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Agenda Item
ASR
Control 21-000214 |
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MEETING DATE: |
05/11/21 |
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legal entity taking action: |
Board of Supervisors |
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board of supervisors
district(s): |
All Districts |
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SUBMITTING
Agency/Department: |
Social Services Agency (Approved) |
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Department contact
person(s): |
Laura Turtzer (714) 541-7734 |
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Desiree Mor (714) 541-7468 |
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Subject: Amendment to Renew Contract
for Workforce Development Board Services
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ceo CONCUR |
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Clerk of the Board |
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Concur |
Approved Agreement to Form |
Discussion |
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3 Votes Board Majority |
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Budgeted: N/A |
Current Year Cost:
N/A |
Annual Cost:
FY 2021-22: $3,665,000 |
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Staffing Impact: |
No |
# of Positions:
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Sole Source:
No |
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Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A
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Prior Board Action: 9/15/2020
#16, 06/25/2019 #47, 10/30/2018 #16 |
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RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
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1. |
Approve Fourth Amendment to
Contract with Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance,
Inc. for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids, Welfare to
Work Program - Employment Preparation Program, Vocational Training and Work Experience
services, to renew the Contract for an additional 12 months from July 1,
2021, through June 30, 2022, with a maximum obligation of $3,665,000 for a
revised cumulative total of $19,556,343, for the term of July 1, 2017,
through June 30, 2022. |
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2. |
Pursuant to County Contract
Policy Manual Section §3.4-114, authorize the Social Services Agency Director
or designee to exercise a contingency contract cost increase, not to exceed a
total of 10 percent of the Contract amount for the first year of the Contract,
for the entire term of the Contract, including renewals, and within the scope
of work set forth in the Contract. The
use of this contingency contract cost increase is subject to approval
requirements established by the County Procurement Officer. |
SUMMARY:
Approval of the final renewal of the Contract with the Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Inc. will assist the Social Services Agency in supporting California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids participants in obtaining and/or maintaining stable employment and achieving the goal of self-sufficiency through the provision of employment and training services through Employment Preparation, Work Experience and Vocational Training programs.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Social Services Agency (SSA) is requesting the Board of Supervisors’ (Board) approval of the Fourth Amendment to renew the Contract with Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Inc. (OCAPICA) for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Act (CalWORKs), Welfare to Work (WTW) Program - Employment Preparation Program (EPP), Vocational Training (VTR) and Work Experience (WEX) services for the final year, with a maximum obligation of $3,665,000 for the term of July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. Prior to contract expiration, SSA plans to issue a solicitation to continue services.
On April 30, 2018, Orange County Community Resources (OCCR) released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the provision of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I – Career Services and One-Stop Operator. This RFP included a Cooperative Agreement clause that allowed the provision in the solicitation to be extended to other California local or state governmental entities.
On October 30, 2018, the Board approved the list of procured providers eligible for funding and authorized OCCR to enter into contract negotiations. OCAPICA was deemed an eligible provider for the EPP, WEX and VTR services.
On June 25, 2019, the Board approved OCCR’s most recent Contract with OCAPICA for CalWORKs WTW services for the term of July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020, renewable for two additional one-year terms. OCAPICA has been the provider of these services through Contracts with OCCR since July 1, 2015.
CalWORKs WTW services for EPP, WEX and VTR were provided through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SSA and OCCR beginning January 10, 2012. The most recent MOU between SSA and OCCR was for the term of July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2020. This MOU was extended for the term of July 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020, to allow for an effective transition of the direct management of program services from OCCR to SSA.
On September 15, 2020, the Board approved the Third Amendment allowing SSA to directly contract with the provider of these services and renew the Contract with a maximum obligation of $2,669,615 for the term of October 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, renewable for one additional one-year term.
The primary objective of the CalWORKs WTW program is to assist families in achieving self-sufficiency by enhancing the employability of participants through engagement in employment preparatory activities and placement in paying jobs. CalWORKs WTW participants, unless exempt, are required to participate in the WTW Program for a minimum number of hours per week that vary based on the household’s composition. CalWORKs assistance is time limited to a total of 48 months of lifetime eligibility.
The EPP, VTR and WEX programs qualify as WTW activities under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 11322.6 and are designed to help participants develop job skills and provide occupational training to increase their opportunities for obtaining and maintaining stable employment.
EPP is a post-assessment, paid subsidized employment training opportunity in
public, private, nonprofit or for-profit organizations, with a focus on County
worksite placements. CalWORKs WTW participants with little or no work history
are placed with an employer for a period of six months and the employment may
be extended no more than twice in three-month increments, not to exceed a
period of twelve months. Participants learn skills through a variety of
workshops, one-on-one trainings, coaching and paid employment training opportunities.
Upon completion of the program, participants are able to gain employment
skills, enhance experience and develop a positive work ethic, which increases
their chances of finding unsubsidized employment. Some of the types of paid subsidized employment
training participants are receiving include clerical, retail, manufacturing,
light construction, data entry and customer service.
VTR activities are post-assessment organized educational programs that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations and must be provided by vocational-technical schools, postsecondary institutions or proprietary schools. VTR activities are transitional and short-term trainings, not to exceed 12 weeks, and are made available to CalWORKs WTW participants in areas identified as growth-oriented occupations that meet an unmet community need and are in high demand for new employees.
WEX activities are post-assessment, planned and structured learning experiences that occur in a workplace, under close supervision, for a period of twelve weeks. The WEX worksite may include public or private for-profit or nonprofit organizations and it is generally expected that the worksite will hire the participant as a regular employee when the placement period ends. WEX activities provide or enhance basic job skills and work experience, while meeting an identified community need. WEX is a paid WTW activity where the participants' salaries and benefits are paid by OCAPICA and reimbursed by the County at the prevailing California Minimum Wage rate. WEX is designed to expose participants to the working world and to develop the skills necessary to successfully gain and maintain unsubsidized employment.
Based on caseload trends through September 2020, it is projected that in July 2021, approximately 4,200 adults receiving CalWORKs assistance in Orange County will be required to participate in WTW activities, which include unsubsidized or subsidized employment, job services, on-the-job training, adult basic education, self-employment, mental health/substance abuse services and domestic abuse services.
Outcomes:
From July 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020, the following outcomes were achieved by OCAPICA operating as a Subrecipient under OCCR’s MOU with SSA:
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80 percent of all Participants referred shall be enrolled in EPP activities* |
74.1% |
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80 percent of all Participants referred shall be enrolled in VTR activities** |
37.5% |
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80 percent of all Participants referred shall be enrolled in WEX activities** |
0% |
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70 percent of Participants enrolled in EPP will complete the activities |
74.2% |
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70 percent of Participants enrolled in VTR will complete the activities |
80% |
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70 percent of Participants enrolled in WEX will complete the activities |
N/A |
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60 percent of Participants who attend VTR activities will obtain unsubsidized employment within 45 calendar days of completing VTR** |
9.1% |
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60 percent of Participants who attend WEX activities will obtain unsubsidized employment within 45 calendar days of completing WEX** |
N/A |
From October 1, 2020, through January 31, 2021, the following outcomes were achieved by OCAPICA operating under OCAPICA’s Contract with SSA:
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80 percent of all Participants referred shall be enrolled in EPP activities* |
69.2% |
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80 percent of all Participants referred shall be enrolled in VTR activities** |
41.2% |
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80 percent of all Participants referred shall be enrolled in WEX activities** |
0% |
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70 percent of Participants enrolled in EPP will complete the activities |
88.2% |
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70 percent of Participants enrolled in VTR will complete the activities** |
50% |
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70 percent of Participants enrolled in WEX will complete the activities |
N/A |
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60 percent of Participants who attend VTR activities will obtain unsubsidized employment within 45 calendar days of completing VTR** |
25% |
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60 percent of Participants who attend WEX activities will obtain unsubsidized employment within 45 calendar days of completing WEX |
N/A |
*OCAPICA did not meet the goal for EPP enrollment and completion rates due to the impact of COVID-19, noncompliance in attendance at the assigned EPP worksite, discontinuance from CalWORKs for reasons other than EPP wages and obtaining unsubsidized employment.
**OCAPICA did not meet the goal for enrollment, completion and employment rates due to the closure of businesses and child care centers due to COVID-19.
OCAPICA's performance has been confirmed as satisfactory, given the widespread impact COVID-19 has had on employment and school enrollment. SSA has verified there are no concerns that must be addressed with respect to OCAPICA's ownership/name, litigation status or conflicts with County interests.
Subcontractors:
This Contract does not currently include subcontractors or pass through to other providers. See Attachment C for Contract Summary Form. This Contract, due to the nature of the services, could require the addition of subcontractors. Should the addition of a subcontractor affect the scope of work and/or Contract amount, SSA will bring the item back to the Board for approval. In the past, subcontractor(s) have been used for this Contract.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Appropriations for this Contract will be included in Budget Control 063, Social Services Agency FY 2021-22 Budget. This Contract will be funded by 83 percent federal and 17 percent state funds. Federal and state dollars are comprised of CalWORKs program allocation funding.
Contingency of Funds
The Contract includes provisions that the Contract is contingent upon the availability of funds and inclusion of sufficient funds in the budget approved by the Board for each fiscal year the Contract remains in effect or operation. In the event such funding is terminated or reduced, the County may terminate the Contract, reduce the County’s maximum obligation or modify the Contract, without penalty.
STAFFING IMPACT:
N/A
ATTACHMENT(S):
Attachment A - Fourth Amendment to Contract with Orange
County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Inc., #19-28-0065-SP-A4
Attachment B – Fourth Amendment to Contract with Orange County Asian Pacific
Islander Community Alliance, Inc., #19-28-0065-SP-A4 Redline
Attachment C - Contract Summary Form
Attachment D - Cited Codes, Regulations and/or Statutes