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Approve a contract with Racy Ming for the development and finalization of a North Bay “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Regional Plan” on behalf of the Governor- designated Service Areas of Marin/Napa/Lake Counties, Mendocino County, Solano County and Sonoma County for the period October 1, 2016 through March 15, 2017 in an amount not to exceed $50,758; and Authorize the President of the Workforce Development Board of Solano County to sign the contract
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Published Notice Required Yes ______ No __X___
Public Hearing Required Yes ______ No __X___
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
1) Approve a Workforce Development Board (WDB) of Solano County contract for a professional services contract with Racy Ming, Consultant, for development of a compliant “North Bay Regional Planning Unit “WIOA Regional Plan” - on behalf of the North Bay Employment Connection (NBEC) collaborative of the WIOA workforce service areas of Marin/Napa/Lake Counties, Mendocino County/ Solano County and Sonoma County for an amount not to exceed $50,758; and
2) Authorize the President of the Workforce Development Board of Solano County to sign this contract.
The contract period will be from October 1, 2016 through March 15, 2017.
SUMMARY:
This action requests approval for the WDB to enter into a contract with a professional consultant, Racy Ming of San Jose, CA, to:
1. Develop and refine a full understanding of the federal and State requirements for a WIOA Regional Plan;
2. Develop and conduct a series of local forums throughout the North Bay to gather needed input from workforce development system stakeholders, partner agencies and beneficiaries (including 2 in Solano County);
3. Facilitate consensus building efforts that summarizes community input, focuses on Plan requirements, builds regional cooperation/collaboration, and prompts timely decision-making for the final Regional Plan document; and
4. Compose (i.e. write) a draft Regional Plan (for review/edits and public review) and a final, compliant Regional Plan - for submittal to the State by March 15, 2017.
This action would authorize the WDB President/Executive Director to sign this professional services contract.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no impact to the Solano County General Fund. The contract will be paid for by a special $57,235 Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) regional grant awarded through the Solano County WDB. The cost associated with this contract has been included in WDB’s FY 2016/17 budget.
DISCUSSION:
Introduction
The federal WIOA requires the Governor to develop an overall State Workforce Development Plan - which incorporates the collaborative efforts of a number of State-level educational, training, employment, and economic development agencies/departments.
Local WIOA service areas are in turn required to participate in development of a WIOA Regional Plan for each Governor-approved “regional planning unit” (RPU) - which supports the State Strategic Plan. Further, each local area is to then develop a WIOA Local Plan that carries out the purposes of the State and Regional Plans in that community.
The US Department of Labor (DOL) and the State Labor and Workforce Agency (through the Employment Development Department have issued instructions on what is required in the development of such plans, and the plan documents themselves.
In accordance with State guidelines both the Regional Plans and the Local Plans must be submitted by March 15, 2017. An overview of the relationship between the Regional Plans and the Local Plans and the functions of each can be found in Attachment A.
Overview on Consultant’s Qualifications
Racy Ming is a consultant in the field of workforce development programs and is currently assisting local WIOA areas in developing their Local Plans. (This includes current work for the San Francisco WDB and the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay WDB.) She is assisting the California Workforce Association with various technical assistance projects for local areas.
Ms. Ming was most-recently the Marin County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) Director, having fulfilled a 13 year career there. She has been a long-standing member of the NBEC Steering Committee and has an in-place, intimate knowledge of the WIA and WIOA laws/regulations, the North Bay economy and labor market, and the staff leadership of the North Bay WDBs. She has a working knowledge of a number of in-place regional collaboratives around career pathways and employer engagement strategies.
Ms. Ming is bachelors- and masters-degreed graduate of Stanford University and a most-recent participant in a Fulbright Studies program in London, UK. Ms. Ming’s resume is included as Attachment B.
Use of a Compliant Procurement Process - to Serve Regional Needs
The recently-created joint powers agency (JPA) entitled the “Workforce Alliance of the North Bay” (WANB) recently undertook a legally-compliant procurement process to establish an approved list of professional consultants to support the JPA’s needs across the coming years.
Based on past County of Solano practices and advice from County Counsel (i.e. Ms. Davina Smith), the Solano WDB staff pursued with the WANB the opportunity to possibly “piggy-back” upon a completed procurement and contracting process for basic “plan development” work. WANB staff shared that it had fully negotiated/completed a contract with Ms. Ming (from its approved consultants listing) to develop the WANB’s Local Plan (along with other tasks.) The established hourly consulting fee was $175.00 per hour.
With advice and approval of the NBEC Steering Committee (at its September 12, 2016 meeting) Solano WDB staff approached Ms. Ming to determine if she would enter into contract negotiations for development of the North Bay RPU Regional Plan on the same work-related and hourly rate basis. Ms. Ming agreed to proceed.
WDB staff held negotiations on the proposed statement of work (SOW), deliverables, payment approach and deadlines. A meeting of the minds was reached and the attached contract finalized. The NBEC Steering Committee was apprised of these negotiations and provided consent for the final contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could chose not to approve this contract, and direct staff to consider other options and return with new recommendations.
However, this alternative is not recommended as this is a consensus decision of the four-WDB NBEC Steering Committee
A delay in awarding the contract could have an adverse effect on the delivery of services by the contractor and submittal of consensus-approved WIOA Regional Plan by March 15, 2017.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The authorized representatives of the four North Bay WDBs have been actively involved in this procurement process and establishment of contract deliverables, basis of payment, and payment approach. This action is recommended for approval by this group.
County Counsel has approved the contract as to form. The County Administrator’s Office has been consulted and concurs with the recommendation.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION