REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – GROW Program:
(Career Advancement Program)
Skills Development Fund GROW Program
Landscape Ontario’s Skills Development Fund (SDF) project GROW is dedicated to supporting individuals in the Landscape and Horticulture industry through comprehensive training programs and employment initiatives. Our mission is to empower individuals and businesses to succeed by providing training, mentorship, and employment opportunities. This Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks to select and engage an experienced contractor to manage and facilitate the professional development plan process for employed participants in the STP track of GROW Program.
Background
The Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association (LO) was established over 50 years ago with a mandate to promote and advance the Landscape and Horticulture industry through leadership, community, professionalism and stewardship. Landscape Ontario represents over 3,000 members employing over 80,000 employees in Ontario in 10 geographical chapters and across 10 occupational Sectors.
With the industry’s vision to be recognized as professionals that provide economic, environmental and health & wellness benefits for every community, LO strives to be the hub that creates opportunities for the current and future workforce to advance their careers and pathways to support this growing industry.
Landscape Ontario is a not for profit, volunteer-driven trade association. Dedicated to the advancement of the landscape horticulture profession. We strive to ensure that we are a collaborative and inclusive organization where people of all genders, races, religions, nationalities, cultures, sexual orientations, languages, and abilities are welcomed and can feel comfortable, respected, and valued.
Our Mission
Our mission is to be the leader in representing, promoting and fostering a favourable climate for the advancement of the horticulture industry in Ontario.
Project Outline
The selected contractor will be responsible for:
Professional Development Planning:
- Conducting one 30 minute goal-setting meeting between the employer and participant, facilitated by the contractor.
- Initial meeting to develop a SMART goal process with key milestones and skill sets that aligns with the participants career goals as agreed upon by the employer and participant
- Two check-ins with participants during the program to review and adjust the plan as needed.
- Promoting a custom list of supplemental training or educational opportunities to achieve the participant’s training goals
- Participate as a speaker in Employer workshops on Empowering Teams through Career Advancement
Participant Support:
- Assisting participants in developing and executing their career development goals.
- Providing ongoing support and guidance to participants to ensure they meet their development goals.
- Coaching and mentoring participants throughout their career development plan to ensure that they attend their training and receive support should any challenges arise
Data Management and Reporting:
- Maintaining accurate records of all participants and their progress.
- Providing regular updates and reports on participant progress and outcomes.
- Ensuring all data is compliant with privacy regulations and organizational standards.
Coordination and Communication:
- Coordinating with the Employment and Training Coordinator to align on program goals and participant needs.
- Working with the Landscape Ontario Communications team to ensure all communications meet funder branding and communication standards.
- Supporting the Triage Admin team as needed.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
- Number of participants developing and completing their individual development plans: 120
- Number of participants completing their associated training: 112
- Number of participants achieving promotion within their organization: 42
Proposal Requirements
Interested parties should submit a proposal that includes the following:
- Introduction:
- Overview of the contractor or organization, including relevant experience in career coaching and development.
- Approach:
- Detailed plan outlining the approach to career development planning and coaching for successful participants
- Strategies for maintaining community connections and promoting the program.
- Team:
- Information about the team members who will be involved in this project, including their qualifications and roles.
- Timeline:
- Proposed timeline for completing the participant meetings, development plans and achieving the project goals.
- Budget:
- Detailed budget proposal, including all costs associated with the project.
- References:
- Contact information for at least three references who can speak to the contractor’s experience and capabilities.
Submission Instructions:
Proposals must be submitted by September 25, 2024 to:
Carrie Underwood, Manager-Workforce Development cunderwood@landscapeontario.com
Evaluation Criteria:
- Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevant experience and qualifications of the contractor and team members.
- Quality and feasibility of the proposed approach and timeline.
- Ability to meet the KPIs outlined in this RFP.
- Cost-effectiveness and budget proposal.
- Feedback from references.
Questions and Clarifications:
For any questions or clarifications regarding this RFP, please contact:
Carrie Underwood, Manager-Workforce Development cunderwood@landscapeontario.com
Budget
Landscape Ontario is a not-for-profit trade association, costs and value are important criteria in assessing and identifying the successful contractor Landscape Ontario has set a total budget for this project which includes the intake process of the participants for the GROW program. Although not the only deciding factor, total proposed cost will be considered when selecting the successful proponent.
Assumptions
Acceptance of the selected contractor is contingent on the successful negotiation of the conditions of this agreement, fees, and scope of service. Landscape Ontario reserves the right to accept or reject any or all responses to this RFP, as well as to reissue the RFP.
Landscape Ontario is not responsible for any costs incurred by the applicant in preparation of this proposal. In case of disagreement in the interpretation of the provisions of this RFP, the final decision will rest with Landscape Ontario. All proposal materials submitted for this RFP will remain property of Landscape Ontario. All deliverables resulting from this RFP will remain property of Landscape Ontario, and their use thereafter is at the discretion of Landscape Ontario. All information concerning Landscape Ontario gathered by potential bidders during the RFP process is confidential and remains the property of Landscape Ontario.
