FMS Sole Source Document - CareerSource North Central...
Transcript of FMS Sole Source Document - CareerSource North Central...
Memorandum
To: Procurement File From: Kim Tesch-‐Vaught, Executive Director Re: Justification for Sole Source Procurement – Startup Quest™ Date: August 21, 2014 CareerSource North Central Florida (CSNCFL) was awarded a highly competitive Workforce Innovation Fund grant from the United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA). The Workforce Innovation Fund is a DOLETA program created to cultivate and test innovative approaches to workforce training and encourage the replication of evidence-‐based practices in the workforce development field. Built upon the success of a competitive grant from CareerSource Florida, Inc. (formerly Workforce Florida, Inc.) that enabled CSNCFL to implement Startup Quest™, this Workforce Innovation Fund grant will enable the expansion of Startup Quest™ using collaborative and multi-‐dimensional relationships with numerous stakeholders in eight workforce regions across Florida. Startup Quest™ provides a short-‐term targeted entrepreneurship-‐training curriculum that uses experience successful mentors in non-‐traditional learning and workshop environments. These environments are in marked contrast to other entrepreneurship-‐training programs. Developed and exclusively offered to CSNCFL by the University of Florida’s Office of Technology Licensing (UF/OTL), Startup Quest™ connects identified technologies ready for commercialization with individuals interested and enabled to do so. In addition to the Startup Quest™ curriculum, UF/OTL trained and certified master trainers and certified participants that successfully completed the program. A majority of technology innovations are licensed to existing companies with the resources and infrastructure already in place to develop the technology into a product. However, startup companies commercialize a number of game-‐changing technologies because these technologies are so radically different. It is these technologies that are the most appropriate for use in the Startup Quest™ program. These technologies will have the following characteristics:
• Clear vision of end product or process; • Patent application submitted; • Available for licensing to a startup, as determined by the institution’s licensing office; • An inventor who is willing to share additional information and explanations with
participants; and
CareerSource North Central Florida is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers may be reached by persons using TTY/ TDD equipment via
the Florida Relay Service at 711.
4800 SW 13th St., Gainesville, FL 32608 | Phone (352) 955-2245 | Fax (352) 955-2332 819 S Walnut St., Starke, FL 32091 | Phone (904) 964-8092 | Fax (904) 964-3969
• Appeals to a mentor in the Startup Quest™ program who will choose it as their team’s technology.
Startup Quest™ also promotes the engagement of higher education institutions with their local workforce investment boards and community employers to enhance understanding of training and education needs. The uniqueness and the success of the Startup Quest™ program garnered the attention of the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), which featured the program as one of the 14 case studies in its January, 2012 report, Innovative Collaborations between Workforce Boards and Employers Helped Meet Local Needs, describing best practices in the development of innovative collaborations between the workforce development system and regional employers across the United States. UF/OTL has given the rights to use this curriculum solely to Focused Management Solutions, Inc. (FMS). Given the unique features, benefits, and track record of Startup Quest™, CSNCFL believes that a sole source procurement of Startup Quest™ from FMS is justified. CSNCFL will electronically post this Memorandum for five (5) business days on its website: www.careersourcencfl.com. The posting will include a request that prospective vendors provide information regarding their ability to provide an entrepreneurship-‐training program that provides features, benefits, and track record that are similar in implementation, outcome and competitive with Startup Quest™. Any responses must be sent within five (5) business days from the date of this Memorandum to: ktesch-‐[email protected]. After five (5) business days, if there are no responses from any prospective vendors or after reviewing any responses, it remains the considered opinion of CSNCFL that the desired curriculum and methodology are available only from FMS, CSNCFL shall initiate negotiations for and agreement for FMS to provides Startup Quest™ authorization, training, and certification services that will enable the BASEC Implementation Consortium to provide training services for Startup Quest™ program.