State of Oregon

State of Oregon

OREGON GED? PROGRAM WRAPAROUND SERVICES

Request for Grant Applications (RFA)

Initial Application Due on: April 30, 2020 at 4:00 PM

For questions, clarifications, or if you need this material in a different format, please contact Lisa KellyHarriman at lisa.m.kellyharriman@state.or.us.

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1. INTRODUCTION

The State of Oregon, acting by and through its Higher Education Coordinating Commission, ("HECC"), is issuing this Request for Applications ("RFA") to provide funding to programs that offer preparation, instruction and/or Wraparound Services (defined below) to General Educational Development candidates.

In the 2013 Secretary of State Audit Report, the City Club and Chief Education Office reports recommended the need for HECC's Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development ("CCWD") to work on creating a system to better support students who need to earn their GED? test credential and move on to jobs or other post-secondary opportunities. The 2015 Legislative Assembly provided funding for this important work. The 2019 Legislative Assembly renewed this funding.

The new system will provide funding to defray the cost of GED? testing and/or provide support in the form of wraparound services to minimize barriers to earning a GED? test credential that many GED? test candidates face.

Additional details on the scope of the activities are included in the Grant Information and Guidelines section.

HECC has committed $1.7 million in funds for this effort and anticipates the award of multiple Grants from this RFA. Regardless of award date, Grants will be structured to allow reimbursement for expenses incurred on July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.

Organizations eligible to submit an Application under this RFA are: local governments, community colleges and other governmental entities, private organizations exempt from taxes under sections 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code and tribal organizations.

The authority for this RFA is ORS 350.075.

Funds will be distributed based on the State's need as determined by HECC.

2. DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this RFA, capitalized words will refer to the following definitions.

Capitalized terms not specifically defined in this document are defined in OAR 125-246-0110.

? "Applicant" means an entity that submits an Application in response to this Request for Applications.

? "Application" means a written response to this Request for Applications. ? "GED" refers to the GED? test, that when passed, serves as an equivalent to a high school

diploma. ? "Wraparound Services" ? indicates services that eliminate or reduce barriers for students

preparing and earning a GED? test credential. They complement and are aligned with effective GED? test instruction, GED? testing, and other work done by the service provider. These services ? sometimes at or near the physical testing and preparation site ? can include (but are not limited to): culturally competent educators, transportation, health promotion, family engagement strategies, academic enrichment, mentoring, and career options awareness.

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3. OVERVIEW

The GED? test serves as a bridge to higher education, trade schools, apprenticeship programs and employment opportunities for Oregonians who have not earned a high school diploma. The Oregon GED? Program provides the GED? test to adults without a high school credential.

The program is administered by CCWD. The office works in partnership with GED Testing Service ("GEDTS"), Oregon's 17 community colleges and other state, community, county and local partners to provide testing and preparation and instruction across the state. The Oregon GED? Program provides leadership, technical assistance, training, professional development and guidance in support of the new 2014 GED? test series to community colleges, the Oregon Department of Education Option Program, many community programs, and over 70 test sites across Oregon.

4. GRANT INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES

HECC acknowledges the need to support students who aspire to earn a GED? test credential and move on to jobs or other post-secondary opportunities. With the launch of the new test series in 2014, the rigor increased to better prepare GED? test graduates for college and career. Funding provided by Grants awarded from this RFA will support activities that will help increase the GED? test taker and GED? test graduate numbers and connect those graduates to jobs or other post-secondary opportunities. Wraparound Services provided by this Grant help GED? test educators address unique social and non-academic barriers to GED? test student learning and test-taking.

Successful applicants shall offer services (in at least one of the following areas: recruitment, education, GED? testing, graduation, transition) and have track records and histories of serving underserved populations (e.g. immigrant, culturally specific, rural, and low income populations).

Successful Applicants will be required to submit budgetary and narrative mid-term and final progress reports.

5. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All submissions shall be sent electronically to hecc.procurement@hecc..

Submissions received after April 30, 2020 at 4:00 PM may not be accepted.

Submissions should be submitted in the format of Attachment A: Application.

6. EVALUATION CRITERIA

The applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

? Organization Description

o How well do the mission and vision statements identify the purpose of the organization? o How well does Applicant's programming support the mission and vision statement?

? Project plan

o How well is the project plan described?

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o How realistic is the project plan? o Are the proposed achievement outcomes realistic? o Is the timeline realistic?

? Culturally relevant experience

o How well does the program's experience address culturally relevant issues?

? Potential barriers

o How well does Applicant consider and offer mitigation strategies for potential barriers or challenges associated with the proposed project?

? Evaluation Plan

o Is the evaluation plan detailed and time-specific? o Are the outcome measurements clear?

? Budget

o Is the budget clearly defined? o Is the budget sufficiently itemized? o How reasonable is the budget in relation to the proposed project?

7. SUCCESSFUL PROPOSER REQUIREMENTS

A. Taxpayer Identification Number

The apparent successful Proposer shall provide its Taxpayer Identification Number on a completed W9 form (which can be found here: ). The apparent successful Proposer must provide its backup withholding status on the W-9 form if either of the following applies:

? When requested by HECC (normally in an intent to award notice), or ? When the backup withholding status or any other information of Proposer has changed

since the last submitted W-9 form, if any. HECC will not make any payment until HECC has a properly completed W-9.

B. Business Registry

If selected for award, Proposer shall be duly authorized by the State of Oregon to transact business in the State of Oregon before executing the Contract. The selected Proposer shall submit a current Oregon Secretary of State Business Registry number, or an explanation if not applicable. All Corporations and other business entities (domestic and foreign) must have a Registered Agent in Oregon. See requirements and exceptions regarding Registered Agents. For more information, see Oregon Business Guide, How to Start a Business in Oregon and Laws and Rules. The titles in this subsection are available at the following Internet site: .

8. PUBLIC RECORDS

All information and records submitted to HECC are subject to disclosure under the Public Records Law, ORS

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192.311 to 192.478. If Applicant believes that any information or records it submits to HECC may be a trade secret under ORS 192.345(2), or otherwise is exempt from disclosure under the Oregon Public Records Law, Applicant must identify such information with particularity and include the following statement:

"This data is exempt from disclosure under the Oregon Public Records Law pursuant to ORS chapter 192, and is not to be disclosed except in accordance with the Oregon Public Records Law, ORS 192.311 through 192.478." If Applicant fails to identify with particularity the portions of such information that Applicant believes are exempt from disclosure, Applicant is deemed to waive any future claim of non-disclosure of that information.

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