ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXY
1
Date question submittedQuestionResponse
2
1/15/2025Are we allowed to ask you if you have a Word version of the RFP that you can send to us?Yes. Page 5 of the RFP indicates "Applicants may request a Word (doc) file of this RFP after the initial PDF version has become available on the Commission’s website."
3
1/15/2025Is the grant available in Word?Yes. See comment above.
4
1/16/2025The RFP mentions that we can request a Word version of the document. Do I submit that request to you?Yes. Requests for a Word version of the RFP should be sent to diane.mcqueen@wyo.gov
5
1/17/2025Can I take out attachment "O" since I'm not a consortium?Please refer to Appendix #1 in the RFP for the required attachments when submitting an application. Attachment 'O' may NOT be omitted and is a required form. Attachment 'O' must have the header completed and must contain a signature where requested.
6
1/17/2025Do I have to keep the budget docs for corrections and IELCE in there with a zero?As indicated in Appendix #1, page 108, applicants who are only applying for AEFLA funds should include Budget documents Attachments: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7. Applicants who are not applying for Corrections and/or IELCE funds do not have to submit Budget documents-Attachments C2, C3, I2 & I3.
7
1/17/2025Do I submit a new information and confidentiality form for all my instructors, or just the new one/s?As this is a new grant, new forms must be submitted for all employed staff.
8
1/17/2025I'm confused about which appendixes you want in it: Do I keep #3 if I'm not a consortium? #4 is not an indirect costs letter.Appendix #1, page 108, contains a checklist of forms and the order in which forms required for each grant application. This checklist outlines four Appendix documents that must be submitted with each application, when applicable. Appendix #1-all applicants must submit an organizational chart. Appendix #2, all applicants must submit charts 9.1 & 9.2. Appendix #3: Applicants who are part of a consortium must submit requested consortium documents. If an applicant is not part of a consortium, there will not be an Appendix #3 to the application. Appendix #4: Applicants applying to utilize Indirect Costs must submit a copy of the approved Indirect Costs Letter. Applicants who do not intend to utilize Indirect Costs will not have an Appendix #4 to their application.
9
01/21/2025Charts 9.1 & 9.2 are embedded in the document. So to be clear: they are presented twice? Once within the app and once in the appendix?The instructions for Charts 9.1. and 9.2,( on page 43)indicate that once the charts are completed, they are to be placed into Appendix #2 of the application. They are not to be included as part of the narrative. Charts 9.1. & 9.2. are only submitted ONE time and are to be placed into the Appendix so as to not to be included in the total page length restriction for the application.
10
01/22/2025Is the form the only thing I fill out for demonstrated effectiveness? Does that alone fulfill the “requirements” or is there something else?Attachment D contains the instructions on what is required for Demonstrated Effectiveness. Previously funded applicants must complete Chart DE 1.1.A while applicants who have never been funded are required to complete Chart DE 1.1.1B. Successful demonstration of the content areas and outcome measures on the charts is based upon the criteria outlined on page 37 in the RFP. There are no other requirements for Demonstrated Effectiveness beyond successfully meeting the critieria outlined on page 37 and the submission of data on one of the aforementioned charts.
11
01/22/2025IET documents: is it OK to write a hypothetical? We may have an entrepreneur IET next year, but we haven't started it yet. We don't even have it fully planned and would be making things up. Should we complete the documents or opt out?Yes. It is permissible to begin planning for a new IET (which would be, in theory, a hypothetical since it doesn't yet exist). As such, part of the planning process for a new IET within the new grant cycle would require the completion of both a quality indicator assessment and the IET syllabus. Attachments R & S should be completed for all current IET's as well as planned IET's.
12
01/22/2025Anymore, with my wage and the professional development costs, I find it challenging to stay within %18. Is it possible to request a waiver for a higher percentage?Applicants who find the administrative cost limits described under WIOA Sec 233(a)(2) too prohibitive, may complete Attachment B5 to request an administrative cost limit higher than the federally approved rate of 5%. Applicants may submit a request to raise the cost limit higher than the traditional 18%, but the State will determine through a negotiated process what the final rate will be.
13
01/27/2025What are the specific requirements for Digital and Financial literacy in terms of what they need to cover? Can we create a test out option?Until the Digital Equity (DEA) Capacity Grant funds are available, there are no Statewide requirements for digital literacy. However, this will change once the DEA grant becomes available in summer 2025 and there will be digital standards, digital pre/post tests, and a standardized digital literacy curriculum using NorthStar that students will have to test in/out of to meet the outcome measures required of that grant. Programs may create their own test-out option until the DEA grant is available.

Financial literacy is one of the 14 core competencies that Workforce partners are required to offer and track. Financial literacy refers to activiteis that provide youth with the knowledge and skills that they need to achieve long-term financial stability. Financial literacy education encompasses information and activities on a range of topics, such as creating budgets, setting up checking/savings accounts, managing spending, credit, and debt; understanding credit reports and credit scores; and protecting against identify theft. Providers may create their own test-out option.
14
01/27/2025How are we to cover concurrent enrollment costs? Ie. Participants under 18 may qualify for dual enrollment through Boces, but those over 18 do not.The question does not identify the program type for enrollment; thus there are multiple responses which could apply.

For non-IET programs of study in Adult Education, such as literacy, transitions to college/bridge programs, ESL, etc. there shouldn't be any concurrent enrollment costs unless the student has identified barriers to employment. In these cases, referrals to community service providers who CAN pay for these services must be made. Quite often, qualified WIOA co-enrolled participants can have any enrollments costs covered by Title I funds. In addition, OCTAE Program Memorandum 24-3 identifies and clarifies other supportive services that AEFLA funds may be used for. Applicants should refer to this Memorandum for additional information.

For IET programs of study, there are multiple ways in which the costs of training can be addressed. Qualified students can utilize federal financial aid dollars. In the case of students who do not qualify for federal financial aid, the local community college could utilize the Ability to Benefit clause so that students might access federal financial aid dollars through that method. Another method is to partner with an external agency who could pay for the training component. Alternatively, there may be options available for local AE providers to access Wyoming Workforce Development Training funds (See: https://dws.wyo.gov/dws-division/business-training-support-unit/workforce-development-training-fund/). Title I funds may also be available for qualified WIOA co-enrolled participants. ARPA Grant funds may also be used to pay for training costs until June 2026. Funding for IET's has also been requested through the Digital Equity Capacity Grant. And finally, OCTAE Program Memorandum 19-2 also clarifies the circumstances under which AEFLA funds may be used for IET credentials. Applicants should refer to this Memorandum for additional information.
15
01/27/2025Partnership Agreements - Do we need to write a formal partnership agreement with our college? As well I asked our local DWS manager about this and she said it was a general State partnership agreement. Is this correct, and if so do we need to get a copy and attach it. Or should we be writing a formal agreement with our DWS office? As noted on the phone, WRJC is not currently allowed to sign any new agreements.Applications from an Adult Education program at a Community College do not have to write a partnership agreement between the AE program and the College because the submitted application is from the College. Applications from an Adult Education center which is not afflliated with a Community College may write a formal partnership agreement but this is not required. However, there needs to be an effective plan in place, whether verbal or through a formalized process, on how students will be able to transition from the AE program into postsecondary.

There is a statewide WIOA partnership agreement that addresses infrastructure costs, co-enrollments, and the collection of employment related data. Local programs do not need to attach a copy of this agreement. However, local contracts that a provider may have with Workforce Services and/or with Vocational Rehabilitation may be attached to an application to validate partnership agreements.
16
01/27/2025Pg. 4 'Enter into an MOU with the local WDB' who/what is WDB?WDB refers to the Workforce Development Board. CFR § 678.420 outlines the federal requirements Adult Education has for the one-stop system. However, as described on page 3 the roles and responsibilities of local one-stop partners are defined in CFR § 678.420 and all approved Adult Education providers are included in a State-level Memorandum of Understanding for the provision of services and One-Stop Infrastructure Costs.
17
18
01/27/2025g. 33 #10 'Establish link with Elementary and High Schools'..? Could "link" be defined? When I read this, I interpret recruitment activities. Is the action of providing an open house and information packets to school counselors and presenting at school counselor day at the college an appropriate 'link' or is it looking for more?This question refers to one of the WIOA 13 Considerations for Adult Education. Federal guidance does not exist on how this is to be defined. Consequently, the State describes a 'link' as an educational pathway that supports transitional and support services both before and after enrolling in an Adult Education program. A link does not have to include a formalized contract or Memorandum of Understanding, but can be a verbal agreement between agencies so that appropriate referrals can be made as necessary.
19
01/29/2025On page 29 under the required format, it states "Do not include the instructions and/or any section of this RFP guidance in the application." Does this include the bullet points describing what should be addressed under each consideration in Section Seven, pages 40-44? Or can we use those bullet points as a way to organize our response to each consideration?The 13 Considerations and each bullet point question found on pages 40-44 must be used in the narrative so that it is clear what Consideration AND what question is being responded.  Without this, readers will struggle to identify a response to each Consideration and question. Providers should organize the narrative by starting with Consideration #1 and the first question. Subheadings to identify the population the response pertains to must also be utilized.

For example, if an application is for both ABE (231) and Corrections (225) funds, the subheading would look something like this:Consideration #1: The degree to which the eligible provider isresponsive to—a)     regional needs as identified in the Unified State Planb)     serving individuals in the community who wereidentified in the Unified State Plan as most in need of Adult Education andliteracy activities, including individuals who—(i)              have low levels ofliteracy skills         or                (ii) are English languagelearners 

·       Describe the eligible provider’s local and/or regional workforce needs (demographics –race/ethnicity, socio-economic status and economic evelopment

ABE
Response

Corrections
Response

·       Describehow the applicant will be responsive to regional economic and workforce needs,including employer engagement that aligns to local workforce needs.

ABE
Response

Corrections
Response
20
01/29/2025Is it possible to have the demonstrated effectiveness form looked at to be sure it is filled in correctly?Unfortunately, the State cannot preview any responses to the RFP and provide feedback.
21
02/03/2025Can you answer the question about writing the narrative under the bullet points more clearly? Do you want us to write an answer under every bullet point, or is it fine to write an answer for the parts, i.e. a) and b) and incorporate the bullet points into that narrative?There must be an answer following every question. This is how the readers will be scoring the responses. Responses must clearly identify which bullet point question is being responded to. To understand how readers will be scoring an application please refer to the scoring rubrics in the RFP. Applications which do not clearly identify and deliniate questions/responses make it difficult for readers to score and may result in minimal points being awarded.
22
02/03/2025To clarify: On Attachment B6: "match funding" (item 32) and "other funding" item #3 are the same thing? And therefore we must attach documentation to the grant application and submit that document with the grant application behind Attachment B6?No. Match funding and In-kind (other funding) are not the same. Match funding is a dollar to dollar match and in-kind costs represent a non-monetary contribution. Goods or services offered free or at less than the usual charge result in an in-kind contribution.. Total match and in-kind costs must be 25% of the requested grant amount.
23
02/04/2025Do we have to break up state and federal now or when we do the final for next year? Not sure how we do it if we don't know how much from each.
Programs do not have to break up budget amounts between federal and State on the initial grant application. This won't occur until local providers know how much they will receive from each source.
24
02/05/2025Do we need to change the timeline of our career pathways plan to be within the 25-30 years, even if some of it has already been done?Yes. You will need to update it.
25
02/05/2025Just had a quick question for you on the guidance from the RFP that we have a 45-page limit in the narrative. As you know we will be responding to the questions addressing AE, Corrections and IELCE. Our concern is that it will be quite difficult to effectively respond to the questions addressing all three programs within that page limit. Is there flexibility for how we can address this – either an exemption to that limit or another method we could approach to adequately provide a clear picture of the services we offer in all those areas? Am I correct that we are the only provider that will be responding to all three?Unfortunately, the page limit cannot change as the RFP document has been drafted with guidance from the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education. Applicants are expected to provide succinct responses to each question (and for each population to be served). The total page limit in this current RFP has already been increased over the page limit restriction from the 2020 RFP; consequently, it cannot be increased any further.
26
02/07/2025Where can I find the standards referenced in Section Three: Part IV: Instructional Practices mentioned in Consideration #6? Academic standards as described in Part IV, page 13 are defined as College and Career Readiness Educational Standards for Adult Education, English Language Proficiency Standards for Non-native speakers of English, Social Capital Skills, and Employability Skills. In the first paragraph of this section there is a link which is underlined and in blue ink that takes you to each of these standards on the Commissino's website. Applicants should follow the link provided to access all standards for Adult Education in Wyoming.
27
02/13/2025On Chart 9.1, do we only count each staff member once, or do we count each endorsement? For example, one of my instructors is both secondary endorsed and K-12 ESL endorsed. Do mark both or only the one that applies to his primary assignment?Chart 9.1 is asking for endorsements. So if an instructor has multiple endorsements, then they would be counted on multiple lines on Chart 9.1.
28
02/28/2025In reviewing Attachment C – the GEPA Attestation, I am wondering if you have any guidance of if this will still be a required attachment. Our concern is specifically in regards to IHE’s and the requirements we are facing as a result of the Dear Colleague letter sent by the Department of Education. Have you received any guidance?The Commission understands the concerns regarding the GEPA attestation. However, the GEPA Attestation is exactly the same as what is written in the Unified State Plan and is considered a required element to the Adult Education RFP. Once an RFP is released the Commission is not allowed to change any aspect of the RFP. If it is determined at a later date that the GEPA Attestation can be modified, it will be done under a reapplication process.
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100