Request for Proposals Third-Party Evaluation for UPWARD:UnlockingPathwaysforWorkforce AdvancementandRegionalDevelopment

Description: Invitation REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Lorain County Community College (LCCC) is extending an invitation for Proposals to complete a developmental evaluation. This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) through the fifth round of the Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants Program (SCC5). NOTICE! In order to receive any addenda or supplemental information, you MUST register with the LCCC Purchasing Office, either by mail at 1005 Abbe Road North, Elyria, Ohio 44035-1691; by telephone at 440-366-4633 or by email to Becky George at rwulfhoo@lorainccc.edu . The following information is required: Name of Firm Contact Name Street Address City, State Zip Telephone Fax Phone (optional) Email address Background Information Lorain County Community College (LCCC) seeks proposals from qualified vendors experienced in conducting developmental evaluations. In late September 2026, LCCC was awarded a U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Department of Labor Title III Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP, 84.031-A) for $2.99M, project term from 10/1/26 thru 9/30/2031. Overview Entitled UPWARD: Unlocking Pathways for Workforce Advancement and Regional Development, the five-year, $2.99M award seeks to deliver on the following goals and objectives that "provide pathways to upward economic mobility and economic growth": • Objective 1.0: Increase access to high demand academic and career pathways that lead to upward economic mobility, specifically among part-time working adults; • Objective 2.0: Create clear academic pathways to economic mobility and orient supports for the 70+% of students attending part-time; • Objective 3.0: Facilitate early and direct connection between students and employers in healthcare, manufacturing. In line with the project focus, these reflect part-time Performance Measures: Number of first-time, part-time students completing zero credits in first term decreases from 158 to 90; Number of first-time, part-time degree-seeking students enrolled Fall to Fall increases from 55.5% to 65%; The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students graduating within 6 years of enrollment will increase from 52.0% to 57.0%; The percentage of first-time, part-time degree-seeking undergraduate students graduating within 6 years of enrollment will increase from 25.0% to 35.0%; Median earnings of graduates at 4 years post-completion will increase from $52,814 to $62,726; The number of students enrolled in LCCC programs delivered at rural partner career centers will increase from 95 to 190; The annual completions in Nursing Programs will increase from 199 to 595. Absolute and Competitive Preference Priorities: LCCC is addressing the Absolute Priority by developing and improving academic programs, and improving tutoring, counseling, and student service programs designed to improve academic success; and addressing CCP1 and CCP4. (See Attachment A.) LCCC serves as the lead for administrative and fiscal management for this five-year, $2.99M initiative investment from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), with DOL acting as lead funder in partnership with the Dept. of Education (ED), the "home agency" for the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). LCCC will work internally to achieve project deliverables. The period of performance for this project is from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2031. An important aspect of this grant program will be to document the capacity built and the systems change achieved by LCCC, and to share information about grantee successes and lessons learned through its deliverables. Accordingly, LCCC now seeks to procure a grantee-contracted evaluator to design and execute a third-party developmental evaluation. Scope of Work The selected vendor will complete a third-party developmental evaluation, connected to Grant Award Number 26D60SI000365-01-00. The duration of the developmental evaluation and associated work will last 61 months, beginning December 1, 2026 through December 31, 2031. Developmental evaluations should be grounded in questions related to the dynamic shifting and building of the program, to what extent the program's values and principles influenced activities and short-term outcomes, and/or whether and how the broader system and environment was responding to the program. A developmental evaluator to support LCCC in documenting outcomes, providing real-time feedback to inform the development of the intervention, and identifying potential adaptations to the intervention to address systemic barriers and dynamic environments. The grantee's developmental evaluator will also complement the LCCC's communication with the national Funder. Key aspects of a developmental evaluation will include, but are not limited to, the following: • Purpose: Supports data collection to provide real-time feedback for the planned intervention(s), allowing for potential adaptations to the intervention, and guiding refinement of evaluation questions. • Roles and relationships: Evaluator is positioned as a collaborator and gathers data to provide feedback and support course correction as part of an ongoing process of continuous improvement, adaptation, and intentional change. • Examples of developmental evaluation questions: In what ways is the initiative evolving/developing with the changing levels/quality of stakeholders' involvement? What are the stakeholders learning from the ongoing iterations of the initiative? In what ways is design thinking or another framework influencing the initiative? • Measurement: Grantee and evaluation develop evaluation measures and tracking mechanisms quickly as outcomes emerge; measures can change during the evaluation as the process unfolds. Deliverables and Milestones This RFP seeks a vendor who will work closely with the LCCC grant administration team to provide the following deliverables, in accordance with DOL/ED guidance: • Draft Detailed Evaluation Design • Final Detailed Evaluation Design (based on feedback provided by DOL/ED) • Interim Developmental Evaluation Report • A Final Developmental Evaluation Report • Briefing slides that summarize the evaluation findings • Ongoing input and consultation Table 1: Title III Third-Party Developmental Evaluation Deliverables and Due Dates Deliverable — Title III Timeline and Due Date • Submit a Draft Detailed Evaluation Design from the evaluator, using guidance provided by the Department. — January 31, 2027 • Submit a Final Detailed Evaluation Design in collaboration with the grantee-contracted evaluator. — July 31, 2027 • Submit the evaluator's Interim Developmental Evaluation Report to the and grantee's Federal Project Officer (FPO) and Program Office using the subsequent annual (pre-final) reports, see next section — November 30, 2027 • Submit Annual Developmental Evaluation reports to the grantee's Federal Project Officer (FPO) and Program Office using the suggested format or similar layout, provided after grant award. — Annually in November 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031 • Submit the evaluator's Final Developmental Evaluation Report using the suggested format or similar layout. (DOL recommends submitting sooner) — Before January 31, 2032 • Briefing slides that summarize the evaluation findings — Before January 31, 2032 Note: As part of the final report, DOL requests that grantees provide briefing slides that summarize the evaluation findings. Provide ongoing input and consultation. Note: This deliverable includes helping the grantee institute an Employment Outcomes data review and analysis process, which must occur in Years 2, 3, 4 and 5. Suggested components for Third-Party Evaluation include: • Introduction and Background • Theory of Change • Evaluation Objective(s) and Approach • Evaluation Questions • Study Design Method • Evaluation Measures • Data Sources and Data Collection • Sampling Strategy • Proposed Analyses • Appendices Submittal Requirements (1) Inquiries and Information Requests Prior to Submission The LCCC Purchasing Office will act as the clearinghouse for all inquiries and information requests. All inquiries and information requests must be submitted electronically to Becky George, Manager, Procurement and Distribution Services: rwulfhoo@lorainccc.edu. The answers to all inquiries will be provided to all registered parties by the LCCC Purchasing Department. All answers will be electronically distributed to all those registered as being in receipt of the RFP documents. Addendums will also be posted on the College website with the original Proposal document. Any other responses to questions not via the Purchasing Office are considered casual and not binding. (2) Timeline The tentative schedule for evaluation, product selection and implementation is as follows: • Issuance of RFP — November 2, 2026 • Last day for question submittal — November 9, 2026 • Submittals Due — November 16, 2026 - 2:00 p.m. ET • Notification of Vendor/Vendors Selection — November 23, 2026 • Start engagement with LCCC — December 1, 2026 Key dates may be altered by the College; registered parties will be updated via Addendum should any alteration occur. (3) Proposal Instructions: Each bid should be completed entirely, should not exceed 10 pages, and be typed in 12-point font, single-spaced, 1" margins on all sides. Bids should include page numbers and table of contents. The cover page, table of contents, and attachments will not count against the 10-page limit. Proposals will clearly and concisely define the processes, skills, and tools to be used toward project requirements. Proposals will include project plans with specific milestone dates, action items, outcomes measurements and costs of the project while demonstrating: • Clear understanding of the project's scope of work, outcomes, and timelines as approved and funded by DOL/ED. • Expertise in developmental evaluations • Knowledge with working with confidential data • Knowledge and familiarity with NSF programs and/or related STEM grants • Knowledge and familiarity with curriculum design, work-based learning, industry recognized credentials, undergraduate student research, workforce development and/or similar subject matter expertise • Plans for carrying out the work, including staffing, major milestones, and timelines • Explanation of budget, which must not exceed $150,000, per federal guidance. Budget description may include tiered pricing options, if necessary. Please have your proposal organized in the following manner for each component: Attachment A: Cover Page Attachment B: Conflict of Interest Form Attachment C: Budget Form & Narrative Attachment D: References Documentation of registration for private, for-profit, or non-profit organizations (if applicable) Organizational Chart Proposal (scope of work) (4) Complete Submittals: Respondents shall electronically submit their proposal containing all the requested information to the Lorain County Community College Purchasing Office via upload to secure ShareFile link: RFP: UPWARD Title III SIP 3rd Party Evaluation. Deadline is Monday, November 16, 2026, by 2:00 p.m. ET. a) Late responses may be deemed unresponsive. At its sole discretion, the College reserves the right to reject any proposal not deemed satisfactory and to waive any and all irregularities in the procedure. Omission, inaccuracy, or misstatement may be sufficient cause for a proposal to be deemed unresponsive and/or irresponsible. b) There will be NO public opening; submittals may be viewed by appointment with Purchasing. The Selection Process (1) Evaluation of Proposals Scoring by the evaluation committee will be via the Evaluation form included in the Appendix. (2) Evaluation/Selection Committee Staff Institution VP, Enrollment Management & Student Services — LCCC Staff Institution Provost — LCCC Director, Workforce Development and Community Partnerships — LCCC Institutional Research and Planning — LCCC Disclaimers and Disclosures Disclaimers In its sole discretion, the College may withdraw the RFP either before or after receiving submissions, may accept or reject submissions, and may accept submissions which deviate from the RFP as it deems appropriate and, in the College's, best interest. In its sole discretion, the College may determine the qualifications and acceptability of any party or parties submitting in response to this RFP. Following submission of a RFP, the respondent agrees to deliver such further details, information and assurances, including financial and disclosure data, relating to the response and/or the respondent, including the respondent's affiliates, officers, directors, shareholders, partners and employees, as requested by the College in its discretion. The College and its advisors shall have no obligation or liability with respect to this RFP, the selection and award process contemplated hereunder, or whether any award or recommendation will be made. All costs incurred by a respondent in preparing and responding to this RFP are the sole responsibility of the respondent. Any recipient of this RFP who responds hereto, fully acknowledges all the provisions of this disclosure and disclaimer and agrees to be bound by the terms hereof. Any response submitted pursuant to this RFP is at the sole risk and responsibility of the party submitting such response. Respondents are advised that participation in the design of evaluation strategies might result in exclusion or restriction from participation in other phases. Disclosures The College is governed by the Ohio "Open Records Law" and all responses and supporting data shall be subject to disclosure as required by the law. All submittals will be available for review by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA). Lorain County Community College complies with all ED and DOLETA regulations in purchasing equipment. Selected vendor, in accepting a Purchase Order or entering into an agreement with LCCC, agrees to comply with ED and DOLETA regulations and cost principles as per the UPWARD Title III SIP grant agreement. Supplemental Information Supplemental information is located at the LCCC Purchasing Department. The LCCC Code of Conduct is applicable to all participants and awarded vendors, and may be viewed at LCCC Code of Conduct. Appendix — Evaluation Matrix Evaluation Criteria — Possible Points Organizational qualifications and experience — 50 Expertise in developmental evaluations — 20 Knowledge of DOLETA and ED programs / related capacity-building grants — 10 Knowledge in working with confidential data — 10 Knowledge of credentials, curriculum design, and work-based learning — 10 Work plan and timeline — 30 Clear understanding of scope of work, outcomes, and timelines — 5 Plan to accomplish the scope of work — 25 Cost — 20 Budget submitted with this RFP is reasonable — 20 Total — 100 Attachments A–D provided for bidder completion (Cover Sheet, Conflict of Interest Form, Budget, References, etc.).