COUNTY OF ALAMEDA

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL No. 2025-SSA-WBA-CWJTPS

for

CALWORKS MEDICAL ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION

JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES

For complete information regarding this project, see Request for Proposal (RFP) posted at Alameda County Current Contracting Opportunities [ https://gsa.acgov.org/do-business-with-us/contracting-opportunities/ ] or contact the County representative listed below. Thank you for your interest! Contact Person: Angela Anderson Phone Number: (510) 267-9457 Email Address: angela.anderson2@acgov.org Alameda County Social Services Agency / Contracts Office

RESPONSE DUE

by

2:00 p.m.

on

April 24, 2025

By Mail: Alameda County Social Services Agency

Finance Division - Contracts Office

Attention: Angela Anderson

2000 San Pablo Avenue, 4th Floor, Suite 451B

Oakland, CA 94612

Or

Schedule an appointment to drop off your submission.

Alameda County is committed to reducing environmental impacts across our entire supply chain. Please print only what you need, print double-sided, and use recycled-content paper if printing this document.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL No. 2025-SSA-WBA-CWJTPS

CALWORKS MEDICAL ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES

EVENT	DATE/LOCATION
Request Issued	March 14, 2025
Bidders Conference #1	March 20, 2025 @ 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (PST) Microsoft Teams Meeting Join on your computer, mobile app, or room device Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 234 937 941 058 Passcode: YX2qk6Ah Download Teams | Join on the web Or call in (audio only) (888) 715-8170, 624322728# United States (Toll-free) Phone Conference ID: 624 322 728#
Bidders Conference #2	March 24, 2025 @ 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (PST) Microsoft Teams Meeting Join on your computer, mobile app, or room device Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 242 887 584 861 Passcode: 3Ew6jZ6V Download Teams | Join on the web Or call in (audio only) (888) 715-8170, 399955111# United States (Toll-free) Phone Conference ID: 399 955 111#
Written Questions Due via Email: angela.anderson2@acgov.org	March 25, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.
List of Attendees Issued	March 26, 2025
Questions & Answers Issued	April 11, 2025
Addendum Issued [only if necessary to amend RFP]	April 11, 2025
Response Due 2000 San Pablo Avenue, 4th Floor, Suite 451B, Oakland, CA 94612	April 24, 2025 by 2:00 p.m.
Evaluation Period	April 24, 2025 – May 16, 2025
Vendor Interviews [if opted by County]	Week of May 27, 2025
Notice of Intent to Award Issued	June 9, 2025
Board Consideration Award Date	September 2025
Contract Start Date	October 1, 2025

NOTE: All dates are tentative and subject to change.

COUNTY OF ALAMEDA

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL No. 2024-SSA-WBA-CWJTPS

SPECIFICATIONS, TERMS & CONDITIONS

for

CALWORKS MEDICAL ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ATTACHMENTS

EXHIBIT A – BID RESPONSE PACKET (separate file)

EXHIBIT B –

I. ACRONYM AND TERM GLOSSARY

Unless otherwise noted, the terms below may be upper or lower case. Acronyms will always be uppercase.

ACSSA	Alameda County Social Services Agency
Bid	A bidder’s response to this Request
Bidder	The specific person or entity responding to this RFP
Board	The County of Alameda Board of Supervisors
CFR	Code of Federal Regulations
Contractor	When capitalized, refers to selected bidder that is awarded a contract.
County	When capitalized, refers to the County of Alameda.
CSC	County Selection Committee.
Federal	United States Federal Government, its departments and/or agencies.
FY	Fiscal Year
Labor Code	California Labor Code.
PO	Purchase Order
Proposal	A bidder’s response to this RFP.
Request for Proposal	This document, which is the County of Alameda’s request for contractors’/bidders’ proposal to provide the goods and/or services being solicited herein; also referred herein as RFP.
Response	Bidder’s proposal submitted in reply to RFP.
RFP	Request for Proposal
State	Refers to State of California, its departments and/or agencies.
WBA	Workforce and Benefits Administration

II.
STATEMENT OF WORK

A. INTENT

It is the intent of these specifications, terms, and conditions to describe California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Medical Assistant (MA) Certification Job Training and Placement Services (JPTS) being requested by the Alameda County Social Services Agency (ACSSA). Bidders who are qualified and experienced to provide National Medical Assistant with Phlebotomy certification training, soft skills and job readiness training, paid internship to permanent employment, and continued mentoring services to the Department of Workforce and Benefits Administration (WBA) CalWORKs Welfare-to-Work (WTW) participants are invited to bid.

The County intends to award a three-year contract (with the option to renew for two years) to a Bidder selected as the most responsible Bidder whose response conforms to the Request for Proposal (RFP) and meets the County’s requirements.

All contract awards are contingent upon receipt, by the County, of adequate Federal and State funding and are subject to revisions required by the CalWORKs WTW program. All contracts will be performance-based and earned amounts will be payable on a line-item basis.

B. SCOPE

The ACSSA seeks proposals from community-based organizations, as well as public or private, for-profit or non-profit agencies, to provide CalWORKs Medical Assistant Certification Job Training and Placement Services beginning October 1, 2025, for the WBA CalWORKs WTW participants. The program aims to increase the number of CalWORKs WTW participants receiving comprehensive job training, employment placement, and related career support services that increase their ability to sustain economic stability for themselves and their families.

Additionally, the program aims to provide bilingual / multilingual participants with training and curriculum in English and in their additional language(s), if it is identified as a County threshold language, and place participants in community clinics and health organizations with language needs.

C. BACKGROUND

The ACSSA, in partnership with various organizations, serves the public by encouraging the financial and social health for individuals and families within its cities. (You may visit this link About Us [alamedacountysocialservices.org] for ACSSA’s mission statement).

The WBA supports this vision by executing services that promote self-sufficiency through job training and placement to vulnerable communities facing economic challenges. (You may visit this link About Us [workforce-and-benefits-administration] for the WBA mission statement). The WBA also understands the need for non-English medical services in the County and is acutely aware of the diverse language skills possessed by CalWORKs WTW program participants. The WBA intends to utilize existing skill sets, in conjunction with program training and curriculum, to train participants in their primary and additional languages.

This RFP is for an agreement between ACSSA and a bidder qualified to provide CalWORKs Medical Assistant Certification Job Training and Placement Services, ensuring benefits and services are delivered to eligible CalWORKs WTW participants.

D. BIDDER MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bidder and all key personnel assigned to the project must be regularly and continuously engaged in the business of providing effective MA and Phlebotomy training and certification for at least two (2) years, or Bidder must be able to subcontract with an organization that has continuously engaged in MA and Phlebotomy training and certification for at least two (2) years which must be clearly stated or demonstrated in the bid response.

2. Bidder will receive preference if able to provide training and certification in English and non-English County threshold languages, such as Spanish, Farsi, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Tagalog.

3. Bidder must, or Bidder must be able to subcontract with an organization that can:

a. Offer in-person MA and Phlebotomy training and certification within Alameda County,

b. Conduct jobs skills and job readiness training,

c. Be a nationally accredited institution,

d. Offer a MA and Phlebotomy program approved for national certification through National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) and approved by the California Department of Public Health’s Laboratory Field Services Division,

e. Place CalWORKs WTW participants into paid internships and jobs in the medical field through established workforce connections and partnerships.

4. Bidder must possess all permits, licenses, and professional credentials necessary to supply products and perform services specified under this RFP. Unless noted otherwise in the RFP, for example the item(s) stated above, including any Addendum, Bidder is not required to submit copies or verification of the permits, licenses and credentials; however, Bidder must provide such proof if requested by County.

E. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

1. Program Goals

a. The ACSSA aims to address the fragmentation among the workforce, education, and employment programs by providing comprehensive wraparound services, training, and work experience that meet the employment needs of CalWORKs WTW participants and healthcare industry employers through the CalWORKs MA Certification JTPS Program.

2. Target Population

a. Bidder will provide services to the following populations: CalWORKs recipients who are subject to the WTW program’s hourly participation requirements.

CalWORKs hourly participation requirements are determined by an average per week during the month, rather than by a weekly hour minimum. The hourly requirement is dependent on the family’s assistance unit composition outlined below:

Single parent with a child under the age of 6 years — 20 hours per week.

Single-parent with no child under the age of 6 years — 30 hours per week.

Two-parent families — 35 hours per week.

3. Program Requirements

a. The ACSSA Department of WBA staff will determine eligibility for all participants referred to Bidder. Bidder will be expected to work and collaborate with WBA staff to enroll participants referred to the program. The CalWORKs MA Certification JTPS Program will include the following activities and support.

4. Program Components

a. Orientation and interview selection of eligible participants.

b. Healthcare-focused training, essential-skills training, and job readiness training for all participants.

c. Clinical Medical Assistant Training and Certification.

d. Up to 200 hours paid internship at a healthcare facility.

e. Job placement and employer coordination into organizations that serve clients in the participant’s primary language, and with bilingual / multilingual participants, in one of the participant’s additional languages.

f. Case management for the duration of the training and internship.

g. Reporting and evaluation.

h. Ongoing instruction that can help participants obtain basic literacy and computer skills.

5. Program Flow and Structure

a. Assess eligible individuals referred by ACSSA to identify a cohort of 22-28 participants. The cohort may include some participants who began or completed a MA certification program but did not receive a certification.

b. Conduct orientations, interviews, background checks and other assessments to determine participant readiness and eligibility.

c. Provide essential skills and job readiness training to all enrolled participants.

d. Coordinate the MA training and certification process with the training provider.

e. Provide ongoing case management and support for all participants during the training and internship phase to remove and/or reduce barriers to success.

f. Place participants in paid internship assignments that provide opportunities for work acculturation and basic occupational skills acquisition relevant to the participant’s occupational WTW2 Plan’s goals.

g. Evaluate the program model, progress, and work performance of participants in concert with the employer partners.

h. Coordinate with training providers and employer partners to provide the specific, contextualized content that will ensure program participants’ success.

i. Identify internship placements at health clinics for participants who complete the MA Certificate and job readiness training.

j. Establish written agreements with employer partners to host interns.

k. Place participants who successfully complete the Clinical MA Training, Certificate and Job Placement Program into unsubsidized employment.

6. ACSSA Obligations

a. Assign a single point of contact for all programmatic matters related to this project.

b. Provide technical assistance regarding timeline and reporting needed.

c. Conduct outreach and recruitment of individuals whose CalWORKs cases are in good standing, and with a minimum of 12 months left on their CW WTW Time on Aid clocks. Provide all WTW/Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) eligibility screening, enrollment, and case management.

d. Assist with screening of applicants most likely to be successful with the curriculum.

e. Make ACSSA/One-Stop case managers available to work in coordination with the contractor’s point of contact.

f. Organize periodic update meetings as needed to ensure timely communication and progress reports throughout the contract period.

g. Payroll and employer of record services will be provided for WTW participants.

h. Collect, submit, and maintain all reports as required under this agreement.

i. Review program operations reports and evaluate contractor’s use of contract funds and ability to meet outcome goals and objectives.

j. Provide technical assistance and resources, as needed.

7. Bidder Obligations

a. Assign a single point of contact who will work with WBA staff, subcontractors, and employment partners to deliver this program.

b. Work with WBA staff to plan, organize and deliver outreach and recruitment orientations for individuals on the caseloads of East Bay Works and affiliates in the County of Alameda.

c. Conduct training on financial management and affordable housing access and inform and link clients to services, including child care providers, legal aid, and other wrap-around services.

d. Provide MA training and certification.

e. Work with WBA staff to interview and screen program participants for admittance into the program. Conduct orientation sessions for accepted participants to inform them of the program components and services available to them through this program, WIOA and other programs.

f. Deliver educational and behavioral interventions for participants who are challenged with meeting the expectations of the training program, which includes punctuality, teamwork, and productivity.

g. Provide all background checks, drug screening, and immunizations or immunization records for all interns as required by employment partners. Alternatively, some clinics may choose to use their own screening process, at their own cost.

h. Identify employment partners to secure internship spots for participants. Each participant who successfully completes the classroom training will be offered a paid internship, consisting of a maximum of 200 hours, earning $20.00 per hour.

i. Provide case management to participants throughout the program to address barriers to completion, coach participants to address any personal or supervisor concerns that arise, connect or refer to additional supportive resources, and continue to help participants develop computer, job search, interviewing and job readiness skills.

j. Manage and report to key stakeholders the tracking of participants from recruitment, screening, interviewing, acceptance, training, internship, job placement, job retention, re-employment, and the overall completion of the program.

k. Participate in an evaluation process midway and at the completion of the program including feedback from the point person, instructor(s), internship site supervisors, Contractor, subcontractors, WBA staff and other key partners.

l. Monitor progress and ensure that feedback from participants and other partners is utilized to improve the participant and employer experience throughout the program.

m. Provide ongoing job search assistance and retention support, with priority activities given to placement at an employer partner site.

n. Provide training on the use of the EASTBAY Works online system, Cal JOBS. This includes registering and using the system to find employment opportunities, exploring the local labor market to learn about the different types of career and occupational options available to job seekers and becoming knowledgeable about the local educational and training programs within the County of Alameda.

o. Provide follow-up and re-engagement services for participants who become unemployed within six months of the program end date.

p. Schedule and provide funding for participants to take the National Certified Medical Assistant exam administered by the NCCT.

q. Track participants at entry into employment and for six (6) months after they begin employment or enter per diem float pool departments, or if hired in temporary or permanent positions by another healthcare employer.

r. Focus on job placement within the industry clusters and occupations within the County of Alameda that would provide participants who successfully complete the program with the following employment opportunities:

Permanent, full-time employment of no less than thirty-five (35) hours per week within sectors that have the potential to provide livable wages and benefits.

Employment that offers career advancement opportunities.

Employment that provides training to foster career advancement for entry-level employees with limited work skills and employment histories.

Employment that offers the participant to utilize their English and additional language skills to serve clients.

s. Contractor will provide information to employers about financial incentives and services that may be available to them such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and subsidized or partially subsidized wage programs.

t. Act as Employer-of-Record, which includes:

Participants will not be the employees of the assigned worksite host, but rather, Contractor, or a company vetted by them, will act as the Employer-of-Record for CalWORKs WTW participants enrolled in the program.

Contractor, or their agent, will carry out all the common payroll functions as the Employer-of-Record for the MA program.

Contractor, or their agent, will be responsible for ensuring that participants receive scheduled payroll bi-weekly pay checks. Hourly wages will be based on the California minimum wage standards, and in some instances, on other city minimum wage ordinances.

Contractor, or their agent, will be responsible for ensuring the timely submission of all required employment-related documentation that includes, but is not limited to, the following:

New Hire Documentation – Process, complete, and maintain all new hire IRS W-4, W-5, and other new hire-related documentation, prior to participants starting their work assignment at the host/worksite.

Timesheets – Coordinate the collection of the timesheet information that is to be submitted in time for payroll processing prior to the payroll due date, per the payroll schedule for each pay period.

Payroll Schedule – Issue biweekly payroll and ensures the distribution of the payroll checks to participants on time each pay period.

Direct Deposit – Provide an option for Electronic Funds Transfer services that will automatically transfer payroll funds to an individual participant’s checking or savings account.

Payroll Deductions – Ensure that FICA, Federal and State payroll deductions are properly deducted in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws.

Emergency Manual Checks – Issue manual checks on an as-needed basis. Manual checks should be an exception.

W-2s –Provide W-2s of the preceding calendar year by January 20th each year.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Provide participants information about the EITC federal tax credit regulations and the qualification requirements.

Wage Garnishments – Administer wage garnishments as required.

Detailed Expenditure Reports – Submit Detailed Expenditure Reports monthly to the ACSSA Finance Department.

u. Provide Clinical MA Training, essential-skill, training, and job readiness skill development training to all participants.

v. Participate in monitoring and evaluating the job readiness component, and work with Contractor to implement necessary interventions in order to support participants’ readiness for internships and to meet the goals of this program.

w. Refer participants to Alameda County’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

F. DELIVERABLES / REPORTS

ACSSA has adopted the Results-Based Accountability (RBA) framework to strengthen and increase data collection and improve contract performance. The RBA framework establishes performance measures that will allow ACSSA to track the positive impact and benefits of services for the target population by focusing on three critical questions: How much work was done? How well was it done?, and Is anyone better off?.

Contractor will provide the following services/deliverables:

RBA Performance Measures	Frequency	How to Calculate	Contractor’s Internal Data Collection Method/Data Source
How Much Was Done?	Performance Measure 1.	Monthly	Performance Measure 1.	CalWORKs Medical Assistant Certification Job Training and Placement Services Log
	70% of enrolled CalWORKs participants who enroll in the Clinical Medical Assistant Training Certificate and Job Placement Program will complete training.		# of participants that completed the program
			―
			# of participants enrolled in program
	Performance Measure 2.		Performance Measure 2.
	85% of participants will enter a paid internship at a community health clinic or healthcare facility.		# of participants that entered a paid internship at a community health clinic or healthcare facility
			―
			# of participants enrolled in program
	Performance Measure 3.		Performance Measure 3.
	75% of participants will attain employment prior to or after completion of their training program.		# of participants that obtained employment prior to or after completion of the program
			―
			# of participants enrolled in the program
How Well Was It Done?	Performance Measure 4.	Monthly (after Graduation)	Performance Measure 4.	CalWORKs Medical Assistant Certification Job Training and Placement Services Log
	For each survey period, at least 90% of participants report that they are “Satisfied” or “Very Satisfied” with the services they received.		# of participants that reported they are 'Satisfied' or 'Very Satisfied' with the services they received
			―
			# of participants enrolled in program
	Performance Measure 5.		Performance Measure 5.
	65% of participants newly employed will be full-time, permanent jobs.		# of participants newly employed in full-time, permanent jobs
			―
			# of participants newly employed
	Performance Measure 6.		Performance Measure 6.
	The average starting wage of CalWORKs participants who have retained full or part-time employment will be $16.50 per hour.		Sum of hourly pay for participants who have retained full or part-time employment
			―
			# of participants that have retained full or part-time employment
How Well Was It Done?	Performance Measure 7.	Bi-Annually	Performance Measure 7.	CalWORKs Medical Assistant Certification Job Training and Placement Services Log
	At least 80% of CalWORKs participants who obtained employment will retain employment for at least 180 days after initial confirmation of unsubsidized employment.		# of participants who obtained and retained employment for least 180 days after initial confirmation of unsubsidized employment
			―
			# of participants who obtained employment
	Performance Measure 8.		Performance Measure 8.
	At least 65% of participants those newly employed will be employed in permanent jobs with medical benefits.		# of participants newly employed in permanent jobs with medical benefits
			―
			# of participants newly employed

Above are general performance measures subject to modification once the Bidder is selected and the specific program design and interventions have been identified. ACSSA may request individual client data on the services provided for evaluation and/or quality assurance purposes.

G. BIDDERS CONFERENCE(S)

1. The Bidders Conference(s) held on the date(s) specified in the Calendar of Events will have online conference capabilities for remote participation. Bidders can opt to participate via a computer with a stable internet connection (the recommended Bandwidth is 512Kbps) by clicking on the meeting links provided in the Calendar of Events.

2. To participate via phone for audio access only, a call-in option is available.

3. Information regarding the RFP will be presented during the conference(s). To get the best experience, the County recommends that Bidders who participate remotely use equipment with audio output such as speakers, headsets, or a telephone.

4. Bidders Conferences will be held to:

a. Provide an opportunity for Bidders to request clarification on this RFP and ask specific questions about the project, goods, and services.

b. Provide the County with an opportunity to receive feedback related to this RFP.

5. The Bidders Conference(s) Attendees List will be released in a separate document.

6. Written questions submitted via email by the stated deadline will be addressed in a posted RFP Questions and Answers document following the Bidders Conference(s). Should there be a need to amend or revise the RFP, an Addendum will be issued. Any verbal statements, including at any Bidders Conference(s) are not binding. Only the written documents will be binding.

7. Questions regarding these specifications, terms, and conditions are to be submitted in writing via email by 5:00 p.m. on the date specified in the Calendar of Events to:

Angela Anderson, Program Financial Specialist

RFP No. 2025-SSA-WBA-CWJTPS

Alameda County Social Services Agency / Contracts Office

E-Mail: angela.anderson2@acgov.org

8. Attendance at the Bidders Conference(s) is highly recommended but not mandatory. Vendors who attend the Bidders Conference(s) will be added to the Vendor Bid List.

III. COUNTY PROCEDURES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS

H. EVALUATION CRITERIA / SELECTION COMMITTEE

...