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29 SECTION V

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS Type of Contract KentuckianaWorks is seeking an innovative and committed partner to administer and staff a new Manufacturing Skills & Assessment Center at the Airport Industrial Center, 160 Rochester Drive, Building W, Louisville, KY 40214. The Manufacturing Skills & Assessment contractor will work collaboratively with KentuckianaWorks, its education partners and local manufacturers to establish the Center and achieve a set of outcomes for the Centers first year. The term of the contract is one year; however, the project duration and budget is 9 months with the possibility of up to four additional years pending the availability of funding, the satisfactory meeting of performance objectives and approval by the KentuckianaWorks Board. Eligibility For-profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations, public agencies, community and faith based organizations are invited to submit proposals for funding pursuant to this RFP. An organization can be a member of any collaborative submitting bids, but cannot be the lead organization in two or more separate proposals. Collaborative organizations must identify a lead entity that will be responsible for management, coordination of services, operations, financial accountability, performance measures, legal obligations, and all reporting requirements. This entity must demonstrate its capability to set direction, provide staff oversight, customer services, and deliver performance. Note: The term organization used in this section refers to a sole organization responding to the proposal, the partnership between two agencies, or the collaboration of three or more agencies Manufacturing Skills & Assessment Center Background & Overview The Airport Industrial Center (AIC) of Greater Louisville is an urban industrial park in South Louisville, Kentucky located at the former Naval Ordnance facility, which was privatized in 1996 after a Department of Defense base closure. AIC, through a long-term ground lease with the Louisville/Jefferson County Redevelopment Authority, Inc. (LRA), is owned and operated by Titan Research & Development. Through an agreement with LRA, there is space and funding available for projects that would benefit AIC tenants and the surrounding community.

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The LRA Board approved on June 4, 2012 funding for a pilot project at the AIC entitled the Manufacturing Skills and Assessment Center that will provide education and assessment for a series of stackable credentials to promote a career pathway into advanced manufacturing. The Center will provide services for jobseekers, manufacturers, current manufacturing employees, high school students, out-of-school youth, and South Louisville residents who wish to improve their education and skills in order to gain employment in the manufacturing sector. KentuckianaWorks, the Workforce Investment Board for a 7-county region surrounding Louisville, is acting as fiscal agent for a consortium of educational and workforce partners that will provide services within the center. The education partners are Jefferson Community & Technical College (JCTC), Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Adult Education and Jefferson County Public Schools Career & Technical Education. All partners are also providing match funding for the project. The funding period is July 1, 2012 June 30, 2012, with the possibility of continued funding in future years depending on successful outcomes in Year One. The Centers mission will be to Support the regions economic goal to develop the advanced manufacturing sector by supplying a ready workforce for growing companies. Provide the skills needed for jobseekers to move into and advance within a growing sector Provide a resource for manufacturing companies to find trained employees or to train existing employees Provide a resource for South Louisville residents, including immigrants, to gain employment and training in the manufacturing sector Encourage a career pathway from manufacturing to engineering, ultimately resulting in trained workers for AIC tenants Program Description The Manufacturing Skills and Assessment Center will serve as a one stop location for manufacturers to post open positions for jobseekers to find jobs in manufacturing to access free or low cost training that prepares entry level production workers where employees can continue on a manufacturing career ladder to higher paying jobs through employer-endorsed training and certifications The Center will offer a series of courses and certificates that build from foundational production work skills to more advanced engineering and technical skills. Some credentials awarded through the Center would lead to college credit, and an articulated
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career pathway would guide students and ease the transition from entry level to more advanced job opportunities. The services are envisioned as being implemented in two phases. In Year One, the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC)-Certified Production Technician (CPT) trainings and work-focused English as Second Language (ESL) classes will be offered. In Year Two, JCTC will add a MultiSkilled Technician Certificate. Both years, the Manufacturing Skills and Assessment Center will partner with nearby Iroquois High School to support the high schools technical focus. The Center will administer the NCRC to Iroquois seniors and support the students preparation by providing an online product called Keytrain Plus on site at the school. Rising seniors and recent graduates will also have the opportunity to complete the Certified Production Technician course over the summer. Participating employers will be identified who will guarantee interviews for those who complete the course and earn the certificate. Both years, the Manufacturing Skills and Assessment Center will also provide many of the services offered at KentuckianaWorks One Stop Career Centers, although with a focus on manufacturing. Manufacturing employers will be able to post jobs at the Center and hold job fairs or interview sessions. Jobseekers will be able to access career counseling, resume preparation, assessments and scholarships for training. Both years, a marketing campaign will be led by KentuckianaWorks to build awareness of manufacturing jobs and to recruit both students and employers to participate in the Centers offerings. Following is a more detailed description of the services that would be provided through the Manufacturing Skills and Assessment Center in the first year: 1) National Career Readiness Certificate. The ACT National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) is a portable, evidenced-based credential that is considered a reliable predictor of workplace success. The NCRC Silver Certificate verifies that a jobseeker has achieved the WorkKeys levels linked to successful job performance for entry level production employees on three assessments: a. Applied Mathematics b. Reading for Information c. Locating Information In Kentucky, each NCRC awarded is signed by the Governor and the CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, indicating the states support for the credential. Testing is conducted by ACT-certified assessors. The NCRC is also endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers as a foundational certification for entry level production employees.

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For those who do not achieve the Silver level on the NCRC, remediation will be available through JCPS Adult Education or through online modules purchased by KentuckianaWorks. The courses will be available to be taken on computers in the Manufacturing Skills and Assessment Center, or at other KentuckianaWorks, JCTC and JCPS Adult Education sites. 2) Certified Production Technician and Certificate A 140-hour course of study will be offered to provide the Certified Production Technician certificate developed by the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC). This course will be offered in a blended format that includes face-to-face instruction with online modules developed by Jeffersonville, Indiana-based Amatrol and approved by the MSSC. This course will be offered to individuals and to companies who want to provide additional training to incumbent workers. A fast-track version for more experienced workers can be completed in 15 18 hours. The Certified Production Technician training will be offered by an MSSC-trained instructor. Prior July 2012, there were no certified instructors in the Metro Louisville region. JCTC has covered the cost to train and certify an instructor as part of its match for the project. As of August 2012, JCTC has certified one instructor for the program through MSSC. The MSSC - Certified Production Technician certificate includes four separate courses and tests: Safety Quality Practices & Measurement. Manufacturing Processes and Production Maintenance Awareness Jobseekers who earn the certificate are qualified for more demanding assembly jobs and entry-level technician positions in manufacturing facilities. Incumbent workers can also be trained through arrangements with individual companies who want to upgrade employee skill levels. Portions of the cost for the training for incumbent workers can be offset through Kentucky WINS. At this time, JCTC does not offer college credit for the CPT certificate due to it not being offered locally. JCTC faculty will review the certificate program to determine if credit can be offered after the first class is completed. 3) Work-focused English as a Second Language instruction Immigrants and refugees represent a growing segment of the Louisville workforce according to 2010 Census data. Through refugee settlement patterns, many foreign-born workers are concentrated in the South Louisville area. Quality standards for many manufacturers require English language literacy for even entry-level production jobs. Therefore, JCPS Adult Education will contextualize curriculum to provide educational
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services for limited English language participants as preparation for earning the work skills certificates mentioned above. The instruction will be customized to include manufacturing terms and vocabulary. These classes would be added to the center in January 2013. Class schedules will be determined based on student and company needs. Participants requiring basic skills upgrade or English Language Learners (ELLs) served at the Manufacturing Skills and Assessment Center will initially be assessed on the Test of Adult Basic Education or CASAS Life and Work to determine their functional academic/language level. Their performance on the assessment will determine the level at which they will enter the education component of their career pathway. The following options will be available for participants: A 70-hour basic skills upgrade class using manufacturing skill trades artifacts would be provided at the Center. Beginner level ELLs will be referred to Adult English as a Second Language classes provided through JCPS Adult Education at the nearby Americana Community Center. This will be provided as an in-kind contribution. Daytime and evening classes are offered in 5-week modules. These classes allow ELLs to develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills as they study and practice language for life and work situations. Intermediate level ELLs will enter a 70-hour Workplace English course at the Manufacturing Skills and Assessment Center. Learners will gain knowledge and practice language skills in the areas relevant to obtaining and maintaining employment in manufacturing. Coursework will also include the competencies necessary to earn the National Career Readiness Certificate, such as Problem Solving, Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information and Locating Information. Advanced ELLs will enter the 70-hour Certified Production Technician (CPT) course and attend a concurrent companion course, which will support their success in the CPT course. The companion course provided through JCPS Adult Education will address the language gaps of the ELLs within the context of manufacturing as well as offer additional instructional time with the CPT course content. A total of nine classes would be programmed based on participant need in Year One.
Iroquois High School Partnership

In the fall of 2012, the Keytrain Plus online product will be installed at Iroquois so that students can take pretests and prepare to take the exam in the winter of 2013. Students will be recruited in the spring of 2013 to take a summer Certified Production Technician Course. Employers will be recruited to offer plant tours and to interview all graduates of the course for open positions. The same services will be offered in Year Two. Both years, a faculty member of Iroquois will be paid extended time in the summer to provide academic support to the Iroquois students taking the CPT and to coordinate the plant tours.
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Manufacturing Career Pathway The courses and assessments offered at the Manufacturing Skills and Assessment Center are designed to take workers from a basic skill level to a more advanced skill level, leading to higher wages. The goal is to give jobseekers and employers an understanding of a sequence of credentials that would lead to a more qualified workforce. The basic approach of articulating stackable credentials is adapted from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Manufacturing Skills Certification System. Note that NAMs system includes the NCRC and CPT as basic credentials, which will be offered, along with the Multi-skilled Technician course, at the Manufacturing Skills & Assessment Center. Industry Graduate Degree Applied Industry Bachelors Degree JCTC Industrial Maintenance Degree Society of Manufacturing Engineers Society of Manufacturing Engineers JCTC Certificates in Industrial Specialties leading to Associates Degree JCTC Certificate (16 hours college credit) Certified Production Technician Certificate (college credit TBD, but goal is to gain approval for up to 6 hours) National Career Readiness Certificate Diploma Certification Path Entry level production technicians Engineer, Business Manager Engineer, Manager Multi-skilled industrial maintenance engineer

JCTC Multi-Skilled Technician Course MSSC Certified Production Technician Course

Machine Operator

High School or Adult Education High School Education Path

Operator Entry level employment Employment Path

Program Service Targets

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During the first year of the project, the goals of the Center will be to achieve the following service targets. Note that the Center wont be open to the public until November 2012. Year One Targets Item Employers engaged through job posting, training or advisory committees Jobseeker contacts with the Center NCRC assessments given at the Center NCRC assessments given at Iroquois High School Certified Production Technician enrollees (3 classes x 15 students) ESL students enrolled Job placements Goal 10 100 40 100 45 40 50

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Project Implementation The following schedule outlines the work to be accomplished during the first year. YEAR ONE (July 2012 June 2013) Set up center, order equipment, staff orientation Recruitment/Awareness Campaign Employer & Jobseeker Services available NCRC Assessment Services Training and Certification for MSSC Assessment Center Certified Production Technician Classes Career Fairs JCPS ESL Classes Iroquois H.S. NCRC Administration Iroquois Remediation for NCRC Iroquois Recruitment for Summer CPT Iroquois Summer CPT Cohort July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April May June

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Contractor Responsibilities The Manufacturing Skills & Assessment Center contractor will: Operate the Center 40 hours per week. Weeks with holidays will be adjusted to reflect the holiday. For instance: o The week of Thanksgiving o The week between Christmas and New Years holidays o The week of the Martin Luther King holiday o The week of the Memorial Day holiday Provide staffing for flexible scheduling (for instance, staying open for evening classes when needed) not to exceed 40 hours per week Maintain the classrooms and offices at the Manufacturing Skills & Assessment Center (approximately 4,500 square feet) Coordinate with the education providers to schedule classes Coordinate with KentuckianaWorks IT provider to ensure that technology required for jobseekers and educational providers are operational at all times. Provide job counseling services for jobseekers Connect jobseekers to Workforce Investment Act (WIA) scholarships and other services Recruit jobseekers to the Center Coordinate partnership activities with Iroquois High School Track participant data and provide periodic reports Develop plans for meeting outcomes as described above Schedule and proctor the NCRC and other assessments Ensure that the education providers have the materials and equipment required Provide outreach to manufacturing employers at the AIC and in the community Note: Computers and furniture will be provided. KentuckianaWorks contracts with an IT provider that will install and maintain computers.

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Proposal Guidelines Please respond to the items below. Length of proposals must be 10 pages or less, including attachments. Use 12-point font, 1-inch margins and either Arial or Times New Roman font. 1. Name, Address, and Contact of the lead organization making the application and the name, address, and contact that will be the fiscal agent (if different than lead organization). 2. Statement of Qualification: Describe the background of the proposer(s) and the qualifications for managing the Manufacturing Skills & Assessment Center. Qualifications must include capacities to carry out the contractor responsibilities as described above. For instance, proposers should describe their experience and results in the following areas: Employment services Collaboration with employers and community partners Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Management of programs and facilities Technical education and training Manufacturing If multiple organizations are proposed then each must state its qualifications for the specific component of the management of the Manufacturing Skills & Assessment Center. 3. Work and Staffing Plan: Describe the overall work plan for the period of performance, which is approximately October 1, 2012 June 30, 2013, including: Staff to be hired Initial start up activities Schedule of activities to be completed the first year Please attach resumes of personnel expected to be hired for the program. If no staff are identified yet, provide a job description and the process to be used for identifying and hiring the staff. 4. Challenges and Strategies to Meet Project Outcomes: The proposers should briefly identify challenges unique to the Manufacturing Skills & Assessment Center project and suggest strategies to address them in order to meet the Year One project outcomes. 5. Projected Budget: Provide a detailed budget, not to exceed $150,000, for the 9 months of the project (October 1, 2012 June 30, 2012) as well as a budget narrative. Provide a brief description of budgetary controls and spending procedures that will be implemented.
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