Salary: Contract Value $30,000

I. About Ballad

Ballad is a purpose-driven workforce development organization based in Alberta. Since 2012, Ballad has consistently designed and executed industry-responsive skills and employability programs for unemployed and underemployed Albertans. Ballad provides occupational training, employment readiness, youth skills and employability, and custom training programs in a variety of industries including supply chain and logistics, construction, insurance, agriculture, and hospitality. Many of Ballad's programs include simulated worksites, micro-credentials, industry exposure courses, job placements, essential skills training and wrap-around support. Ballad's aim is for program participants to reattach to the workforce long-term, enhance their resiliency and become financially independent. Ballad delivers programming to a diversity of clients including ready to work but not working, those with multiple barriers to employment, and youth.

In addition to our workforce development programs, Ballad provides consulting services for rural and Indigenous communities, with a focus on community development, economic development, and business services.

II. Scope of Work

The purpose of this RFP is to pre-qualify three individuals and/or firms that provide instructional design and training development services, with the intent of contracting the highest ranked service provider.

Ballad is seeking a service provider to update our workplace essential skill modules and create complimentary teaching tools that address a variety of learning modalities. Ballad has a catalog of over 30 workplace essential skill modules that are delivered throughout all workforce development programs. These modules fall within three categories: life management, employability, and career planning. This contract will focus on updating the following ten modules:

1. Job Search Strategies
2. Interviewing Skills
3. Maintaining Employment – Professionalism in the Workplace (Include time management)
4. Customizing Resumes and Cover Letters
5. Building Your Personal Brand – LinkedIn and Other Platforms
6. Transferable Skills Assessment & Career Planning
7. Giving and Receiving Feedback – Leaders and Individual
8. Salary and Employment Contract Negotiations
9. Informational Interviewing & Networking 101 - Strategies for Career Growth
10. Career and Life Goal Setting

We are seeking an instructional designer to review, update and/or develop thoughtful, informative, and relevant modules that will support our program clients to build workplace essential skills and gain meaningful employment in their desired career pathway. In addition, the associated materials will provide Ballad staff with the tools they need to successfully deliver these modules as part of our workforce development programs.

The scope of work includes:

1. Review Ballad's existing modules and provide recommendations about the scope of the content gaps and updates.
2. Update and/or develop a new curriculum and instructional package for the 10 identified modules, that are aligned with industry best practice and are evidenced based. The content should be customized to our two primary learner demographics: entry-level participants (reading comprehension level of grade 7), and mid-career participants (grade 12 reading level +). Curriculum should consider adult learning best practices and include multiple modalities of learning. Modules should be designed to be delivered in-person and virtually using Google Classroom. The deliverables per module include:

• Ballad branded presentation (using Ballad's brand guidelines and assets)
• 1-3 assignments, worksheets, or case studies
• Supplementary materials such as videos, podcasts, and online resources
• Facilitator guide
• Recommended other tools
• Where appropriate, alignment of modules with the Government of Canada's Skills for Success model and Ballad's internal resiliency evaluation.

3. Engage internal staff or external subject matter experts as required.

4. Regularly collaborate with the Ballad project team throughout the project lifecycle.

5. Provide monthly progress reports.

III. Timeline

The estimated schedule for the RFP process and project includes the dates listed below. The timing of events may vary.

• Request for Proposal issue date - April 8th, 2024
• Proposal Submission Deadline – 4:00 PM MTN on April 30th, 2024
• Contract Awarded – Mid-May, 2024
• Estimated Project Start Date – June 3rd, 2024
• Deliverables Due - August 30th, 2024

IV. Budget

Please provide a budget for your proposal that addresses the scope of work outlined in the project overview section. Please include an hourly rate for supplemental work. The budget should not exceed $30,000.

V. Proposal Requirements

Please submit a proposal in PDF format that includes a cover page, table of contents, page numbers and the following information:

• Proposed Approach
  1. Explain your proposed approach to deliver the scope of work highlighting recommendations and value added services.
  2. Include a project plan including timeline, milestones, and deliverables.
  3. Comment on how and when communication will happen with the project team.

• Proponent Experience and Qualifications
  1. Provide an overview of your firm highlighting applicable expertise.
  2. Provide a description and links to three related project examples delivered in the last 5 years.
  3. Include a team description with qualifications and experience of each member.
  4. State the main point of contact.

• Cost Estimate
  1. Provided a detailed budget including subcategories.
  2. If you are presenting multiple options, ensure the estimates are distinctive.
  3. If the cost exceeds the identified budget, provide rationale for additional costs.
  4. Include any assumptions.

• Three references including name, organization, contact information and project details.

VI. Evaluation Criteria

Responses received by Ballad will be reviewed and evaluated based on the following criteria.

Criteria Max Score

Proposed Approach 30

Proponent Experience and Qualifications 30

Cost Estimates 30

Value Added Services 10

VII. Submission

Please submit your proposal to Allison Smith, at [email protected] by April 30th, 2024.

VIII. Terms and Conditions

1. Eligibility

Responses will not be evaluated if the proponent's current or past corporate or other interests may, in Ballad's opinion, give rise to a conflict of interest in connection with this project.

2. Enquiries/ Time Extension

It is the responsibility of the proponent to obtain clarification of the requirements contained in this RFP, if necessary, prior to the deadline for enquiries on April 23rd, 2024. All enquiries and other communications related to this RFP throughout the solicitation period and until contract award are to be sent via the e-mail address noted in the submission section.

3. Acceptance of Responses

This RFP should not be construed as an agreement to purchase goods and/or services. Notwithstanding anything contained in or arising from this RFP, Ballad is not bound to award business to any proponent that submits a response. Ballad will be under no obligation to receive further information, whether written or verbal, from any proponent.

Acceptance of a response will not constitute approval of any activity or development contemplated in any response that requires any approval, permit or licence pursuant to any federal, provincial, regional district or municipal statute, regulation, or bylaw.

4. Incomplete Proposals

Responses to this RFP that do not, in the opinion of Ballad, adequately address all the requirements of this RFP will be rejected outright, at the discretion of Ballad. Ambiguous, unclear, or unreadable proposals may be rejected.

5. Proponents' Expenses

All costs incurred in the preparation of responses to the RFP are the sole responsibility of the proponent and will not be chargeable to Ballad. Ballad is not liable to any proponent for loss of anticipated profit in connection with any sale of goods and/ or services, or any matter whatsoever.

6. Opening of Proposals

Ballad will open all proposals to this RFP privately and unannounced.

7. Proposal Validity

Proposals shall be final and binding on the proponent for sixty (60) days from the RFP's closing time and date and may not be altered by subsequent offerings, discussions, or commitments unless the proponents are asked to do so with Ballad. The proposal will be used as the basis for the services agreement.

8. Subcontracting

The successful proponent may subcontract only upon written approval from Ballad, such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

remote work