Request for Proposals: Career Readiness TPM Academy

In 2014, the U.S. Chamber Foundation created the TPM initiative to flip the workforce system and build the capacity of the business community to better manage career pathway partnerships. In this system, employers proactively organize and manage preferred talent provider partnerships to orchestrate performance-based talent supply chain solutions. These partnerships streamline career pathways for newly credentialed individuals and existing workers in ways that ensure employers get the talent they need optimizing time, quality, and cost.

The movement began in 2014 with a white paper, national conference, and call to action, and in 2015 the U.S. Chamber Foundation launched seven pilot partnerships that explored new employer engagement strategies. By 2016, the U.S. Chamber Foundation took best practices learned from field testing and launched the TPM Academy designed to grow employer leadership and capacity to manage talent supply chains at scale through business member associations. The movement has grown exponentially with close to 1,000 TPM Academy participants representing 44 states, DC, and Canada, and thousands of employers involved in employer collaboratives. The TPM library of resources now includes ways to leverage the framework for career and technical education partnerships, for opportunity population serving organizations, and for employers seeking to improve job quality. To learn more, visit www.thetalentsupplychain.org.

The TPM Academy is a training that can be hosted virtually, in-person, or via a hybrid approach. The 33 TPM Academies that have occurred to date are each customized to ensure an ideal learning experience that can result in direct action taken throughout or after completing the Academy training. What does not differ is the TPM framework on which the Academy and its accompanying curriculum are based.

For this Career Readiness TPM Academy, learners will experience the TPM framework in numerous ways including ongoing support webinars hosted by the U.S. Chamber Foundation and partners before, during, and after they learn the TPM framework. They will learn the core curriculum via self-paced learning on our online learning platform, TPM Co/Lab, as well as complete the TPM Opportunity Populations specialty course to develop a foundational understanding of how TPM can be leveraged to improve outcomes for students and workers who experience barriers to education, employment, and career advancement opportunities. On a weekly basis, they will meet virtually with TPM Academy faculty to ensure the learning concepts are resonating and have an opportunity to discuss application. At the mid-point of their training as well as at the completion, they will participate in in-person implementation workshops in which they will put their understanding of the theory to work in order to strategize how to maximize education and workforce partnerships to improve employer-aligned pathways, particularly for adult students of color.

The makeup of the primary learners must include multiple community colleges and sub-baccalaureate programs though it is of no preference to the U.S. Chamber Foundation if the institutions are a part of the same college system (i.e., not all states have statewide community college systems). All participants must be committed to improving employer engagement with campuses and programs that not only seek to improve employer-aligned credentials and pathways, but also seek to reach and improve outcomes for Black and other priority populations. Leaders from community-based organizations should have a similar commitment to the colleges in prioritizing equity.

Participating campus teams can include staff members from both the degree-granting and non-degree granting divisions within the colleges as well as their employer partners. Teams should consist of three to five representatives including key decisions makers and implementation leads for both the college (e.g., CTE directors, partnerships coordinators, program development specialists, etc.), community-based organizations that work with priority talent populations, as well as employers (e.g., HR, hiring managers, and talent acquisition specialists) or those responsible for organizing a collaborative of employers (e.g., lead staff at a chamber of commerce or sector partnership). 

RFPs are welcomed from single entities that will take on the responsibility to ensure geographic diversity throughout the state, or through a group of regional-based entities that will coordinate with one another to ensure representation for their respective locality.

Though TPM is an employer-led movement, it is by no means employer alone. Provider partners—those who offer education, training, and other support services—play a critical role in developing effective talent supply chains that benefit learners. While not limited to community college partners, TPM encourages employers to seek partnerships with those that are responsive and have the ability to meet employer needs. As employers collect and aggregate data related to their most critical jobs and most pressing pain points, TPM suggests that preferred providers are informed prior to engaging in a co-design process for optimal talent supply chains but more fully engaged once employers have done their homework. This results in not only more clear communication from one or more employers, but more engaged and committed employer partnerships that are bought into the concept of shared value for all partners.

This section includes a tentative selection process and training timeline for the TPM Career Readiness Academy. Exact dates will be decided upon with the co-hosting partner.

• March 1, 2024: Request for Proposal released. 
• April 5, 2024: Applications due by 5:00 pm (ET)
• April 8 -April 19, 2024: Application review. The U.S. Chamber Foundation may contact certain applicants for additional information.
• April 22, 2024: The U.S. Chamber Foundation to confirm selection.
• By May 3, 2024: Kickoff call for planning. 

The U.S. Chamber Foundation is seeking proposals from business-facing organizations, public sector partners, or those best suited to work in partnership with a community college system(s) or individual community colleges to co-host a Career Readiness TPM Academy, and it is likely the proposal will need to be a coordinated effort among these partners. Partners should have some familiarity with TPM.

Applicants must:

• Demonstrate a convincing plan of action as well as the capability and capacity to implement a TPM Academy for up to 40 individuals, preferably representing different community college campuses, local community-based organizations, employers, and business-facing organizations.
• Demonstrate that community college partners have a student body reflecting regional demographics and priority opportunity populations—those who experience barriers to education and employment. This includes Black and African American, Hispanic and Latinx, Native American, and other underrepresented learners. Participating community-based organizations should serve similar priority populations.
• Commit to and execute data collection on specific program changes as a result of this investment including but not limited to number of programs improved and aligned with employer needs and estimated number of learners impacted, number of new programs launched and aligned with employer needs and estimated number of learners impacted, and number of credentials that are aligned with employment and labor market demand. (Note: no identifiable student information will be required).
• Provide institutional goals as it pertains to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including but not limited to enrollment, persistence, and completion for adults of color, as well as how those goals are being measured and evaluated over time.
• Provide employer measures of success as it pertains to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as determined by employer partners. These should be complementary to the institutional goals previously referenced.
• Demonstrate sufficient interest and buy-in from employers in (1) implementing the TPM framework with your institutional partners, and (2) improving their talent sourcing of opportunity populations, including Black and African American, Hispanic and Latinx, Native American, and other underrepresented learners.
• Demonstrate a desire and need for technical assistance from the U.S. Chamber Foundation.
• Be willing to serve as advisers and provide guidance to the U.S. Chamber Foundation on how to successfully host future TPM Academies targeting community college partners and community-based organizations.
• Possess the ability to serve as a fiscal agent capable of receiving funding and will be responsible for confirming all funds are used solely for appropriate 501(c)(3) activities.

The U.S. Chamber Foundation will require a strong commitment from the selected state coordinator(s) to successfully execute the TPM Academy. Selected partners are required to meet the following expectations:

• Execution of submitted TPM Academy plan. Selected applicants are expected to complete activities specified per their submitted plan for assistance planning and executing the TPM Academy, including but not limited to:
  • Educating and informing the community about TPM and the TPM Academy
  • Demonstrating that it has the staff capacity and willingness to commit to the community college partnership and an aligned mission to support priority populations
  • Providing evidence of effective partnerships, most especially with the employer community and community colleges
  • Soliciting appropriate applicants
  • Finalizing and communicating TPM Academy dates
  • Securing a meeting location, organizing, and confirming AV and catering
  • Communicating with and fielding questions from TPM Academy participants
  • Bearing event costs that exceed the amount provided by the Chamber Foundation
  • Providing guidance and feedback to the Chamber Foundation on improving the Academy model for future TPM Academies targeting community colleges
• Availability for status updates with the Chamber Foundation and its partners. The Chamber Foundation will periodically conduct check-ins with the selected proposal applicants regarding completed accomplishments, challenges encountered, and implemented solutions. This may include team check-ins via phone or site visits. Once selection is confirmed, the Chamber Foundation and the state coordinator(s) will discuss a plan, including appropriate timing for submitting required performance metrics (see Appendix A).
• Contribution to case studies and network communications. Selected applicants will be expected to provide interviews and share materials for use in development of case studies and other outreach materials.
• Performance in a fiduciary capacity. The selected applicant is expected to receive the financial award, spend the funds within the limits of the law, and be responsible for reporting receipt of the financial award to appropriate authorities.

The proposal will likely be a coordinated effort between the state coordinator and community college system(s). Should a state submitting an RFP not have a community college system, please provide information as to who will play a coordinating role on behalf of the community colleges so that multiple community colleges are aware of the opportunity and can affirm their ability to report the required information. 

The U.S. Chamber Foundation will select applications based upon analysis of the submitted response content above. During the selection process, reviewers may request additional information from the applicants.

Selected applicants will be notified as early as April 22, 2024, of selection. Selections will be made based on the following criteria:

• Organizational Capacity and Commitment to DEI: The proposed entities (both the state coordinator and community college system(s)) are well-equipped to oversee a TPM Academy and have a clear, authentic commitment to achieving DEI goals. (15 pts.).
• Feasibility of Action Plan. The feasibility of the proposed entity(ies) to meet their defined objectives through this grant, including ability to report necessary metrics (15 pts.).
• Sustainability and scalability of efforts. The applicant’s efforts are able to be sustained beyond initial U.S. Chamber Foundation funding and support, and the proposed set of activities and initiatives are able to be broadened and replicated (10 pts.).
• Strength of The quality of partners committed to executing TPM projects including the community college system(s) and employers (5 pts.).
• Proposed use of funds and support. The proposed use of funds and provided support demonstrates that funds will be used effectively to accelerate solutions (5 pts.).

In addition, the applicant must meet the minimum eligibility criteria to receive grant funds listed in the Eligibility and Requirements for Participation section above.

While utilizing the criteria above, the U.S. Chamber Foundation reserves the right to make award decisions that ensure there is diversity among the network partners in terms of geography, industry sector focus, and strategy.