Equity-Centered Workforce Development Study for Delaware

Why is this Workforce Development Study Essential?

Big Vision

Job mobility pipelines and wealth creation are essential elements in creating an equitable, diverse workforce. Today, the equity gaps are substantial. However, we can foster systemic change. We can create a Delaware where financial empowerment – ample access to jobs, the ability to stay relevant/in-demand, higher-paying career pathways, and asset attainment is in reach for every adult, regardless of zip code, race or ethnicity.

That’s the bold goal of United Way of Delaware (UWDE) and the Delaware Racial Justice Collaborative (DRJC). For decades, UWDE has worked to promote social justice, eliminate inequities and expand opportunities for all Delawareans. Today, UWDE is expanding the impact of the DRJC by deploying its collective infrastructure and resources to amplify and support the DRJC’s community-based initiatives, promoting racial equity and social justice for all.

Together with our partners, we have a big vision for the future of Delaware – where all Delawareans have an equitable opportunity to thrive. We know that the foundation necessary to thrive is a solid, living wage and a path to a career where there are ample opportunities for advancement, increased income and wealth creation.

Talent Pipeline

We are reimagining Delaware as an equity-centered talent development hub for historically underserved individuals, businesses, investments and their educational/corporate allies.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified a “reskilling emergency” noting that: by 2022, 42% of the core skills required to perform existing jobs are expected to change, and more than a billion people (globally) will need to be reskilled by 2030.

The ultimate goal for Delaware is to create a talent pipeline whereby our diverse population becomes the innovative workforce of tomorrow, with skills, credentials and capabilities that are aligned with our industry needs, emerging markets and growing trends at the state, county and localized level. And, as we build a robust workforce development pipeline, we are consciously hyper-focused to ensure that our pipeline includes continual opportunities for improvement, retraining, stackable certifications, small business development and reentry opportunities so that our workforce that starts in Delaware, stays in Delaware.

How will this Workforce Development Study Inform Action?

To build this future-ready talent pipeline, we need to prepare now, by applying an equity-centered, data-driven approach to identifying and building adaptable programs and policies, that also embed fairness and equitable access to opportunity and advancement across the state. Capturing the voice and needs of all stakeholders is essential in this process – the business community needs to be heard, the real barriers for our workforce need to be identified and limitations of preparation programs need to be alleviated. Ultimately, there has to be alignment between what businesses need now and into the future, and the programs being sustained, expanded or developed to prepare our workforce.

The Workforce Development Study will take a deep dive into the current state of workforce development in Delaware, through a comprehensive and equity-focused lens. This study will be conducted by an external Consultant who will:

Identify other stakeholders conducting similar studies, align to minimize duplicative work where possible
Create a library of other workforce development studies/research/articles
Identify current workforce deficits and opportunities in Delaware – at the state, county, and local level
Identify future industry and innovation trends in Delaware – public, private, nonprofit sectors
Conduct a landscape analysis with robust tagging/sorting capabilities of current workforce development/education programs, trainings, resources in Delaware focused on any aspect of workforce development including but not limited to: businesses, organized labor, Delaware Pathways, public/private organizations, higher education, economic development offices, Workforce Development Board, Office of Work Based Learning and DOL Employment and Training.
- Furthermore, identify which of the programs, trainings, and resources from the landscape analysis in Delaware that are focused on any aspect of workforce development that explicitly address equity and equitable access to programs
Create a mapping of programs, organizations, opportunities, barriers and gaps from high school Pathways through the lifecycle of career paths across all industries in Delaware, in full and from an equity perspective.
Gather and analyze current funding streams and aligned outcome goals to identify areas of inefficiency, overlap, gaps, underutilization of resources and opportunities for amplifying impact and equity
Find and analyze other regional (similar size/demographics) workforce development initiatives to pinpoint three successfully, sustained private/ for profit/ nonprofit models in action
Identify current data sources and metrics to measure and track outcomes and impact
Write and publish a report detailing findings, recommendations, and a plan for immediate, short-term and long-term actions

Workforce Development Study - Request for Proposals

Goal: Seek and hire Consultant(s) to conduct and produce the results of the study, supported by UWDE.

Consultant(s) will own the process from start to finish.

Phase 1 - Research

Phase 2 - Draft Report

Phase 3 - Final Report in Text Format

Phase 4 - Revisions, New Information Gathering/Additions

Phase 5 - Produce Final Publication

Eligibility:

Any governmental, nonprofit or private-for-profit organization(s) or individuals may apply. Responders must have knowledge, background, and extensive experience in conducting statewide or regional workforce development studies or similar projects tied to education and/or workforce development.

RFP Due Date: Friday, February 4, 2022 - 5pm EASTERN

RFP Submission Process:

Please submit your RFP application to Laurie Girardi, UWDE, through this form: https://form.jotform.com/213395272096056
Send a follow-up email to Laurie Girardi at lgirardi@uwde.org to confirm your submission.
If you have any technical troubles, please contact Laurie at lgirardi@uwde.org.

RFP/Procurement Timeline:

February 11, 2022 - Semi-Finalists notified via email.

February 16-18, 2022 - Conduct Interviews with Semi-Finalists

February 23-24, 2022 - Final Interviews with Finalists

February 28, 2022 - RFP Award Announced to all who applied

Project Timeline:

March 7, 2022 - Phase 1 of Work Begins, Benchmarks Agreed Upon for Phases 1-2

August 19, 2022 - Phase 2 Complete - Full Draft of Report Due for Internal and Funder Review

September 16, 2022 - Phase 3 Complete - Final Report in Text Format Due, Graphic Recommendations Due

October 17, 2022 - Phase 4 Complete - Revisions/Additions Due

November 30, 2022 - Phase 5 Complete - Final Publication Ready for Print/Publishing

December 15, 2022 - Release Publicly

Please complete the following questions. Note: There is a word count limit in most of the answer fields.

You may SAVE your application as you go and return to it to complete later. When you hit the SAVE button at the bottom of the form, you can copy the link to save for later, and/or provide your email address to receive an automated email with a "Continue" button embedded in it. You do not have to create an account to continue. Instead, simply click the "Skip Create an Account" and provide your email address.

Name (Primary Consultant)

First NameLast Name

Phone Number

Email

example@example.com

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Organization:

Brief Background of Your Experience: Please provide a description of your background and experience. If there is more than one Consultant in your organization who will be working on this project, please include each Consultant's experience. (500 Word Maximum)*

0/500

Your Definition of Equity: As you imagine conducting an Equity-centered Workforce Development Study in Delaware for UWDE and DRJC, how would you define equity as the lens through which all research will flow? (250 Words Maximum)*

0/250

Provide Details for Your Process, Timeline, and Budget for Completing the Study including:

Part I: Explain the process you would follow to conduct the study being as specific as possible from the beginning of Phase 1 through completion of the report draft, Phase 2, specifically addressing how would you complete the following:

Identify current workforce deficits and opportunities in Delaware – at the state, county, and local level, with specific focus on equity.
Identify future industry and innovation trends in Delaware – public, private, nonprofit sectors
Conduct a landscape analysis with robust tagging/sorting capabilities of current workforce development/education programs, trainings, resources in Delaware focused on any aspect of workforce development including but not limited to: businesses, organized labor, Delaware Pathways, public/private organizations, higher education, economic development offices, Workforce Development Board, Office of Work Based Learning and DOL Employment and Training.
1. Furthermore, identify which of the programs, trainings, and resources from the landscape analysis in Delaware that are focused on any aspect of workforce development that explicitly address equity and equitable access to programs.
Create a mapping of programs, organizations, opportunities, barriers and gaps from high school Pathways through the lifecycle of career paths across all industries in Delaware, in full and from an equity perspective
Gather and analyze current funding streams and aligned outcome goals to identify areas of inefficiency, overlap, gaps, underutilization of resources and opportunities for amplifying impact and equity
Find and analyze other regional (similar size/demographics) workforce development initiatives to pinpoint three successfully, sustained private/ for profit/ nonprofit models in action
Identify current data sources and metrics to measure and track outcomes and impact
Write and publish a report detailing findings, recommendations, and a plan for immediate, short-term and long-term actions

(Part I, 2500 Word Maximum)

Part II: Explain the timeline you will follow to complete the process outlined in Part I. (Part II, 500 Word Maximum)

Part III: Itemize your budget for this project providing a budget that aligns with the timeline and process you have itemized in Part I and Part II.

Part I: Detailed Process - Provide your answer to Part I in the box below. Be sure to address each of the items in the sections A-H above. (2500 Word Maximum)*

0/2500

Part II: Timeline - Provide details with regard to your timeline for completing the process explained above in Part I.*

0/500

Part III: Budget - Itemize your budget for this project: Please provide a budget that aligns with the timeline and process you have itemized above.*

Examples of Your Work Product. Please provide example(s) of previous published workforce development or other studies you have played a key role in completing, specifically those with an equity focus. If you do not have a file to upload, simply upload a Word Document with links to any digital sources.*

Areas of Weakness: Given that our view of workforce development begins with school-age youth and carries through adulthood to seniors, what areas are your weakest in terms of expertise or experience? (500 Word Maximum)*

0/500

Need to Know: What, if anything, do you need to know before you could commit to this project? Put N/A if not applicable. (500 Word Maximum)*

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