Two Workforce Contract Proposals Chosen

Two Workforce Contract Proposals Approved

By Alison Beshur Caller-Times
May 21, 2004

Work-Force 1 board members Thursday approved two recommendations by independent evaluators for contractors to provide workforce development and youth services for the 12-county Coastal Bend area.

These contracts represent about $28 million in services to Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio counties.

Evaluators selected the existing contractor Workforce Network Inc. (www.texasworknet.com) a nonprofit organization, in joint venture with Unique Staffing (www.uniqueemployment.com) to provide workforce development services in all 12 counties.

ACS State and Local Solutions Inc., One-Stop Management LCC, Serco of Texas Inc., Texas Migrant Council Inc and Workforce Resources LCC also submitted proposals to provide services to the area's workforce centers.

Serco, an Irving-based for-profit company, was recommended to provide youth services to all the counties.

Other bids were received from ACS State and Local Solutions Inc., Goodwill Industries of South Texas Inc. and Workforce Network Inc.

Six independent evaluators were paid more than $40,000 to review proposals and make recommendations to the board, said Work-Force 1 Finance Director Lisa Dial.

Oscar Martinez, president and CEO of Work-Force 1, said staff members and the board planning committee would begin negotiations next week and report findings to the board at the next regular meeting July 1.

"We'll notify the board that we have successfully completed negotiations unless problems arise," Martinez said. "At this time, we're not anticipating any problems."

If the group has concerns it could call a special meeting, Martinez said.

Evaluators used a point system to assess the proposals. The two groups with the highest points were recommended.

Requests for proposals were broken down into three regions to draw more bidders. Some organizations submitted proposals for all three areas and some for specific regions.

Work-Force 1, a nonprofit organization supported by a 34-member board, has been contracted by the Texas Workforce Commission to provide planning, oversight and evaluation of the area's workforce development services.

Contact Alison Beshur at 886-4316 or beshura@caller.com