TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP ED21-047 and award contracts to Modern Times, Inc., of Los Angeles, CA, and United Cambodian Community, of Long Beach, CA, for delivering comprehensive services programs via Youth Academies to eligible Out-of-School Youth, in a total annual aggregate amount not to exceed $232,000, for a period of one year, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into contracts, including any necessary amendments. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into contracts with Modern Times, Inc., and United Cambodian Community, for providing comprehensive services programs via Youth Academies to eligible Out-of-School Youth (OSY) ages 16-24 (also referred to as “Disconnected Youth”) residing in Pacific Gateway Communities to achieve academic and employment success. Funds allocated for the Youth Academies are intended to achieve the following goals:
• Assist youth in achieving academic and employment success;
• Provide effective and comprehensive youth activities;
• Develop individual service strategies to include a variety of options for improving educational and skill competencies and effective connections to employers;
• Offer ongoing mentoring opportunities;
• Direct youth toward activities that lead to the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent, or recognized post-secondary credentials; and,
• Prepare and help place youth in unsubsidized employment opportunities.
Pacific Gateway administers the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and other employment and training funds received annually by the City of Long Beach (City). These funds support job training programs and business services delivered by the WorkPlace, FutureLB, Harbor Gateway WorkSource Center, and selected community-based organizations, to assist residents in acquiring skills leading to employment in high-demand occupations with local employers.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on May 6, 2021, and 745 potential proposers specializing in youth services, were notified of the RFP opportunity. Of those proposers, 67 downloaded the RFP via the City’s electronic bid system. The RFP document was made available from the Purchasing Division, located on the sixth floor of City Hall, and the Division’s website at www.longbeach.gov/purchasing <http://www.longbeach.gov/purchasing>. An RFP announcement was also included in the Purchasing Division’s weekly update of Open Bid Opportunities, which is sent to 35 local, minority-owned, and women-owned business groups. There were 12 proposals received on June 22, 2021. Of those 12 proposers, 4 were Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), 6 were Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs), 6 were certified Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), and 7 were Long Beach businesses (Local). The selection committee determined that Modern Times, Inc., of Los Angeles, CA, and United Cambodian Community, of Long Beach, CA (MBE, Local), were the most qualified firms to provide the services.
The selection committee recommended two firms to operate the Youth Academies as described in the RFP, Modern Times, Inc., and United Cambodian Community, based on their prior experience and expertise of providing youth services, responsiveness to the RFP, and ability to meet most or all of the evaluation criteria for the Youth Academies. Specifically, these firms have a track record of success with their proposed types of projects, as well as clear understanding of what entails such services as specified in their staffing plan, recruitment success with similar projects, ability to benchmark their success, and fiscal capacity to administer the program.
Local Business Outreach
To align with the City’s outreach goal, Long Beach businesses are encouraged to submit proposals for City contracts. The Purchasing Division also assists businesses with registering on the PlanetBids database to download RFP specifications. Through outreach, 286 Long Beach vendors were notified to submit proposals, of which 23 downloaded and 7 submitted a proposal. The Purchasing Division is committed to continuing to perform outreach to local vendors to expand the bidder pool.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on September 13, 2021, Business Services Bureau Manager Tara Mortensen on September 15, 2021, and by Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on September 24, 2021.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to adopt Specifications No. RFP ED21-047 and award contracts concurrently is requested on October 12, 2021, to ensure the contracts are in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total annual aggregate amount of the contracts will not exceed $232,000, for a period of one year, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods. Costs associated with these contracts will be offset by WIOA and other employment and training related grants. Sufficient funds are currently budgeted in the Community Development Grants Fund Group in the Economic Development Department. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
JOHN KEISLER
DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER