The Mayor’s Workforce Development Board (MWDB) is directly responsible and accountable to the State of Michigan, Labor and Economic Development, Workforce Development (LEO/WD) for the planning and oversight of talent development programs in the City of Detroit. Designated by the MWDB, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) serves as the fiscal and administrative entity that provides workforce services to job seekers and employers. DESC’s primary funding streams include Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) that funds Michigan’s PATH (Partnership. Accountability. Training. Hope.) employment program, Food Assistance Employment and Training (FAE&T), Wagner-Peyser Employment Services (ES), and other public and private funding. DESC anticipates receiving American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support contracts as a result of this competitive bid process.
In July 2019, the MWDB and DESC, known collectively as Detroit at Work, launched a re-designed public workforce system. This included expanding from 3 to 9 Career Centers; doubling the number of youth service locations; physical co-location of federally funded programs with a common intake process; a centralized call center that serves as a single point of entry to our system; expansion of technology-enabled and web-based services; and integration of on-site financial coaching services. In addition, one of the most critical components of the new system has been reorienting program delivery through a Human-Centered design lens that puts the customers’ needs at the center of service delivery.
Building on the transformative impact of the new system, Detroit at Work launched the People Plan in December of 2020 to raise philanthropic and private funds to support and expand its impact. The People Plan is a focused, scalable strategy by Detroit at Work to ensure all Detroiters – especially Black and Brown Detroiters – have a pathway to the middle class. The People Plan will expand or launch signature initiatives that build skills and provide comprehensive supports using evidence-based methods. The Career Centers and youth service locations serve as the foundation for all initiatives.
DESC is seeking proposals from qualified individuals and/or firms to provide Sector Partnership Training Services for DESC and the MWDB, known collectively as Detroit at Work.
DESC plans to award multiple contracts for requested services as detailed in this RFP. DESC intends to award at least one (1) contract within an occupational group detailed in this RFP.
