Addendum #1

1. Q: The RFP specifies that the award will go to “one qualified school district, nonprofit, or organization.” Can you confirm whether for-profit entities (such as Levi Group LLC) are eligible to apply as the lead applicant, provided all WIOA requirements are met?

• A: Yes, or organization would qualify a for profit entity.

2. Q: If for-profits are eligible, are there any additional compliance, reporting, or cost-allocation rules specific to them?

• A: The RFP does not specify specific requirements for for-profits. Please review the general terms and conditions section.

3. Q: The RFP notes funding “up to $100,000.” Will indirect costs (administrative/overhead) be reimbursable under this contract, or should all budgeted amounts be direct program costs?

• A: The RFP Reads under the Proposal Price Sheet the proposer will consider all cost (labor, overhead, administration, travel, etc) associated with providing the services listed in this RFP.

4. Q: Is there a required budget format (beyond the included price sheet and Attachment B), or may applicants submit a standard WIOA-aligned line-item budget and narrative?

• A: The RFP does not state a required budget format

5. Q: Are there restrictions on subcontracting portions of the budget (e.g., to community-based organizations managing Parent Mentor cohorts)?

• A: The RFP does not state any restrictions as it pertains to subcontracting

6. Q: Must applicants demonstrate existing Parent Mentor programming in Lake County, or can proposals focus on expanding and introducing the model into new districts where it does not yet exist?

• A: The RFP Reads: A successful proposal will retain, expand, and form new partnerships with school districts within Lake County- especially those not currently engaged in a Parent Mentor program.

7. Q: The Scope mentions “a minimum of two schools.” Is there a preference for geographic distribution (urban vs. rural districts, north vs. south Lake County) or priority districts already identified by LCWDB?

• A: The RFP does not specify geographic preference or priority districts.

8. Q: How much flexibility will the awardee have in tailoring the Parent Mentor curriculum and training model, versus using a standardized template (e.g., ICIRR/PEI model referenced)?

• A: The RFP does not state the flexibility or instruct how the parent mentor or training model is established.

9. Q: The RFP requires monthly reporting on benchmarks such as number of schools, mentors, and students served. Can you clarify whether Lake County will provide reporting templates, or must the proposer design its own system aligned with the listed KPIs?

• A: Lake County and the proposer will align the metrics and benchmarks stated within the RFP with a reporting template that is feasible by both parties that align with the RFPs intent

10. Q: Are there specific student outcome measures (grades, attendance, behavior) that Lake County expects to be tracked, or is it sufficient for proposers to propose measurable indicators aligned with their program design?

• A: The RFPs Attachment C- Parent mentor Program Outcomes identifies the specific outcome measures.

11. Q: Will Lake County require third-party evaluation, or is self-reported performance (with documentation) acceptable?

• A: The RFP does not state a required third-party evaluation

12. Q: The initial contract period runs 18 months (Jan 2026 – June 2027) with up to three 1-year renewals. Will renewal decisions be based solely on performance, or are there funding availability considerations we should anticipate?

• A: The RFP Reads: Contingent upon acceptable performance by the Proposer and the appropriation of sufficient funds.

13. Q: Will future renewals allow for budget increases, or will they remain capped at $100,000 annually?

• A: The RFPs current terms are up to $100,000. The RFP does not specific possible renewal increases. Please read through the General Terms and Conditions sections, specifically the Negotiations and Exemptions.

14. Q: Are proposers required to have a current DUNS number, SAM.gov registration, or Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) at the time of submission, or can these be completed post-award?

• A: Please review the Proposal Response Cover Sheet template and the Vendor Certification forms within the RFP that ask for DUNS number, and EIN number.

15. Q: Will Lake County provide any training or onboarding on WIOA-specific compliance (e.g., eligibility documentation, cost principles), or is the contractor expected to have all WIOA compliance systems in place at program launch?

• A: The RFP does not state that Lake County will provide training or onboarding of WIOA specific compliance. Lake County will meet with the awardee once finalized to discuss implementation plans.

16. Q: The RFP mentions collaboration with nonprofits, school districts, and community organizations. Does Lake County anticipate facilitating introductions to potential school district partners, or should proposers secure partnerships independently prior to award?

• A: The RFP Reads: A successful proposal will retain, expand, and form new partnerships with school districts within Lake County- especially those not currently engaged in a Parent Mentor program. The proposer will address the RFP requirements and scope of work.

17. Q: Are letters of commitment from school districts required at the time of submission, or can they be established during early implementation?

• A: The RFP ask for References. Please refer to this template as it pertains to references.

18. Q: Can the lead applicant (e.g., Levi Group LLC) subcontract specialized components of the project: such as curriculum design, family engagement, or evaluation—to local nonprofit partners, while retaining responsibility for overall program oversight and compliance?

• A: The RFP does not state restrictive subcontracting language.

19. Q: If subcontracting is permissible, are there percentage limits of the budget that can be allocated to subrecipients versus retained by the prime contractor?

• A: The RFP does not state percentage limits of the budget as it pertains to subcontractors.

Addendum #2

Append the following to "Detailed Submittal Requirements" section:

• Attachment A: Cover Sheet
• Attachment B: Staff Wages & Hours Summary
• Attachment C: Parent Mentor Program Outcomes 

Addendum #3

1. The RFP frequently references the Parent Mentor model pioneered by the Parent Engagement Institute (PEI) and supported by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR). Is the awarded entity expected to replicate this specific model, or are you open to proposals that incorporate other evidence-based Parent Mentor frameworks in addition to these?

• The RFP references and information is for information purposes only. The RFP does not state there is an expectation of the vendor to replicate specific models.

2. A key goal is to form "new partnerships with school districts within Lake County—especially those not currently engaged in a Parent Mentor program." Can the County provide a list of which school districts are already engaged in such programs versus those that are not?

• The RFP does not provide a listing of current school districts that are engaged with such programs.

3. Regarding the requirement to engage "20 or more parent mentors," does the County have a specific definition for what it means to "engage" a mentor? For instance, is it based on completion of training, a minimum number of classroom hours served, or another metric?

• The RFP does not specify a specific definition.

4. The Scope of Work requires "designing scalable systems to support and grow the Parent Mentor model" and establishing a "sustainable model.” What are the County's expectations for sustainability beyond the 18-month contract period? Is the expectation that the awardee will secure additional funding to continue the program?

• The RFP states under Contract Term: The County reserves the right to renew the contract for up to three additional 1 year terms, contingent upon acceptable performance by the proposer and the appropriation of sufficient funds.

5. Are there any caps or limitations on indirect administrative costs? As the RFP references compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR part 200), will the County accept the 10% de minimis indirect cost rate for organizations that do not have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA)?

• The RFP references compliance with Uniform Guidance (2CFR part 200). If the 10% de minimis rate complies with the Uniform Guidance it can be considered.

6. The RFP mentions that one entity will be awarded "up to and not to exceed $100,000." Does the County have a preference for proposals that utilize the full amount, or is there a competitive advantage to proposing a lower total cost?

• The RFP does not state a preference or a competitive advantage as it pertains to the proposer utilizing up to $100,000

7. The evaluation criteria list several performance metrics in "Attachment C," such as the number of schools engaged, mentors participating, and students affected. Are any of these metrics considered a higher priority than others in the evaluation process?

• The RFP does not identify or differentiate metric priorities.

8. For tracking "Student Success Outcomes" such as improved grades and attendance, what level of access to protected student data will the awarded organization have from partner school districts? Are there existing data-sharing agreements the County can leverage?

• The RFP does not provide guidance on how the vendor will have access to student information. The RFP does not state the County will provide existing data sharing agreements.

9. Will the Lake County Workforce Development Board assist in facilitating introductions to key personnel at target school districts, or is the awarded entity solely responsible for building these relationships from the ground up?

• Within the RFPs scope of work and intent, the vendor will address and fulfill the intent and scop of work elements.

10. Is there an incumbent for the work in Lake County? If so, will the incumbent for this work also be considered for the ongoing work?

• The RFP is an open bid process made available to all vendors. The RFP does not cover this inquiry, nor does the RFP provide additional guidance to this inquiry.

11. If there is an incumbent and they are not awarded, will the incumbent be available to transition contact information for parent mentors and critical process information to ensure seamless operations?

• The RFP does not cover this inquiry, nor does the RFP provide additional guidance to this inquiry.

12. Would Lake County facilitate communication with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and/or the Parent Engagement Institute (PEI) and other similar organizations to secure guidance around best practices , given their previous successful implementation outcomes?

• The RFP does not state it will facilitate communication with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.