Learning for Careers

2026-11-03

A . The Delaware Workforce Development Board (“ DWDB ”) in partnership with Delaware Department of Labor , Division of Employment and Training (“ DOL ”) and Delaware Department of Education , (“ DOE ”) ( collectively “ Delaware ”) invites eligible applicants to propose services and request funding to engage Delaware ’ s business community in a planning process that results in the creation or expansion of paid work experiences for youth and adult learners in Delaware . The purpose of the investments that result from this RFP is to increase employer participation in student education , training , and employment programs that leads to an increase in the number of : a . Youth served through summer youth employment or other DOL funded programs ; or b . Secondary school students participating in work - based learning and / or co - operative education programs ; or c . Postsecondary students participating in work - based learning and / or clinical / experiential learning programs . d . Strengthen employer - led efforts to recruit youth ( ages 14 to 24 ) into the workforce and / or to expand the capacity of employers to offer clinical , internship , apprenticeship , or other types of cooperative education programs . B . A Lead Provider (“ Provider ”) must submit proposal on behalf of an Applicant Group . Applicant Groups must include at least three employers who agree to participate in the planning process and provide work - based learning experiences . Other entities such as community - based organizations , post - secondary institutions , government , regional or local economic development entities , labor unions , local education agency , industry associations , philanthropic organizations , other education and training providers and other relevant partners are strongly encouraged to be part of the Applicant Group . Additional points can be awarded to those whose proposal that contains at least one Local Education Agency or Postsecondary Program and / or at least four ( 4 ) employers . See section ( VI .)( C )( iv ) The Lead Provider is the entity designated by the Applicant Group to serve as the Fiscal Agent for the partnership . The Lead Provider is the responsible entity for meeting all requirements . A Lead Provider can be anyone of the following : a ) Employer / Industry Association b ) Employer Chamber c ) Employer Group d ) State Agency acting on behalf of a group of employers e ) Labor Union f ) Employer Intermediary / Agent working on behalf of a group of employers An organization can serve on multiple Groups but can only serve as the Lead Provider on one submission . C . Responses to this RFP should prioritize the following goals : i . Address business ’ pipeline / workforce needs by creating and / or expand their use of paid work experiences for students participating in summer youth employment programs or other DOL funded programs included in the definition of Employment and Training Providers , secondary school workbased learning , and postsecondary work - based learning , apprenticeship and clinical / experiential learning programs ; and ii . Address the needs of students to explore career interests , contextualize learning / education , and / or gain professional and occupational skills . D . Proposals must include how the applicant group will participate in student education , training , and employment programs thus increasing the number of students who receive a paid work experience through summer youth employment programs or other DOL funded programs included in the definition of Employment and Training Providers , secondary school work - based learning activities , and postsecondary work - based learning and clinical / experiential learning programs . Proposals must include the use of paid work experiences , job shadowing , or other work - based learning models to engage participants with local employers . E . Provider ( s ) will provide the services proposed in their proposal with any modifications that are mutually agreed upon and specified in a resulting agreement . F . Providers can target specific populations and should identify them in their proposal ( s ), but at a minimum , the population served will be : • No younger than 14 and no older than 24 at the time of enrollment ; • Eligible to work in the United States ; • Delaware Resident .

Delaware

2026-03-27