The Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD), on behalf of Career Connect Washington (CCW), is conducting a request for proposals for CCW Apprenticeship Building America Program Builder Funding.
Bids are due June 28, 2024, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. The RFP can be accessed via the Washington Electronic Business Solutions (WEBS) system beginning April 1, 2024. Bidders are responsible for downloading the solicitation document and all appendices and incorporated documents. Questions can be directed to Procurement Coordinators Jennifer Watson and Kiva Nguyen at esdgpbids@esd.wa.gov.
They seek proposals from highly qualified entities capable of creating, expanding or enhancing registered apprenticeship and recognized pre-apprenticeship programs in Washington’s high-demand and high-growth industry sectors.
Apprenticeship Building America (ABA) is a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to strengthen, modernize, expand and diversify Registered Apprenticeship programs to enable more workers to earn while they learn and find reliable pathways to the middle class. The ABA grant program will help to further strengthen and modernize Washington’s nationally recognized apprenticeship system. It will increase equity and accessibility for under-represented populations and bring the registered apprenticeship model to more employers in Washington’s high-demand industries.
ESD shares the CCW vision that every young adult in Washington will have multiple pathways toward economic self-sufficiency and fulfillment, strengthened by a comprehensive statewide system for career connected learning. Apprenticeships have been the pathway to the middle class for generations of skilled workers in Washington – and ESD is proud to partner with CCW, the Department of Labor & Industries, the U.S. Department of Labor and Washington’s apprenticeship community on this Apprenticeship Building America grant.
ESD has made $2,965,421.90 of federal Apprenticeship Building America funds available for this opportunity. ESD targets $100,000 to $150,000 per award. ESD expects performance periods will begin in Q3 2024 and end by Q2 2026.
Career Connect Washington partners and stakeholders are encouraged to share this announcement broadly with any and all potential bidders. (Cassie Sauer)