Addendum #4

10/24/2024

Question: Can you let us know whether we need to include all of the contract language listed in the RFP, in our submission? We assume we need to include only what is listed on P 24 of the RFP, but want to verify.

Response: Yes, all submittal requirements are listed on pg. 24

Question: What is the definition of 'key employees' referenced in the RFP?

Response: Key Employee refers to the employees assigned to this specific project.

Question: GA does not license our curriculum for others to deliver. Are programs only supported for Lake County Digital Navigators to lead themselves or can we contract for GA instructors to lead workshops/courses?

Response: Lake County prefers a train-the-trainer model where Digital Navigators and other staff will deliver the public-facing training. However, proposals that offer direct public-facing training in the form of specialized short-term programs or workshops are also welcome, particularly for addressing immediate needs related to ARPA-funded programs.

Question: Are you open to digital skills that lead to employment (a step further than digital literacy) such as data analytics?

Response: The proposer can focus on either beginner or intermediate digital skills, or both. However, given the ARPA funding and the focus on impacted households, there is an emphasis on providing a curriculum that caters to individuals with limited or no digital skills, as these populations may have faced greater barriers to digital access due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question: Does the pre-developed curriculum need to include both beginner and intermediate digital skills, or can the proposer focus on one skill level?

Response: The proposer can focus on either beginner or intermediate digital skills, or both. However, given the ARPA funding and the focus on impacted households, there is an emphasis on providing a curriculum that caters to individuals with limited or no digital skills, as these populations may have faced greater barriers to digital access due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question: Is there a preference for curriculum delivered in specific languages aside from English? If so, which languages are prioritized?

Response: Yes, curriculum in languages aside from English is prioritized, especially for communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Spanish and other languages commonly spoken by low- to moderate-income households, individuals receiving Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or other assistance programs are highly encouraged.

Target Population:

Question:  Are there any specific digital literacy needs identified within the target populations that should be emphasized in the curriculum (e.g., telehealth, online banking, accessing government services)?
Response: Specific digital literacy needs for impacted populations include, but are not limited to, telehealth literacy, accessing food and housing assistance online, online job searching, accessing healthcare services like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and using digital tools for remote work and education. Emphasis should also be placed on accessing government services and managing childcare subsidies online.

Question:  Can you provide more details on how to ensure the curriculum aligns with the digital literacy goals of households affected by COVID-19?
Response: The curriculum should address the digital skills gaps that emerged during the pandemic, such as accessing online education, healthcare, unemployment resources, and housing services. It should focus on building essential skills needed for daily living in a digitally driven world, especially for those households that experienced unemployment or greater difficulty accessing food or housing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question: Does Lake County expect direct public-facing training by the proposer, or is a train-the-trainer model preferred?
Response: Lake County prefers a train-the-trainer model where Digital Navigators and other staff will deliver the public-facing training. However, proposals that offer direct public-facing training in the form of specialized short-term programs or workshops are also welcome, particularly for addressing immediate needs related to ARPA-funded programs.

Question:  What format should the digital skills training take (e.g., online workshops, in-person sessions, self-guided online courses)?
Response: The training format can vary and should be flexible enough to meet the needs of low-income households, those impacted by COVID-19, and individuals who may have limited access to in-person training. Options include online workshops, in-person sessions, self-guided courses, or hybrid models. The format should be accessible to households that may have experienced greater difficulty accessing technology during the pandemic.

Question:  If offering a software solution, what specific accessibility features are required (e.g., multilingual options, assistive technology compatibility)?
Response: Software solutions should include accessibility features such as multilingual options (with priority for Spanish and other commonly spoken languages in Lake County), assistive technology compatibility, and user-friendly interfaces. These features are essential to reach impacted households, including those with disabilities or limited English proficiency.

Question: Are there specific cybersecurity or data protection standards the software must adhere to for protecting personal data?
 Response: Yes, any software solution must adhere to general cybersecurity and data protection protocols, including data encryption, secure logins, and compliance with relevant state and federal cybersecurity regulations to protect the personal data of residents accessing digital services.

Performance Metrics:

Question: What specific key performance indicators (KPIs) are most critical for evaluating the success of the digital skills programming (e.g., number of participants, completion rates, post-training assessments)?
Response: Critical KPIs include the number of participants from impacted households, course completion rates, participant satisfaction surveys, and post-training assessments that measure improvements in digital skills. Special emphasis should be placed on how the program benefits households impacted by unemployment, food and housing insecurity, or those receiving assistance from Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Question: How frequently are progress reports required to be submitted, and what format should they follow?
Response: Progress reports are required quarterly and should include both narrative and quantitative data. They should track participant progress, demographic details of those served (in alignment with the ARPA guidelines for impacted households), and outcomes related to the goals of increasing digital literacy for households and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question: Will there be flexibility in invoicing schedules, or are there specific milestones that need to be met before payments are released?

Response: All payments shall be made in accordance with the Illinois Local Government Prompt Payment Act, which generally requires approval of a vendor’s bill within 30 days of receiving the invoice for the services contained in it, and payment within an additional 30 days (50 ILCS 505/1 et seq.). Please note that this is in reference to invoices detailing the execution of agreed upon services.

Question: How will the County determine payment schedules based on the submission of deliverables?

Response: Execution of services (ie timelines) will be coordinated with the Lake County Broadband and Digital Equity Team and relevant partner organizations.

 

Question: Will Lake County provide additional support or personnel to assist with the implementation of the curriculum, or will the proposer be solely responsible?

Response: The primary intention is that the digital course content will be utilized by Digital Navigators in one-on-one and group settings throughout the County. 

 

Question:  Are there any preferred partnerships (such as working with libraries, schools, or community centers) that should be considered for delivering the digital literacy programs?

Response: The Lake County Digital Navigator Program will prioritize partnerships and digital skills program coordination with members of the Lake County Digital Equity Coalition including libraries, schools, community organizations, local non-profits, and County departments.

Question: Should the pricing proposal include costs for supplementary materials, such as certificates, badges, or program incentives?

Response: Yes.

Question: Are there additional budget requirements or value-added services that are expected to be provided as part of the proposal?

Response: The proposer should include a budget breakdown of all relevant costs detailed in the proposal. If the proposer is including any value-added services, the costs related to these services should be provided.

Question:  How important is the sustainability statement in the evaluation process, and are there specific green practices Lake County prefers from vendors?

Response: The sustainability statement is a standard element of all County RFP processes and is not a part of the evaluation criteria. All proposers must provide a sustainability statement reflecting the entities own sustainability practices. You can learn more about Lake County’s sustainability initiatives here: Lake County Sustainability | Lake County, IL

 Question: What is the process for extending the contract if the initial two-year period concludes, but ARPA funds are still available?

Response: If it is determined by the County that any executed contracts need to be extended beyond the duration of the contract, extensions will be negotiated with the vendor(s). ARPA Funds will be available to the County until the end of 2026.

Addendum #3

10/23/2024

Question: If we do not have any redactions, do we still need to submit a second copy of our response to the RFP? If yes, is this to be submitted via the same portal?

Response: No

Addendum #2

10/22/2024

Question: How many digital skills courses must already be in possession (e.g. developed) to be considered for eligibility?

Response: At least one digital skills course must be developed to be considered for eligibility.

Question: If we do not own a suite of digital literacy products, for licensing/purchase, but have the templates to create custom courses (because of our past digital literacy work at the state level) will this be ok?

Response: Entities must possess developed proprietary digital skills curriculum products that are ready for implementation by Lake County and organizations directly associated with Lake County’s Digital Growth Initiative.

Question: Can we recommend other digital skills to include?

 Response: Yes, proposers can make recommendations that serve the target populations identified under the U.S. Department of the Treasury Impacted Households and Communities, detailed in the RFP.

Question: For training purposes, what learning management software does Lake County currently use or is familiar with -Articulate, Canvas, etc.?

Response: The County does not currently use learning management software related to the Lake County Digital Growth Initiative or Digital Navigator Programming.

Question: Will the digital course content be published on a website, powered by Lake County, for the public to access?

Response: The primary intention is that the digital course content will be utilized by Digital Navigators in one-on-one and group settings throughout the County. We do not anticipate publishing this content on the County website, but we may make references to the content and provide information on where residents can access content.

Question: Will the vendor be responsible for uploading, designing, and/or managing the content placed on a website for public accessibility?

Response: No.

Question: What data collection software does Lake County currently use (or is familiar with) to analyze KPIs for public health program evaluation purposes? 

Response: The Lake County Digital Growth Initiative is not currently involved in analyzing KPIs for public health program evaluations.

Question: How many modules would Lake County ideally want to have in the final curriculum product?

Response: There is not a specific number of modules expected.

Question: In the proposal, can the vendor include additional resources to complement the curriculum product as described on page 21? 

Response: Yes.

Question: Would Lake County be able to share a list of partners in the community that the vendor has access to, to help coordinate program incentives?

Response: Yes, the Lake County Digital Equity Coalition convenes community partners monthly with regular email communications between meetings. Learn more about the Lake County Digital Equity Coalition here: Digital Equity Coalition | Lake County, IL

Question: Who are the trainers (or digital navigators) that will most likely use this product in the community?

Response: The Digital Navigators will be individuals dedicated to delivering digital skills programming to Lake County Residents across Lake County Departments and in partnership with community organizations. The County is currently hiring for Digital Navigator roles.

Question: Does Lake County need support in marketing such information to both digital navigators and the public to increase the number of people that use this product?

Response: Proposers should be capable of providing curriculum walkthrough and/or best practices for program delivery.  It would be helpful for the County to have access to collateral and existing written materials related to the proposed products. However, the County recently released an RFP titled “Lake County Marketing Campaign for the Digital Growth Initiative,” and while the submission deadline has passed, the RFP is still under review. The County anticipates having a vendor dedicated to Outreach Marketing Campaigns related to the Lake County Digital Growth Initiative.

Question: When would Lake County expect the entire curriculum product to be finalized by for the trainers to use? For the public to have access to?

Response: Entities must possess developed proprietary digital skills curriculum products that are ready for implementation by Lake County and organizations directly associated with Lake County’s Digital Growth Initiative. The County would expect to coordinate implementation of the curriculum with the vendor(s) upon execution of an agreement.

Question: Will Federal funds be applied to this procurement?

Response: Yes

 

Addendum#1

10/17/2024

Question: In order for us to submit a price, we will need to know how many locations you will be using.

Response:  We will not be able to provide exact information on the number of locations that we will be working with at this time but would prefer a quote based on individual license prices or bulk pricing options.

Question: Is there any possibility of an extended deadline, perhaps two weeks?

Response: Unfortunately, due to ARPA guidelines and the limited time remaining in the year, we are unable to extend the application deadline beyond November 1st. Adhering to this timeline is essential for us to meet the necessary requirements and finalize contracts within the allotted timeframe.

We understand the challenges this may present, and we sincerely hope that you will be able to submit your application within the current deadline. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there are any other questions or if we can provide further clarification.