July 2, 2024
Library and Community Services
Employment & Training
DATE: July 2, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
LaShonda White, Deputy City Manager –
Community Services
Tamara Walker, Deputy Director of
Community Services, Employment and Training Division
Subject:
Contract with Cheryl Maier
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The contract will be funded entirely by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act grant. The Employment
and Training Department has budgeted for non-grant
funds in its Operating Expenses Budget to be allocated for Contractual Services . All expenditures associated with this program are grant-funded and will be reimbursed to the city. There will be no fisca l impact on the City’s General Fund. (12572641-400538-27A01)
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Employment and Training Division is seeking
approval of a contract with Cheryl Maier to serve as the American Job Centers of California (AJCC) Coordinator
for RichmondWORKS
AGENDA
REPORT
July 2, 2024
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a contract with Cheryl Maier to serve as the
American Job Centers of California (AJCC) Coordinator
for the Richmond Workforce Development Board
(RWDB) for a term commencing July 1, 2024, and ending
June 30, 2025, for a total compensation amount not to
exceed $20,000 – Community Services Department
(LaShonda White 510-620-6828/Tamara Walker 510-
307-8006).
DISCUSSION:
The American Job Centers of California (AJCC) locations are the core of California’s workforce system. The AJCC Operators and Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Services Providers play a critical role to ensure that AJCCs are serving as all-inclusive access points to education and training programs for a wide range of customers.
Local Boards are required to conduct an open and competitive process to select their AJCC Operators. The Local Board, with the agreement of the Chief Elected Official and the Governor, may provide Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Services, or by awarding contracts. All AJCC Operators must be in place and operating in the AJCCs no later than July 1, 2025.
In California, AJCC Operators are responsible for coordinating service delivery among all AJCC partners and service providers within the Local Workforce Development Area (Local Area). By having the AJCC Operator serve as the local service delivery coordinator, it allows Local Boards to focus on strategic planning and developing partnerships at the local and regional levels. The Richmond Workforce Development Board currently has 16 AJCC partners and serves as the Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Operator.
The role of the AJCC Operator includes the following:
Coordinate the service delivery of required AJCC partners and service providers. Ensure the implementation of partner responsibilities agreed upon in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Local Boards must select their AJCC Operator through a competitive process at least once every four years. As part of that competitive process, Local Boards are required to clearly articulate the expected role(s) and responsibilities of the AJCC Operator.
AJCC Operators may be a single public, private, or non-profit entity or consortium of entities.
July 2, 2024
Local Boards may request approval from the Governor to be Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Operator. The request must be submitted to the Governor by March 1, 2025.
If approved, the waiver will be for 4 years.
On June 26, 2023, Employment and Training released the AJJC One Stop Operator Services Request for Proposals (RFP). The city received 2 proposals. Unfortunately, those proposals were rejected because they were not aligned with the scope of the role of AJCC Operator as defined in Subpart D; AJCC Operators; part 567 of Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations (20 CFR 678), page 2 of the RFP (Attachment 1).
In order to meet the City’s procurement requirement to receive a minimum of 3 bids for contracts between $10,000 and $50,000, Employment and Training submitted an informal request for one additional proposal. Ms. Cheryl Maier was the only additional application received.
Ms. Maier, a long-time resident of Richmond, brings extensive expertise in workforce development to the AJCC Operator position. With over a decade of experience managing WIOA workforce programs and coordinating AJCC partners in the City of Oakland before her retirement, she is well-equipped to drive impactful workforce initiatives and foster collaborative partnerships as the AJCC Operator.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – AJCC Operator Services RFP
Attachment 2 – AJCC Operator Contract