Washington, DC – The DC Department of Human Services (DHS), Income Maintenance Administration (IMA) announced today the issuance of two separate RFQs (Request for Qualification) seeking Statement of Qualifications from interested service providers to furnish employment related services to its non-exempt adult Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) customers.
Targeting customers that DHS has assessed as employable and ready to enter the workforce, the Job Placement Services RFQ seeks service providers to assist these customers in preparing for, finding, and retaining unsubsidized employment in order to ultimately earn family-sustaining incomes. The Work Readiness and Placement Services RFQ caters to those customers who need to enhance their education and skills before they can be placed in meaningful and stable employment.
DHS is redesigning its TANF program to enhance the ability of the TANF customer to build his/her capacity, increase his/her earnings, and successfully transition from welfare assistance to self-sufficiency. The focus of the redesign is building a system that considers the personal responsibility and individual needs of the customers and on providing tailored services to match the customer’s unique goals, and personal and family circumstances. The new business model is a result of collaboration between DHS and national TANF experts, local advocates, TANF customers, staff of the Council of the District of Columbia, the Executive Office of the Mayor, the Department of Mental Health, and the Department of Employment Services.
“We are excited at the prospect of establishing new partnerships with employment vendors to assist us in transitioning more TANF families toward self-sufficiency. The TANF RFQs have been designed to appeal to employment service providers of all types and sizes. We look forward to working with providers as they leverage their innovative welfare-to-work approaches to reinforce and support our redesign efforts,” said Deborah Carroll, IMA Administrator.
Service providers who are interested in the TANF RFQs must register with the DC Office of Contracting and Procurement’s e-Sourcing system at http://ocp.dc.gov. Registered vendors will be electronically notified of all procurement solicitations based on their applicable NIGP codes and the vendors will be able to submit their responses electronically.