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Frequently Asked Questions

Request For Proposal

Career Transition Assistance (CTA)Trial 2018–2020

Employment Services Purchasing

13 February 2018

© Commonwealth of Australia 2018This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this Notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved.

Document History

Date Comments

22 January 2018 Initial Release

25 January 2018 Update to FAQ—1.4

2 February 2018 Update to FAQ—3.3

2 February 2018 Added FAQs—2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13, 2.14, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 4.4, 5.3 and 8.14

13 February 2018Added FAQs—1.7, 2.15, 2.16, 2.17, 2.18, 2.19, 2.20, 2.21, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 5.4, 7.8, 8.15, 8.16, 8.17, 8.18, 8.19 and 8.20

Contact DetailsThe Employment Services Purchasing Hotline (the Hotline) is the primary means of contact with the Department of Jobs and Small Business (the Department) during the Request for Proposal Career Transition Assistance (CTA) Trial 2018–2020 process.

Questions and requests for clarification about this process can be provided by: Phone: 1300 733 514, the Employment Services Purchasing Hotline (Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to

5.00 pm Canberra time, excluding ACT and national public holidays) Email: Employment Services Purchasing Hotline ([email protected]).

Requests for Information or Clarification

All requests for information or clarification must be submitted to the Hotline before 5.00 pm (Canberra time) on 12 February 2018. There will be no obligation on the Department to answer questions received after this time.

Please note that any answer to a question or request for clarification about this process that is not available publicly will need to be submitted by email.

The Department will determine what, if any, response should be given to a Respondent’s question or request for clarification and may publish responses on the Employment Services Purchasing Information website (www.jobs.gov.au/purchasing).

Responses will be published without disclosing the source of the questions or revealing any confidential information of a Respondent.

Frequently Asked Questions—Request for Proposal Career Transition Assistance (CTA) Trial 2018–2020 ii

http://www.jobs.gov.au/purchasing


mailto:[email protected]

Table of Contents1. Career Transition Assistance (CTA).................................................................................................4

2. Participant Eligibility and Referrals.................................................................................................6

3. Delivery of CTA..............................................................................................................................10

4. CTA Fees.......................................................................................................................................14

5. Eligibility to Apply.........................................................................................................................16

6. Quality and Performance..............................................................................................................17

7. General Questions........................................................................................................................18

8. Responding...................................................................................................................................20

9. Evaluation Process........................................................................................................................25

10. Timing...........................................................................................................................................27

Frequently Asked Questions—Request for Proposal Career Transition Assistance (CTA) Trial 2018–2020 iii

1.Career Transition Assistance (CTA)1.1 What is CTA? [Added 22 January 2018]

CTA is a new program and one of the key measures in the Australian Government’s $110 million Mature Age Employment package announced in the 2017–18 Federal Budget. CTA is for unemployed people aged 50 years and over. CTA will be trialled in five regions prior to its national rollout.

1.2 What are the objectives of CTA? [Added 22 January 2018]

CTA aims to provide a personal wrap-around and localised service for mature age Participants. In particular, CTA aims to provide practical assistance to help Participants increase their employability by:

increasing their confidence in the skills and experience they possess increasing their motivation and resilience increasing their understanding of the opportunities available in their local labour market helping Participants to better tailor their job applications, and improving their ICT skills by providing Participants with core digital literacy capabilities.

Reference: RFP Section 2.1.1—Career Transition Assistance

1.3 When will the CTA Trial commence and end? [Added 22 January 2018]

The CTA Trial will commence in five Trial Regions on 2 July 2018 and run until 26 June 2020.

Reference: RFP Indicative Timeline (page ii)

1.4 Which are the five CTA Trial Regions? [Added 22 January 2018]

The Department will trial CTA in the following five Employment Regions: Ballarat, Victoria Somerset, Queensland Central West, New South Wales Adelaide South, South Australia, and Perth North, Western Australia.

These Trial Regions are the same Employment Regions used for jobactive.

References: RFP Section 2.1.1—Career Transition Assistance, and Appendix E—Maps and Job Seeker Data

Update: ‘give’ has been replaced by ‘five’ in the question text above. Updated 25 January 2018

Frequently Asked Questions—Request for Proposal Career Transition Assistance (CTA) Trial 2018–2020 4

1.5 Will the CTA trial operate as part of the Australian Government’s current employment services? [Added 22 January 2018]

Although Referrals to CTA will be facilitated through jobactive Providers, CTA is a distinct program with its own unique sense of identity. It will operate separately from jobactive or other Australian Government employment services. Where CTA is delivered by an organisation currently delivering Australian Government employment services, CTA should not be co-located with employment services unless there is a clear physical delineation between CTA and the employment service. It is preferable that CTA is delivered from separate premises.

An organisation entering into a Deed to deliver CTA that is a current jobactive Provider, or a provider of any other Australian Government employment service, will need to ensure independent management of its respective Deeds.

Reference: RFP Section 2.5—Coverage

1.6 Will CTA Providers need to be familiar with Australian Government employment services? [Added 22 January 2018]

Yes. CTA Providers will be expected to be familiar with different employment services programs available in their region. CTA Providers will be required to work closely with local employment services, in particular jobactive Providers, to facilitate Referrals and achieve the outcomes of CTA.

1.7 How can a Respondent identify current jobactive Providers in the Trial Regions? [Added 13 February 2018]

Information on current jobactive Providers is available on the Department’s jobsearch website (jobsearch.gov.au).


2.Participant Eligibility and Referrals2.1 Who is eligible to participate in CTA? [Added 22 January 2018]

CTA is open to all job seekers aged 50 years and over, who are registered with a jobactive Provider and located in one of the five CTA Trial Regions. This includes job seekers in all Streams and those not in receipt of an Income Support Payment.

Reference: RFP Section 2.4—Participant Eligibility and Characteristics

2.2 Are people registered with other employment services (e.g. Disability Employment Services) eligible for CTA? [Added 22 January 2018]

No. Only job seekers registered with a jobactive Provider are eligible to participate in CTA.


2.3 How will Participants access CTA? [Added 22 January 2018]

All Referrals to CTA will be made through a jobactive Provider. jobactive Providers will need to contact a CTA Provider in their region to confirm Referral and the details of the Initial Meeting. The Initial Meeting will need to be held within five Business Days of the discussion between the jobactive Provider and CTA Provider.

Reference: RFP Section 2.4.1—Referral Process from jobactive

2.4 Can a person register with a local jobactive Provider to become eligible to participate in CTA? [Added 22 January 2018]

Yes. Any person over 50 and eligible to register as a volunteer in jobactive can register and request a Referral to CTA. However, a Referral to CTA is ultimately at the discretion of the jobactive Provider.


2.5 Is it mandatory for eligible job seekers to be Referred to CTA? [Added 22 January 2018]

No. CTA is a voluntary program. Job seekers who want to participate in CTA can request a Referral from their jobactive Provider. jobactive Providers may also recommend a Referral to CTA to job seekers on their caseload.

2.6 What happens if a Participant fails to attend or complete CTA? [Added 22 January 2018]

Where a Participant fails to attend the Initial Meeting with the CTA Provider, the Participant’s jobactive Provider will need to determine the best course of action to take. For Participants with Mutual Obligation Requirements, this could include action under the job seeker compliance framework, and subsequent re-Referral to CTA.

If a Participant attends their Initial Meeting with the CTA Provider, but fails to attend a session without making contact with the Facilitator, the CTA Provider will be required to attempt to contact the Participant to re-engage them in the program. If this is not successful over a period of five Business Days, the CTA Provider must notify the Participant’s jobactive Provider so that the jobactive Provider can determine if the Participant should be exited from CTA.

Reference: RFP Section 2.4.2—Attendance and Completion

2.7 Will jobactive Providers in the Trial Regions have CTA referral targets to achieve? [Added 2 February 2018]


There will be no referral targets set for jobactive Providers to refer to CTA.

2.8 To be eligible for CTA, does a job seeker's residential address need to be in the CTA Trial Region, or does the job seeker need to be registered with a jobactive Provider located in the CTA Trial Region? [Added 2 February 2018]

To be eligible for CTA, a job seeker must be registered with a jobactive Provider that is located within the Trial Region. Eligibility will not be based on the job seeker's residential address.


2.9 If a CTA Provider is also a jobactive Provider within the same Trial Region, can the organisation receive CTA referrals from itself? [Added 2 February 2018]

Yes, jobactive providers can deliver CTA to their own job seekers. However, job seekers must be referred to the CTA Provider of the job seeker's choice.

Reference: RFP Section 2.4.1—Referral Process from jobactive

2.10 What is the eligible caseload for CTA? [Added 2 February 2018]

Across the five CTA Trial Regions at 31 December 2017, the eligible caseload already registered with a jobactive Provider comprised nearly 24,000 people. A detailed breakdown of these numbers by CTA Trial Region is available at Appendix E—Maps and Job Seeker Data of the Request for Proposal.

References: RFP Section 2.4—Participant Eligibility and Characteristics, and Appendix E—Maps and Job Seeker Data

2.11 Can the Department clarify the difference between the estimated number of eligible Participants in the Adelaide South Trial Region for 2018–19 (8,101) and the total of 5,963 stated in Table E.6 of the Request for Proposal? [Added 2 February 2018]

The estimated number of eligible Participants in the Adelaide South Trial Region for 2018–19 was calculated to be 8,101 based on the previous year’s figures (2016–17). This figure includes the estimate of new Referrals to each CTA Trial Region over the 2018–19 financial year, as per Appendix E—Maps and Job Seeker Data of the Request for Proposal, Table E.2. The total of 5,963 stated in Table E.6 is the total number of job seekers in the Adelaide—South CTA Trial Region, aged 50+ by Stream and Participation Requirements, as at 31 December 2017. This figure is the actual caseload at a specific point-in-time.

Reference: RFP Appendix E—Maps and Job Seeker Data

2.12 Do total caseload figures include suspended jobseekers? [Added 2 February 2018]

Yes, the total caseload figures include suspended, commenced and pending job seekers.

2.13 Is the Department able to provide a breakdown of where Participants will come from across a Trial Region, e.g. by suburb or Local Government Area (LGA)? [Added 2 February 2018]

The Department intends to provide a breakdown by LGA rather than suburb in due course. The number of Participants by suburb can be quite low so providing a breakdown by LGA reduces the risk of identifying an individual person.


2.14 Can the Department give an indication of expected annual referrals, or any cap on referrals to each Provider? [Added 2 February 2018]

The Department has provided data on the eligible caseload in each Trial Region, but will not give an indication of expected annual referrals. There is no cap on referrals to each CTA Provider.

2.15 Does the Department have data on the number of expected CTA referrals? [Added 13 February 2018]

No. The Department will not guarantee a minimum or expected number of CTA referrals.

Reference: Draft Deed Clause 3.2(a)

2.16 Will the Department be releasing publications or promotional material on CTA to encourage jobactive referrals? [Added 13 February 2018]

As with all complementary employment services programs, the Department will ensure jobactive Providers in the CTA Trial Regions are aware of the program and the benefits of referrals for their job seekers. CTA Providers are also encouraged to promote their services to both jobactive Providers and job seekers in their region.

2.17 Is there a requirement on the period of time a job seeker must be registered with a jobactive Provider before becoming eligible to participate in CTA? Is there a minimum time requirement for CTA participation? [Added 13 February 2018]

There is no minimum period that a person needs to be registered with a jobactive Provider before they are eligible for CTA. The Tailored Career Assistance Element will be delivered over a minimum of six weeks. The Functional Digital Literacy Element will be delivered over a minimum of two weeks.

2.18 The Adelaide South Employment Region includes Kangaroo Island, but it does not appear on the map in the Request for Proposal. Can the Department advise if it is included in the Trial? [Added 13 February 2018]

While job seekers living on Kangaroo Island are eligible to participate in CTA, the Department does not expect the successful CTA Providers to deliver services on Kangaroo Island during the Trial.

Reference: RFP Appendix E—Maps and Job Seeker Data

2.19 Will CTA Providers be required to promote CTA? [Added 13 February 2018]

CTA Providers are encouraged to promote the services to both job seekers and local jobactive Providers.


2.20 Does the assessment and Referral of Participants take into account persons seeking to create their own jobs as casual workers or those wishing to establish a small business of their own? [Added 13 February 2018]

If the Participant has been Referred to the Tailored Career Assistance Element, the Facilitator will complete a Career Pathway Assessment for the Participant which must:

document the Participant’s life stage and employment and other goals identify the Participant’s training needs, recent experience and expectations identify the Participant’s main barriers to securing employment, and outline how the Tailored Career Assistance Element will be delivered in a way that addresses the

Participant’s individual needs.It is expected that these requirements would encompass any type of employment goals or appropriate opportunities.

Reference: Draft Deed Clause 3.2 (a) & (b)

2.21 Following Referral from a jobactive Provider, is there a set period of time before the CTA Provider has to meet with or commence the job seeker in CTA? [Added 13 February 2018]

The CTA Provider has 5 business days to conduct the Initial Meeting after accepting a Referral from a jobactive Provider.


3.Delivery of CTA3.1 What qualifications, qualities or experience is required of the person who facilitates CTA?

[Added 22 January 2018]

The person engaged by the CTA Provider to deliver some or all components of the CTA will be expected to be a person who has experience in the career/professional development/coaching sector and who has experience working with mature age people.

Respondents will be required to describe the qualifications and experience of key personnel that are relevant to the delivery of CTA. This should include the names and qualifications of all key personnel proposed to undertake the role of a Facilitator, and evidence that these qualifications are recognised in the career/professional development/coaching sector.

References: RFP Section 2.2—Key Features of CTA, and Section 3.2—Responding to Selection Criteria

3.2 What is a ‘warm-handover’? [Added 22 January 2018]

A warm-handover is a discussion between the CTA Facilitator, Participant and jobactive Provider. Where the Participant has completed the Tailored Career Assistance Element, the warm handover meeting must include the provision of a copy of the Participant’s Career Pathway Plan from the CTA Facilitator to the Participant’s jobactive Provider and a discussion of the Participant’s next steps to be taken in actioning their Career Pathway Plan. The warm-handover must be conducted within five business days of the Participant having completed CTA.

Reference: RFP Section 2.4.2—Attendance and Completion

3.3 Will CTA Providers be required to use the Department’s IT Systems? [Added 22 January 2018]

CTA Providers will not access the Department’s IT Systems except to view operational documents such as Guidelines. CTA Providers will have access to a separate Provider Portal.

CTA Providers will receive Referrals from jobactive Providers manually. Invoicing arrangements between the CTA Provider and jobactive Provider will also be processed manually.

Update: The sentence referencing the Provider Portal has been added. Updated 2 February 2018

3.4 Will ESS web be used to manage referrals to CTA? [Added 2 February 2018]

There is no intention to use ESS web to manage referrals to CTA for the CTA Trial.

3.5 Is the ongoing support (within three months following the end of the Tailored Career Assistance Element) included in the 75 hours, or in addition to? [Added 2 February 2018]

The ongoing support is in addition to the minimum delivery requirements set out for Tailored Career Assistance and/or Functional Digital Literacy.

Reference: RFP Section 2.3.3—Specific Requirements—Tailored Career Assistance Element


3.6 In relation to delineation requirements between CTA and other employment services, does this still apply if an organisation is an RTO, ParentsNext or EST Provider? [Added 2 February 2018]

If the Respondent is not an employment services provider but provides other services, they will still need to ensure that CTA's own unique sense of identity is clearly distinguishable from other services being delivered, and is in an environment suitable for the mature age cohort. Should the Respondent be delivering employment services to government or services connected to other employment services, the Respondent must clearly demonstrate how the CTA services they will deliver will be different and distinguishable from the services they currently provide, and how it will ensure a clear physical delineation between the CTA services and the employment service(s), as per the requirements specified in Section 2.5—Coverage of the RFP.


3.7 Will any alternate delivery models be considered by the Department? [Added 2 February 2018]

Only responses that address the Selection Criteria will be assessed. Alternate models will not be considered.

Reference: RFP Section 2.3.2—Program Content and Delivery Requirements

3.8 Can the Department provide guidance on the meaning of a ‘small group setting’? [Added 13 February 2018]

A group must consist of more than one Participant. There is no maximum number of job seekers, however the Facilitator-to-Participant ratio cannot exceed more than 15:1.

Reference: RFP Section 2.3.2.2—Delivery

3.9 Can the Department provide guidelines on the delineation requirements for the delivery of CTA? [Added 13 February 2018]

As per Section 2.5—Coverage of the Request for Proposal, CTA services should not be co-located with employment services (such as jobactive or other government employment services) unless there is a clear physical delineation between the CTA program and the employment service. Where a Respondent proposes to co-locate CTA with employment services, it is up to the Respondent to demonstrate, to the Department’s satisfaction, how those services will be physically delineated.


3.10 Does the Desktop Publishing component simply refer to the use of basic Microsoft products such as Word, Excel and Outlook? Or is something more specific required? [Added 13 February 2018]

There is no specific requirement for Desktop Publishing, but the use of basic and common desktop programs would be expected.

Reference: RFP Section 2.3.4—Specific Requirements—Functional Digital Literacy Element

3.11 As CTA is a rolling, flexible model, will CTA Providers be required to add Participants part way through an already commenced CTA program? [Added 13 February 2018]

Participants must have their initial meeting with a CTA Provider within 5 days of referral to CTA. The CTA program has a minimum hour requirement that needs to be completed within the relevant maximum timeframe (depending on the element being completed). It is up to Respondents to interpret this in regards to an appropriate delivery model.


3.12 Can the Department provide a breakdown of the minimum number of hours a Participant must complete in each of the Tailored Career Assistance and Functional Digital Literacy Elements, of the following activities: one-on-one/individual training; self-directed learning; and inbound/outbound employer experiences? [Added 13 February 2018]

Tailored Career Assistance Element—The minimum service requirements will include 50 hours face-to-face over six weeks with at least 30 of those hours in a small group setting. This supports tailoring services to individual needs, providing both individual and small group peer support learning.

Functional Digital Literacy Element—The service requirements for the Functional Digital Literacy Element include a minimum of 25 hours over a minimum period of two weeks. This provides a level of flexibility for the CTA Provider whereby this element can be run concurrently or separately along with the Tailored Career Assistance Element over a combined eight-week period. The Functional Digital Literacy Element must primarily be delivered in a group based setting and include one-on-one sessions between the Participant and the Facilitator.

There is no specific or minimum requirement for the number of hours per activity within each Element.

References: RFP Section 2.2—Key Features of CTA, and Draft Deed Schedule 2, 8.1 (a) & (b), 9.2 (d) & (e)

3.13 Is the follow-up support conducted by the jobactive Provider? [Added 13 February 2018]

No. The CTA Facilitator, not the jobactive Provider, will be required to meet with each Participant at least twice within three months following the end of the Tailored Career Assistance Element. This ongoing support could be one-on-one or in a group setting.

Reference: RFP Section 2.3.3—Specific Requirements—Tailored Career Assistance Element

3.14 Is there a set curriculum for the optional ICT training? [Added 13 February 2018]

No, there is no set curriculum for the Functional Digital Literacy Element but at a minimum, it must include the following core components:

getting online and using general search tools, including via social media websites applying for jobs online, including how to use the jobactive website and add attachments and

complete forms on that website responding to online employment advertisements through employment-oriented and social

networking platforms navigating smartphones and tablets basic desktop computer publishing setting up (if required) and using an email account to apply for jobs setting up and using a MyGov account and jobactive apps, and editing and uploading a résumé and a response to selection criteria through online platforms.

Reference: Draft Deed Schedule 2, 9.3

3.15 Has it been decided what outcomes should be considered when evaluating CTA? [Added 13 February 2018]

The Evaluation Strategy has not been finalised. The Department is seeking input from Respondents on this through responses to the selection criteria.

Reference: RFP Section 3.2—Responding to Selection Criteria


3.16 Outreach was mentioned as a service delivery method for CTA. How far away is CTA expected to be delivered from the town of Ballarat? [Added 13 February 2018]

The reference to Ballarat in the context of the CTA Trial relates to the Ballarat Employment Region. CTA Providers will need to deliver services across the whole region. Maps outlining the five CTA Trial Regions are available at Appendix E—Maps and Job Seeker Data of the Request for Proposal.

References: RFP Section 3.1.2—CTA Trial Region Coverage, and Appendix E—Maps and Job Seeker Data


4.CTA Fees4.1 What are the payment fees for providers delivering CTA? [Added 22 January 2018]

CTA Providers will be paid the following standard fee per job seeker for each CTA Element they are Referred to, with a 25 per cent regional loading fee (Regional Loading) per CTA Element when delivered in a regional CTA Trial Region:

Tailored Career Assistance—$1200 GST Inclusive ($1500 GST Inclusive with Regional Loading), and Functional Digital Literacy—$600 GST Inclusive ($750 GST Inclusive with Regional Loading).

The CTA Trial Regions that will attract a Regional Loading are Ballarat, VIC and Central West, NSW.

Reference: RFP Section 2.6.2—Fees for CTA

4.2 How will CTA Providers be paid? [Added 22 January 2018]

Payments for CTA will be made by the jobactive Provider who Referred the Participant. CTA Providers will need to invoice the jobactive Provider for each Participant that the jobactive Provider Refers to CTA following the completion of the Initial Meeting.

Payments will be made by the jobactive Provider, on receipt of a correctly rendered invoice from the CTA Provider. jobactive Providers can claim reimbursement from the Employment Fund once payment has been made to the CTA Provider.

Reference: RFP Section 2.6.1—Payments to be made by jobactive Providers using the Employment Fund

4.3 Will a CTA Provider get a guaranteed minimum level of business? [Added 22 January 2018]

The Department will not guarantee a specified or minimum level of business to any CTA Provider.

References: RFP Section 2.5—Coverage, and Section 3.1—Panel Composition

4.4 Will jobactive Providers be provided with additional or separate funding specifically for CTA, or will CTA be funded from existing jobactive funding? [Added 2 February 2018]

CTA will be funded through the existing Employment Fund. There will be no additional funding provided to jobactive Providers for CTA.


4.5 Is there additional funding available under the Tailored Career Assistance Element to upskill job seekers and provide them with industry specific training, e.g. training for Aged Care workers? [Added 13 February 2018]

No additional funding is available for industry training through CTA. Suggestions of identified training needs may be included in the job seeker's Career Pathway Plan, when Participants complete the Tailored Career Assistance Element. This can then be considered by the Participant's jobactive Provider for funding through the Employment Fund, however this funding will not be guaranteed.


4.6 Is the full CTA payment made upfront, noting that CTA Providers are required to invoice jobactive Providers? What happens if a CTA Participant withdraws prior to completion of the CTA program? [Added 13 February 2018]

A CTA Provider can invoice a jobactive Provider for the full CTA fee following confirmation that the initial CTA meeting has occurred. There will be no recovery of that fee if the job seeker does not complete the program, however it is expected that CTA Providers will remain actively engaged with Participants, and will seek to re-engage Participants who do not attend appointments.

4.7 How long will it take for a CTA provider to receive payment? [Added 13 February 2018]

Payment for CTA will be made by the jobactive Provider to the CTA Provider following the completion of the Initial Meeting. The CTA Provider will need to invoice the jobactive Provider for each Participant that the jobactive Provider Refers to CTA following the completion of the Initial Meeting.

Reference: Draft Deed Clause 3.2 (d) (iii) (B)

4.8 In regards to the payment system for CTA, do jobactive Providers receive funds upfront from the Department, or do they seek funding from the Department? [Added 13 February 2018]

A reimbursement model is used, whereby a jobactive Provider is required to pay for CTA services prior to seeking reimbursement from the Department's Employment Fund.



5.Eligibility to Apply5.1 Who is eligible to submit a response to deliver CTA? [Added 22 January 2018]

To be eligible to apply to be appointed to the CTA Panel in a CTA Trial Region, Respondents must have a current and valid Australian Business Number (ABN). Where a response is being submitted by a group of organisations (see Question 5.2), each member of the group must be a legal entity and must each have a current and valid ABN.

State, territory and local government entities may respond to the RFP provided all the requirements to submit a response and enter into a Deed with the Department are met; however, Australian Government departments, agencies, employees or agents are not eligible to respond.

Foreign companies can only apply if they are registered under part 5B.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Any size organisation can apply to deliver this program, providing they meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the RFP.

Reference: RFP Chapter 4—Eligibility to Apply

5.2 Can a group of organisations submit a response to deliver CTA? [Added 22 January 2018]

Yes. Respondents can submit a response as part of a Consortium, Joint Venture, Partnership or some other form of alliance, subject to each member of the group being a legal entity and each member having a current and valid ABN.

If the Respondent is applying as part of a group arrangement, the response must specify the business structure and arrangements proposed to deliver CTA. The response must also identify a lead organisation that is authorised to act on behalf of, and contractually bind the group.

The group’s response must include the written agreement of each group member for the lead organisation to act on their behalf.

Reference: RFP Section 4.2—Group Respondents

5.3 Can jobactive Providers apply to deliver CTA services? [Added 2 February 2018]

Yes, jobactive Providers are able to apply to deliver CTA services.

5.4 Does a Respondent need to be a jobactive Provider to be eligible to deliver CTA? [Added 13 February 2018]

No. While CTA Providers will need to work with jobactive Providers to facilitate referrals, it is not a requirement for Respondents to be a jobactive Provider.


6.Quality and Performance6.1 How will the performance of CTA Providers be assessed? [Added 22 January 2018]

The performance of a CTA Provider will be regularly assessed by the Department and may be used to determine sanctions, including termination of the Deed if required.

As part of monitoring the quality and performance of the CTA Provider, the Department will also undertake various program assurance activities.

The Department may gather information on a CTA Provider’s performance from a variety of sources, including through client satisfaction surveys and post program monitoring surveys.‐To support the delivery of high quality CTA services to Participants, there will be CTA quality and performance management arrangements which will set out the expectations, roles and accountabilities of each party including key performance indicators (KPIs) and mandatory service requirements. These will be set out in the Draft Deed and in program Guidelines.

References: RFP Section 2.7.1—Quality and Performance, and Section 2.7.2—Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

6.2 What is a Service Delivery Plan? [Added 22 January 2018]

A Service Delivery Plan outlines how the Respondent will provide CTA and captures the service delivery commitments and undertakings Respondents make. A draft Service Delivery Plan forms part of the response to the RFP.

References: RFP Section 2.7.4—Service Delivery Plan, and Appendix B—Developing Service Delivery Plans


7.General Questions7.1 Where can I find answers about the RFP or more information? [Added 22 January 2018]

The RFP provides details about the CTA purchasing process.

Frequently Asked Questions will be published on the Employment Services Purchasing Information website (www.jobs.gov.au/purchasing) and will be updated regularly. Potential Respondents should regularly monitor this website.

If a Respondent has further unanswered questions, contact the Employment Services Purchasing Hotline ([email protected]). Note that the Hotline cannot interpret or advise on how to respond to the RFP, or provide information that is not contained in the RFP or is otherwise not publicly available.

All questions or requests for information regarding the RFP must be submitted to the Hotline before 5.00 pm (Canberra time) on 12 February 2018. There will be no obligation on the Department to answer questions received after this time.

References: RFP Contact Details (Page iii), and Appendix D—Communication Protocol

7.2 Where can I view responses to questions from other Respondents? [Added 22 January 2018]

Responses to questions or requests for information will be added to the Frequently Asked Questions document, which is published on the Employment Services Purchasing Information website (www.jobs.gov.au/purchasing).

Questions and responses that are published will not identify who asked the question. Questions may be modified to address this requirement. Questions may also be modified to assist with readability and context.

If the Respondent considers that a question or request for information contains confidential or commercially sensitive information or personal information, please identify this clearly so the Department can ensure the information is appropriately protected before a response is published.

References: RFP Contact Details (Page iii), and Appendix D—Communication Protocol

7.3 Will there be information sessions or webinars? [Added 22 January 2018]

The Department intends to hold information sessions about the RFP in the CTA Trial Regions between 30 January and 7 February 2018. For those unable to attend the sessions, online information webinars will be held on 30 and 31 January 2018. Details of the information sessions or webinars are available on the Employment Services Purchasing Information website (www.jobs.gov.au/purchasing) or by contacting the Employment Services Purchasing Hotline ([email protected]).

Registration is required to participate in a session or webinar and can be completed using the online booking form available at the Department’s webinar registration webpage (ivvy.com.au/event/CTARFP).

Reference: RFP Section 1.3—Information Sessions and Webinars

7.4 Will the information session and webinar content be published? [Added 22 January 2018]

The Department intends to make a copy of the presentation used in the information sessions and webinars available on the Employment Services Purchasing Information website (www.jobs.gov.au/purchasing) after the last webinar session is conducted.

Reference: RFP Section 1.3—Information Sessions and Webinars



https://www.ivvy.com.au/event/CTARFP




mailto:[email protected]?subject=Time%20to%20Work%20Employment%20Service:%20Question



7.5 Will the questions raised in the information sessions and webinars be answered? [Added 22 January 2018]

Yes. It is intended that answers will be added to the Frequently Asked Questions document and published on the Employment Services Purchasing Information website (www.jobs.gov.au/purchasing).

7.6 I am a current Department of Jobs and Small Business provider and plan to respond to the RFP, can I still talk to my Account Manager? [Added 22 January 2018]

Yes, providers can continue to contact Departmental officers for business-as-usual matters.

During the RFP process, the Department will continue to interact with relevant stakeholders as a part of its ongoing business (on a business-as-usual basis), including continuing any regular discussions with a range of interest groups and industry representative bodies.

During business-as-usual interactions, the Department will not discuss the RFP or answer any questions about CTA. Questions about these must be directed to the Employment Services Purchasing Hotline ([email protected]).

All contact from interested parties regarding the RFP will be fully documented.

Reference: RFP Appendix D—Communication Protocol

7.7 How do I make a complaint about the purchasing process? [Added 22 January 2018]

The Department has a complaints handling process in place for purchasing under the RFP. This process requires, as is appropriate, involvement of senior management and officials independent of the process.

Consistent with these requirements, persons with any concern about the probity or integrity of the response process can raise these with the current internal legal adviser, Luke de Jong ([email protected]). Where appropriate, Mr de Jong may refer enquiries to the external Probity Adviser.

Any questions about the process or services covered by the RFP process should, in the first instance, be lodged through the Employment Services Purchasing Hotline ([email protected]).

Reference: RFP Appendix D—Communication Protocol

7.8 Is there further information available on when the Pathway to Work pilot will commence, as it is relevant to CTA? [Added 13 February 2018]

Pathway to Work is a small scale initiative designed to trial a variety of activities aimed at stimulating demand for mature age workers. Workshops will be run in up to 10 regions across Australia over three years to inform the design of local activities. Planning is underway for the first of these workshops in March 2018—in the Perth and Adelaide CTA Trial Regions.

The Department will work with interested employers and peak bodies in Perth and Adelaide with the aim of commencing a pilot pre-employment project in each Region from August to September 2018. The learnings from these two Regions will inform future activities in other regions across Australia.






8.Responding8.1 When are responses to the CTA RFP due? [Added 22 January 2018]

Responses are due by 12.00 noon (Canberra time) 19 February 2018.

The Department will not accept a late response, unless the response is late due solely to mishandling by the Department.

Reference: RFP Section 7.1.2—Response Lodgement

8.2 Where can I find the RFP documentation? [Added 22 January 2018]

Respondents wishing to respond to the RFP must register with 360Pro (www.tinyurl.com/360Pro-employment) to access the RFP documentation. Registration is free of charge.

The RFP will also be advertised on AusTender (www.tenders.gov.au).

References: RFP Section 1.2—Scope, and Section 7.2—360Pro

8.3 How will I be notified of any changes to the RFP? [Added 22 January 2018]

If necessary, Addenda will be issued on AusTender (www.tenders.gov.au) and 360Pro (www.tinyurl.com/360Pro-employment). Organisations can register with AusTender and 360Pro free of charge. Organisations registered with AusTender and 360Pro will receive email notifications if Addenda are issued.

Reference: RFP Section 1.2—Scope

8.4 How do I submit a response? [Added 22 January 2018]

Responses must be lodged electronically through 360Pro (www.tinyurl.com/360Pro-employment).

A response cannot be submitted by any other means (including by hand, courier, post, facsimile, email or via AusTender).

The 360Pro Tender Response Portal will not accept responses after the closing date and time (see Question 8.1). Respondents are strongly encouraged to submit their response well before the closing date and time, to allow enough time to resolve any issue that may arise.

Reference: RFP Section 7.1.2—Response Lodgement

8.5 How do I know my response has been submitted successfully? [Added 22 January 2018]

When a response has been successfully submitted, an official receipt is automatically emailed to the registered 360Pro user. Respondents should save and print this receipt as proof of lodgement. Failure to receive a receipt means lodgement of the response may not have completed correctly.

Respondents should contact the Employment Services Purchasing Hotline ([email protected]) as a matter of priority if they do not receive an official receipt and believe they have successfully submitted their response.

Reference: RFP Section 7.2.1—Proof of Lodgement of Response



http://www.tinyurl.com/360Pro-employment


http://www.tenders.gov.au/

http://www.tenders.gov.au/


8.6 Can I change my response once it has been submitted? [Added 22 January 2018]

Prior to the closing date and time, Respondents can re-open their submitted response to make changes. Note that after re-opening a response, Respondents must re-submit the amended response if they wish it to be assessed.

Only responses with a status of ‘submitted’ in 360Pro after the closing date and time will be considered by the Department.

Respondents can withdraw from the process by re-opening their response and not resubmitting it.

Reference: RFP Section 7.2.2—Changing or Withdrawing Responses

8.7 What is 360Pro? [Added 22 January 2018]

360Pro (www.tinyurl.com/360Pro-employment) is the tool the Department uses to collect responses to Request for Tenders, Request for Proposals and Grant Funding applications. It contains all documents Respondents need, including forms requiring completion and is also where the responses are submitted.

A potential Respondent is encouraged to read the 360Pro Reference Guide available from the ‘Job Info’ tab in 360Pro. It can also be found under ‘Resources’ on the Employment Services Purchasing Information website (www.jobs.gov.au/purchasing).

Reference: RFP Appendix F—360Pro Frequently Asked Questions

8.8 Can attachments be included with the response? [Added 22 January 2018]

The Department will not accept any attachments submitted with the response with the exception of those documents specifically requested by the Department in the RFP.

Reference: RFP Section 7.1.3—Attachments

8.9 Is there a specific format or example to authorise a Lead Group Respondent? [Added 22 January 2018]

There is no pre-set format or examples for this document. If lodging a response as a Group Respondent, each member of the Group must be a legal entity and the Group must appoint a lead member to lodge the response on behalf of all members of the Group, and must complete and submit a Group Respondents Form in 360Pro.

Reference: RFP Section 4.2—Group Respondents

8.10 If my organisation is part of a Group response, can we also submit a stand-alone response for the same Trial Region? [Added 22 January 2018]

No. A Respondent must not compete against itself by submitting multiple or alternative responses for the same Trial Region.

This requirement does not apply to Subcontractors. A Subcontractor may be nominated as part of a response by one or more Respondents for the same Trial Region. A nominated Subcontractor may also response in its own right for that Trial Region.

Reference: RFP Section 4.7—Competing Entities





8.11 How do I respond to the Selection Criteria? [Added 22 January 2018]

Respondents are required to respond to the selection criteria and provide all other information required by the RFP, by completing the forms provided in the response pack available through 360Pro.

Potential Respondents are advised that the forms available for CTA are identified atAppendix G—Respondent Checklist of the RFP document.

Appendix G—Respondent Checklist also identifies which forms are mandatory and those that are required if they are applicable, e.g. if the Respondent is proposing Subcontractors, the Subcontractors Form and Subcontractors Credentials Information Form must be completed for each Subcontractor.

Respondents must include a response to each selection criterion listed in the RFP and in the supplied file format.

Respondents should address each of the sub-criteria as required under each selection criterion. Failure to address each of the sub-criteria may have a negative impact on the assessment of a response in relation to that selection criterion.

References: RFP Section 3.2—Responding to Selection Criteria, and Appendix G—Respondent Checklist

8.12 Are spaces included in the character limit for the selection criteria? [Added 22 January 2018]

The selection criteria character limit includes spaces and formatting. The Department reserves the right to not consider any text in a response that is in excess of the character limits.


8.13 Are written referee endorsements required? [Added 22 January 2018]

Each Respondent should provide up to two referee endorsements details to verify claims in its response to the selection criteria.

Referee endorsements must be completed using the Referee Endorsement Form available from 360Pro. The form must be sent by the Respondent to each referee providing a referee endorsement. Referees must complete the form and return a signed copy to the Respondent for uploading to 360Pro with the response as a scanned document.

Reference: RFP Section 3.3—Referees

8.14 In Selection Criterion 1 the Department asks for "evidence that those qualifications are recognised in the career/professional development/coaching sector". Could the Department clarify what constitutes 'evidence'? [Added 2 February 2018]

The Department will not prescribe the specific evidence required. Respondents should provide sufficient information/detail in their response to demonstrate/support their claims against this criterion.


8.15 Is there a specific Evaluation Strategy already planned by the Department? Can it be shared with Respondents to assist with responding to Selection Criterion 2, sub-criterion 6? [Added 13 February 2018]

The Evaluation Strategy has not been finalised. The Department is seeking input from Respondents on this through responses to the selection criteria.



8.16 In regards to Selection Criterion 1, sub-criterion 5, is there further guidance or detail about what is expected by the Department in response to this? [Added 13 February 2018]

The Commonwealth Procurement Rules require the Department to consider the economic benefit of the procurement to the Australian economy as part of its value for money assessment. Further information about this requirement is available in the Department of Finance guidance Consideration of broader economic benefits in procurement (https://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/guidance-new-rules-10-30-and-10-31-16.pdf). It is up to Respondents to decide how much detail they include in their response.

References: RFP Section 3.2—Responding to Selection Criteria, and Section 5.1—Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

8.17 Some organisations hire facilitators using a Tax File Number (TFN) rather than an Australian Business Number (ABN). In what circumstances should organisations submit subcontractor information and forms when applying to deliver CTA? [Added 13 February 2018]

Respondents are required under Section 4.4—Subcontracting Arrangements of the Request for Proposal to indicate if they intend to subcontract any or all of the CTA Services. Respondents that propose to subcontract any or all of the CTA Services must complete and lodge the Subcontractors and Subcontractors Credentials Forms detailing the proposed subcontracting arrangements.

It is a Respondent’s responsibility to identify the legal nature of the arrangement between the Respondent and its proposed facilitator(s). If a Respondent proposes to subcontract CTA Services to another legal entity (which includes a natural person), then details of that arrangement must be included in the Subcontractors Form. Respondents should seek their own independent legal advice if required, to identify the legal nature of the proposed arrangement.

Reference: RFP Section 4.4—Subcontracting Arrangements

8.18 If specific names and subcontracting arrangements are unknown, e.g. if a Respondent will need to undergo a process to identify and engage subcontractors, can subcontractor information be provided to the Department after the Request for Proposal closing date and time? [Added 13 February 2018]

As per Section 4.4—Subcontracting Arrangements of the Request for Proposal, Respondents must indicate in their response if they intend to subcontract all or part of the delivery of CTA, and must complete and submit the Subcontractors and Subcontractor Credentials Information Forms. If the names of proposed, identified subcontractors are not included, this may be taken into account in evaluation of the response. If a Respondent has not named any subcontractors and wishes to add names of subcontractors after submission of its response, it must seek the written agreement of the Department before doing so. A failure to submit Subcontractors and Subcontractor Credentials Information Forms or to seek prior written approval from the Department to a change to subcontractors may result in the Department, in its absolute discretion, deciding to exclude the response from evaluation.

Clause 29—Subcontracting of the CTA Draft Deed provides, among other things, that a CTA Provider must not enter into a subcontract without the Department’s prior written approval.

References: RFP Section 4.4—Subcontracting Arrangements, and Draft Deed Clause 29


https://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/guidance-new-rules-10-30-and-10-31-16.pdf

https://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/guidance-new-rules-10-30-and-10-31-16.pdf

8.19 Is it necessary to include site address details in Selection Criterion 2, noting it will be included in the Coverage and Site Information Form? [Added 13 February 2018]

Section 3.2—Responding to Selection Criteria of the Request for Proposal requires Respondents to address each of the sub-criteria. It also states that a failure to do so may have a negative impact on the assessment of a Respondent’s response in relation to the selection criterion. As the location(s) and physical address(es) is an element of the first sub-criterion in Selection Criterion 2, Respondents should address this in their response to Selection Criterion 2. However, in view of the character limit of 20,000 characters on a response to Selection Criterion 2, the Department will accept a Respondent cross-referring to the details in the Respondent’s Coverage and Site Information Form in its response to this first sub-criterion in Selection Criterion 2.

Respondents should, however, be aware that if they take this approach, they should:

expressly cross-refer to the Coverage and Site Information Form in their Selection Criterion 2 response. A failure to do so will be taken to be a non-response to that element of Selection Criterion 2 and may have a negative impact on the assessment of the Respondent’s response to Selection Criterion 2, and

also address the other element of the first sub-criterion in Selection Criterion 2 (i.e. where and how the service will be delivered).


8.20 I am encountering problems with adding more than six sites to the Coverage and Site Information Form for a Trial Region. Can the Department please advise how to add more than six sites? [Added 13 February 2018]

There is no limit to the number of proposed sites for each Trial Region. There is a limitation in the Site and Coverage Information Form—please list your additional sites on a second Site and Coverage Information Form and use a file naming convention that states it is a continuation of the first form. Please ensure a separate Site and Coverage Information Form is submitted for each Trial Region that an organisation is bidding for.


9.Evaluation Process9.1 How will the Department evaluate the responses? [Added 22 January 2018]

The evaluation of responses to the RFP will be conducted by Departmental staff with the appropriate expertise, training and knowledge.

Reference: RFP Section 5.3—Evaluation Process

9.2 What is the Department’s evaluation process? [Added 22 January 2018]

Each response will be downloaded from 360Pro after the closing date and time. The Department will check responses to ensure that:

the response includes all information required, as listed at Appendix G—Respondent Checklist of the RFP, and

the response has been submitted using the correct forms, in the correct format and containing completed information, including responses to the selection criteria.

All responses that meet these checks will then be assessed against the eligibility requirements outlined in Chapter 4—Eligibility to Apply of the RFP. Failure to meet the eligibility requirements may result in exclusion from further consideration in the evaluation process.

All eligible responses will then be assessed against the selection criteria. The Department will also undertake a financial viability assessment.

References: RFP Chapter 4—Eligibility to Apply, Section 5.3—Evaluation Process, and Appendix G—Respondent Checklist

9.3 Selection Criterion 1 will be assessed as Pass or Fail. If a response fails this criterion, will it be excluded? [Added 22 January 2018]

If a Selection Criterion 1 response is assessed as a fail, it may not proceed any further in the assessment process.


9.4 How is value for money assessed? [Added 22 January 2018]

A committee of senior Departmental managers will oversee the evaluation process and make recommendations to the Delegate based on a value for money assessment.

In addition to the broader principles underpinning Australian Government procurement, the committee will consider a range of factors when determining value for money, including but not limited to:

the assessment of responses to the Selection Criteria diversity in CTA Providers to encourage competition and innovation in the delivery of the CTA

service the broadest possible coverage of each of the five CTA Trial Regions to maximise access for

Participants and Employers considering the benefit of this procurement to the Australian economy considering the risk to the Australian Government, and obtaining the highest possible quality in service delivery.

References: RFP Section 5.1—Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, and Section 5.3—Evaluation Process


9.5 Who makes the final decision? [Added 22 January 2018]

The Deputy Secretary—Employment for the Department, or their delegate, will make the final decisions. Respondents will then be advised by email of the outcome of their response. The decision of the Delegate is final.

Reference: RFP Section 5.3—Evaluation Process

9.6 What if I do not agree with the decision? [Added 22 January 2018]

The decision of the Delegate is final. A Respondent can provide feedback on the process via the Employment Services Purchasing Hotline ([email protected]).

The Department has a complaints handling process in place for purchasing under the RFP. This is outlined in Appendix D—Communications Protocol of the RFP.

References: RFP Section 5.3—Evaluation Process, and Appendix D—Communications Protocol

9.7 What happens if the Department needs additional information to assess a response? [Added 22 January 2018]

The Department may, at any stage of the evaluation process, contact Respondents (including members of a Group Respondent who are not the lead member) or their nominated Subcontractors, to clarify aspects of their response, or seek additional information. This contact will be on a confidential and without prejudice basis and does not mean the Department will be offering a Deed to the Respondent.

Reference: RFP Section 5.3.1—Contacting Respondents

9.8 Can I get more information about my response? [Added 22 January 2018]

All Respondents will, on request, receive a verbal debriefing following the announcement of the procurement process outcomes. The request for a debriefing must be made within one month of the final announcement of the procurement process, via email to the Employment Services Purchasing Hotline ([email protected]).

Reference: RFP Section 5.5—Debriefing




10. Timing10.1 What is the indicative timeline for the CTA Request for Proposal? [Added 22 January 2018]

Date Key Event

22 January 2018 Release of the Request for Proposal (RFP). The Draft Career Transition Assistance Trial Panel Deed 2018–2020 (Draft Deed) will be released as soon as possible after this date.

30 and 31 January 2018 Webinar information sessions conducted

30 January 2018 to 7 February 2018

Face-to-face information sessions conducted in each CTA Trial Region

5.00 pm (Canberra time)12 February 2018

Last day for requests for further information regarding the RFP. There will be no obligation on the Department of Jobs and Small Business to answer questions received after this date.

12.00 noon (Canberra time)19 February 2018

Closing date and time for the submission of responses to the RFP for Career Transition Assistance (CTA) Trial 2018–2020

late April 2018 Notification to Respondents and Announcement of outcomes

Dispatch of Deed offers

mid May 2018 Execution of Deed

2 July 2018 Successful Respondents commence delivery of CTA

26 June 2020 End date of Deed unless (optional) extension is applied


10.2 When will the CTA Draft Deed be made available? [Added 22 January 2018]

It is expected that the Draft Deed will be published on the Employment Services Purchasing Information website (www.jobs.gov.au/purchasing) on or about 22 January 2018.


10.3 When will successful CTA Providers be notified? [Added 22 January 2018]

It is anticipated that notification to Respondents and Announcement of outcomes will be made on 27 April 2018.





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