Request for Consultant: Signal Success

Introduction

联邦公司 (CommCorp), a quasi-public workforce development agency under the 劳工和劳动力发展执行办公室 (EOLWD) of Massachusetts, is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify a qualified consultant to provide support and expertise to their 青年工作 team with building a Fee-for-Service model for its work-readiness training curriculum. This engagement is intended to supplement the ongoing work of the YouthWorks internal team.

This is an open procurement process to identify and select a consultant for this project. Applications will be reviewed, and one consultant will be chosen based on alignment with the project’s goals and requirements.

Project Overview

YouthWorks is seeking a consultant to provide strategic guidance and support in developing a scalable, fee-for-service delivery model for our signature 信号成功 work-readiness training curriculum. The consultant will work closely with our team to design a pricing structure that is both competitive and sustainable, and to identify effective strategies for managing clients and customized delivery of Signal Success through our Absorb Learning Management System (LMS).

Background

Building on foundational work initiated in 2022*, during which an independent consultant was engaged to research opportunities for scaling the YouthWorks 信号成功 work-readiness curriculum under a fee-for-service model, we are now prepared to move forward. Although the initiative was temporarily paused, the insights and recommendations from that phase remain highly relevant. YouthWorks continuously receives inquiries and requests from partners and organizations about Signal Success and the possibility to use it to train their learners. We are now leveraging that groundwork to explore and implement a program designed to support youth-serving organizations in developing a competent, job-ready workforce through our off-the-shelf work-readiness training model.

Signal Success has been the signature work-readiness curriculum of YouthWorks for over a decade. Trusted by nonprofit partners across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it has consistently equipped thousands of young people with the essential skills and knowledge needed to successfully enter and thrive in the workforce. Its longevity and widespread use are a testament to its relevance, adaptability, and effectiveness in meeting the needs of both youth and the organizations that serve them.

The Signal Success curriculum has been recently updated to reflect the most in-demand skills employers seek in today’s workforce to ensure youth and youth adults are prepared to meet real-world expectations. 

Need Statement

Youth-serving organizations focused on preparing young people for the workforce often face challenges securing employer partners willing to hire youth and young adults. This reluctance is often due to ongoing concerns about retention, stemming from gaps in foundational work-readiness skills and the absence of customized, sustained support for both youth and employers.

While work-readiness training is a critical component of youth workforce development, many youth-serving organizations lack the expertise, capacity, or resources to design and deliver comprehensive, effective training programs. As a result, their learners often miss out on essential skill-building opportunities that would prepare them for long-term success in the workplace.

Solution

The YouthWorks Fee-for-Service model will offer a targeted, off-the-shelf, youth-centered work readiness training program and consulting services that help organizations build workforce capacity. Our approach will deliver tailored solutions that equip young people with essential job skills while aligning with each organization’s strategic goals and program needs.

Project Objectives

·      Assess internal information related to Pricing Model

·      Gather external information related to Pricing Model

·      Provide recommendations for a scalable Fee for Service Delivery Model

·      Assess YouthWorks LMS capabilities

·      Provide recommendations for using the LMS for Signal Success Fee for Service delivery

·      Support implementation of selected recommendations

 Scope of Work

·      Analyze existing workflows and documentation

·      Assist with stakeholder interviews and process reviews

·      Provide written recommendations

·      Facilitate one feedback or training session

·      Submit final report with implementation roadmap

 Deliverables

·      Needs assessment summary

·      Recommendations report

·      Final presentation to leadership team

·      Support start-up for implementation

 Timeline

·      Project State Date – December 1, 2025

·      Expected Completion Date – January 20, 2026 (subject to adjustment for Holidays)

Key Milestones:

·      Week 1 – Kick-off Meeting

·       Week 2 – 3 – Discovery and Analysis

·      Week 4 – Draft Recommendations

·      Week 5 – Final Report and Presentation

·      Week 6 – 7 – Set up implementation model 

Minimum Qualifications

Proposers must demonstrate:

     ·     Minimum of 2 years of consulting experience

     ·     Experience with Learning Management Systems (preferably Absorb)

     ·     Experience building Fee-for-Service business models

     ·     Experience in nonprofit, public, or quasi-public sectors

     ·     Ability to collaborate with in-house administrators and teams using hybrid work tools

Proposal Requirements

Submissions must include the following:

1.      Cover Letter – Summary of interest and relevant experience

2.     Company Overview or consultant bio/resume

3.     Experience & Qualifications – Summary of related projects, LMS expertise, and client references

4.     Project Approach – Description of how services will be delivered, managed, and documented

5.     Pricing Structure – Hourly rate, breakdown of project tasks and fees, retainer options (if any), nonprofit/government rates, any terms and conditions

6.     Availability – Typical response time and turnaround

7.     References – Contact information for at least two (2) relevant clients

8.    Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Commitment – Summary of your DEIB strategy and leadership accountability; aggregate leadership/board representation and improvement actions; and Diverse Supplier Certification documentation as a minority-, women-, veteran-owned business, or other diversity-related designations recognized by state or federal agencies

Submission

Submit proposal requirements by:

·      Date: October 22, 2025 

·      Submit to: [email protected] , attention, Haydee Lamberty-Rodriguez