Iowa Code r. 877-7.9 - Selection of coordinating service provider

To receive funds made available under Title I of WIA, the regional workforce investment board, in agreement with the chief elected official board, must designate an entity as the coordinating service provider for the workforce investment region.

(1) The regional workforce investment board and chief elected official board must determine the role of the coordinating service provider. At a minimum, the coordinating service provider's roles and responsibilities shall include the following:

a. Provide overall customer management and tracking, including responsibility for results of enrollments.

b. Manage the workforce development center system in the region, including workforce development center facilities, and ensure that services are accessible and available in every county of the region.

c. Ensure workforce development center system partners' compliance with the memorandum(s) of understanding.

d. Coordinate and negotiate the resource sharing agreement.

e. Ensure that performance standards and customer satisfaction goals for the region's workforce development center system are met.

f. Provide information and feedback to the regional workforce investment board and chief elected official board concerning the delivery of the services outlined in the customer service plan versus the needs and priorities identified in the regional needs assessment and analysis.

g. Maintain, promote and market the regional workforce development center system.

h. Develop and submit an annual progress report toward meeting the needs and priorities identified in the regional needs assessment and analysis to the regional workforce investment board.

i. May, as described in the memorandum(s) of understanding, determine eligibility for training services.

(2) The regional workforce investment board and chief elected official board need to determine if they want to grandfather the current coordinating service provider, based on the role that has been determined. The boards also need to determine if the current coordinating service provider desires to be grandfathered.

(3) If the regional workforce investment board or chief elected official board does not desire to grandfather the existing coordinating service provider, or if the coordinating service provider members do not desire to be grandfathered, then the service provider(s) needs to be selected prior to the designation of the coordinating service provider.

(4) The coordinating service provider may be a public or private entity, or a consortium of entities, of demonstrated effectiveness located in the region. Eligible entities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. A postsecondary educational institution;

b. An employment service agency established under the Wagner-Peyser Act;

c. A private nonprofit organization (including a community-based organization);

d. A private, for-profit entity;

e. A government agency; or

f. Another interested organization (includes a local chamber of commerce, labor organization or other business organization).

Elementary schools and secondary schools are the only entities not eligible for designation or certification as a coordinating service provider. However, nontraditional public secondary schools and area vocational schools are eligible for designation.

(5) To designate a coordinating service provider, the regional workforce investment board must utilize one of the three processes listed below. More than one option may be pursued concurrently.

a. An agreement with the governor to designate the coordinating service provider that was in place on August 7, 1998. In order to utilize this option, the chairpersons of the regional workforce investment board and chief elected official board must provide a written notice to the department indicating that both boards have taken appropriate action and desire to pursue this option.

b. A competitive process. At a minimum, the competitive process to designate the coordinating service provider shall include the following:

(1) Public notice. A public notice shall be published in one of the official county newspapers, as designated by the county board of supervisors. The public notice must indicate that both boards shall hold a joint meeting to select the coordinating service provider(s) for the region. The notice must list the criteria that will be used in the selection of the coordinating service provider(s). The notice must also require that written proposals be submitted by a specific date and invite interested entities to give presentations and answer questions relating to the selection criteria in 7.9(6) at the joint public meeting. Notices must also be mailed to potentially interested entities within the region.

(2) Public meeting. Since both boards must agree on the designation of the coordinating service provider, at a minimum, the boards shall jointly conduct a public meeting to review the written proposals received, obtain any additional information from entities submitting written proposals, and reach an agreement as to the selection(s).

c. An agreement between the regional workforce investment board and a consortium of entities that, at a minimum, includes three or more of the mandatory partners. In order to utilize this option, at a minimum, the regional workforce investment board and chief elected official board shall notify all partners that they are willing to consider proposals from mandatory partners and hold an open meeting to obtain input and finalize the action.

(6) The following criteria are suggested for use in the selection of a coordinating service provider:

a. The effectiveness of the agency or organization in delivering comparable or related services based on documentation of achievement of performance and service level requirements, previous audit and monitoring reports, and capability of the agency's fiscal unit to manage a similar type of program or project;

b. The likelihood of meeting program goals based upon factors such as past performance, staff commitment, and availability and location of staff;

c. The effectiveness of the agency or organization in minimizing the duplication of services, while at the same time maximizing the coordination with other agencies and organizations to provide the highest quality activities and services to the participants in the programs; and

d. Other criteria as determined by both boards.

Notes

Iowa Code r. 877-7.9