Response - Layoff Aversion services
The fifth agreement is granted funded by the California Workforce Development Board which provides the position of WIOA Regional Organizer and Regional Training Coordinator.
These contracts come to your Board after the contract commencement date of July 1st, 2021. Contract completion and routing was delayed due to the formation of the new Humboldt Workforce Development Coalition and also due to lengthy contract negotiations which occurred after your Board directed Economic Development staff to sole source for these services with Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation on June 29, 2021.
These contracts were presented to the Humboldt County Workforce Development Board Executive Committee (WDB-EC) during its Sept. 2021 meeting. At that meeting the WDB-EC advised that staff advance these contracts to your Board. As such, staff recommends that your Board adopt the recommendations as set forth herein and approve said contracts.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
$1,088,193.82 in funding remains available through prior allocations for the continuation of these services through HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation. Contract amounts are as follows:
• $284,288 for Professional Services Agreement with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation for WIOA Youth Services
• $242,936 for Professional Services Agreement with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation for WIOA Adult Services
• $237,949 for Professional Services Agreement with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation for WIOA Dislocated Worker Services
• $123,573 for Professional Services Agreement with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation for WIOA Rapid Response-Layoff Aversion Services
• $199,447.82 for Professional Services Agreement with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation for WIOA Regional Organizer and Training Coordinator Services
Contract costs total $1,088,193.82 and have been included in the Economic Development budget (1120-286) in FY 2021-22.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by supporting business, workforce development and creation of private-sector jobs .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Humboldt Workforce Coalition comprising of the County of Humboldt Economic Development Division, Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation, College of the Redwoods, Humboldt County Office of Education.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to accept these funds. This alternative is not recommended as these contracts are for formula WIOA funds granted to Humboldt County by the State and align with the Local Workforce Development Area plan already approved by your Board. Declining these contracts and funds would make these essential workforce services unavailable to county residents.
ATTACHMENTS:
1 - Professional Services Agreement with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation for WIOA Youth Services
2 - Professional Services Agreement with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation for WIOA Adult Services
3 - Professional Services Agreement with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation for WIOA Dislocated Worker Services
4 - Professional Services Agreement with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation for WIOA Rapid Response-Layoff Aversion Services
5- Professional Services Agreement with HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation for WIOA Regional Organizer and Training Coordinator Services
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.:
Meeting of: July 24, 2018; April 6, 2021; June 29, 2021
File No.: 21-362; 21-866