REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorization to Accept $651,000 Contract to Administer Workforce Investment Act Operations for the County of San Mateo
Report
BACKGROUND
The North Valley (NOVA) Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and the San Mateo County Workforce Investment Board share many common characteristics in demographics, workforce needs and industry mix, with each offering unique expertise targeting higher-skilled and disadvantaged workers, respectively. For this reason, NOVA has worked in collaboration with the San Mateo County WIB on a number of projects in recent years and many of its residents have sought out NOVA's ProMatch program for dislocated workers from the professional fields. In addition, NOVA and the San Mateo County WIB have jointly applied for and implemented several grant opportunities in the past. With the growing trend in regionalism, collaboration among local WIBs is not only encouraged by the State and U.S. Department of Labor, but will now be required under the new federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Recently, San Mateo County decided to outsource the administration and provision of its Workforce Investment Act (WIA) responsibilities. After lengthy deliberations between NOVA's Director Kris Stadelman and her San Mateo counterpart Nicole Pollack, San Mateo formally asked NOVA to administer its WIA operations.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 5.1.1: Socio-Economic - Goals and Policies: Education and Training Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services, within constraints of operative Federal regulations and available Federal funding, to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
N/A
DISCUSSION
San Mateo County is seeking a contract for NOVA to assume responsibility for oversight and administration of all WIA services, on behalf of the County of San Mateo, including: programmatic and fiscal monitoring; oversight functions of all five service provider contractors including two one-stop center operators and three youth program providers; Rapid Response functions; and regional and community collaboration with San Mateo County community stakeholders. The contract is in the amount of $651,000 and the term of the contract is November 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.
Entering into this new contract with San Mateo County would improve the services provided to San Mateo County customers and would not impact the exceptional services NOVA directly provides to job seekers and employers, on behalf of the seven-city consortium, at the NOVA Job Center in Sunnyvale. This partnership would also better position NOVA for the requirements expected from the new federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act pertaining to regional planning.
At the August 20 meeting, the NOVA Workforce Board Executive Committee, on behalf of the full Board, approved NOVA pursuing administrative contracts with San Mateo County.
FISCAL IMPACT
NOVA is resourced primarily by Federal funds which are allocated to the local areas within the State by the Employment Development Department of the State of California. No city of Sunnyvale funding is given to NOVA. Funding for this contract is from the federal Workforce Investment Act funds allocated to San Mateo County. Since funds are obligated to programs only based upon appropriations, sufficient Workforce Investment Act funds will exist to cover the contractual obligations. If funding is cut, then contract services will be accordingly reduced.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize NOVA to accept a $651,000 contract with San Mateo County to administer Workforce Investment Act operations in San Mateo County through June 30, 2015.
Staff
Prepared by: Eileen Stanly, Analyst
Reviewed by: Stephen Quick, Manager of Business Operations, NOVA Workforce Services
Reviewed by: Robert A. Walker, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. NOVA-San Mateo Contract