Request For Proposals 2010-11
CALPELRALearn Trainer

Download the 2010-2011 Request For Proposals by clicking here.

Please review the Request For Proposals carefully, and forward all questions via e-mail to CALPELRA's designated contact for this Request For Proposals, CALPELRA's Managing Director Susan Cassell.

Request For Proposals 2010-11
CALPELRALearn Trainer
First Addendum

RFP Section 7 establishes a procedure for submitting questions and inquiries about the RFP. That procedure requires that all questions/inquiries be made via e-mail to Susan Cassell, and states that CALPELRA will provide a written response to questions in the form of an addendum or written response posted on this Web site.

Question 1: Is the Learn training program limited to training at a physical location, or will CALPELRA consider proposals to offer training via a Webinar or some other electronic means?

• Answer 1: CALPELRA welcomes and encourages training presented as a Webinar or offered by other electronic means. In your response to the RFP, please explain your training plan for and your experience in providing the specific form of electronic training you propose.

Question 2: Does including or not including a DVD impact the scoring of the proposal?

• Answer 2: Although you are not required to submit a DVD in response to the RFP, each proposed trainer must demonstrate presentation, speaking, and interactive training skills. Submitting a DVD is one method of demonstrating those required skills.

Question 3: How did CALPELRA select the training subjects listed in the RFP?

• Answer 3: Using an electronic survey tool, CALPELRA asked its members to identify the most desired training subjects.

Question 4: Are we limited to the specific topics listed in the RFP?

• Answer 4: No. While CALPELRA intends to provide member-identified training, CALPELRA also values its trainers' knowledge about our members' needs. CALPELRA included broad categories in the RFP with the expectation that prospective trainers would craft specific relevant training within those broad categories. For example, the category, "Litigating, mediating, arbitrating, and/or preventing employment law claims" is broad enough to permit proposed training on a wide variety of relevant and interesting topics.

Question 5: Can you please expand on the subject category, Wage and Hour Issues? We're not quite sure what this entails since FLSA is separate and negotiating is not on the list.

• Answer 5: Wage And Hour Issues encompasses FLSA, Equal Pay Act, Education Code, Labor Code, federal and state regulations, other statutes applicable to public agencies, practical payroll implementation problems, human resource best practices, and professional development for HR specialists. Within this broad range, you may propose a specific topic. For example, a trainer could propose training about wage and hour concerns for telecommuting employees.

Question 6: Can you please clarify what would be considered audiovisual materials, on-screen presentations? Does this include Power Point presentations?

• Answer 6: CALPELRA's definition of audiovisual materials includes PowerPoint and Keynote presentations, video, hard copy diagrams and charts, and interactive audience response tools.

Question 7: If we are selected as trainers, will CALPELRA require a minimum or maximum level of commitment?

• Answer 7: There is no minimum or maximum level of commitment. If your proposal is selected, CALPELRA will meet with you and discuss the locations, dates, and frequency of the training. Some training programs may be one-time events, and other training programs may be offered several different times in several different locations around California. CALPELRA hopes to develop a pool of trainers and firms to create and present training on employment law and human resource topics.

Request For Proposals 2010-11
CALPELRALearn Trainer
Second Addendum

Question 8: How many days of training do you anticipate annually?

• Answer 8: CALPELRA anticipates offering up to six Learn training sessions between January and July 2011. Depending upon the success of these initial training sessions and relevant economic conditions, CALPELRA will determine how many additional training sessions to offer in 2011 and future years.

Question 9: How many people, on average, do you anticipate attending these sessions?

• Answer 9: The number of attendees will vary greatly depending on the type of training, the selected trainers' ability to attract interest, training location, and the subject matter of the training. We anticipate between 30 and 150 people per training.

Question 10: We understand that this may be difficult to predict, but could you let us know how many on average attend the Labor Relations Academy or any other training program already in effect?

• Answer 10: To allow interactive participation, we typically limit the number of registrations for each specific Academy to 72. We don't believe that Academy attendance is directly relevant to expected attendance at Learn trainings.

Question 11: May we bid to either just present or prepare material?

• Answer 11: CALPELRA anticipates that selected trainers will both develop and present training programs.
  Although not part of this RFP, CALPELRA is interested in offering books, written materials, and electronic tools of benefit to labor relations and HR professionals for sale on our Web site. If you have prepared high quality materials and would like to sell the materials on the CALPELRA Web site, please send a separate letter describing your product and interest to CALPELRA's Managing Director Susan Cassell.

Question 12: Are you charging attendees to participate in the training and if so, what is your expected attendance fee?

• Answer 12: CALPELRA will charge program participants to participate in the Learn training programs. CALPELRA has not yet established a fee schedule for the Learn sessions. Many factors will determine the fees charged for each Learn program, including the quality, activity content, and length and intensity of the selected training program.

Question 13: To whom will this training be advertised -- CALPELRA members only? In what way will the firm's name be used in that advertising? If it is not used in this advertising, then what if any, publicity is available to those who are selected to be in the pool?

• Answer 13: Learn training programs will be advertised to public sector labor relations and HR professionals throughout California, and will not be limited to CALPELRA members.
  CALPELRA will include trainers' names and firm affiliations, if any, in print and Web-based materials advertising the selected Learn program. Trainers' background information will be included in program training materials distributed at the program, and on CALPELRA's Web site as part of the selected program's content description.

Question 14: Is it CALPELRA's intent to use material developed by one member of the pool and have other pool members present it?

• Answer 14: CALPELRA's agreement with selected trainers will include a provision that material developed by one member of the pool will not be presented by other members of the pool. CALPELRA expects that selected trainers will present their own material.

Question 15: Who will be responsible for updating the material to ensure its legal accuracy?

• Answer 15: Selected trainers will be responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the program materials for the program they develop and present. This may require the selected trainer to update the materials before each presentation.

Question 16: Will the creators of the materials name be on the materials?

• Answer 16: CALPELRA will acknowledge trainers in program materials as developers of their specific program's content. CALPELRA understands that selected trainers may have an interest in developing and presenting Learn training as an element of the selected trainer's marketing program. CALPELRA has an interest in providing its members with training presented by experts and skilled trainers. To meet both the selected trainer's and CALPELRA's interests, CALPELRA will include the trainer's resume, describe the trainer's expertise, and highlight the trainer's qualifications.

Request For Proposals 2010-11
CALPELRALearn Trainer
Third Addendum

Question 17: Of the 4 references required, 2 are to be from "any firms, organizations, public agencies, and entities that have used or are familiar with the Prospective Trainer's services in the past 5 years." This would appear to indicate that such references would not have necessarily been "clients" as Attachment B, References Worksheet solicits. Therefore, could 2 of the 4 required references be a colleague in the industry familiar with the work of the Prospective Trainer, or a collaborative partner (not a business partner or associate) from another organization who has worked with the Prospective Trainer?

• Answer 17: Yes. Two of the four required references may be a colleague in the industry familiar with the work of the Prospective Trainer, or a collaborative partner (not a business partner or associate) from another organization who has worked jointly with the Prospective Trainer.

Question 18: If so, then can 2 of the Reference Worksheets be modified so as to clearly articulate the nature of the relationship between the Prospective Trainer and the individual or firm serving as the "reference" as a colleague or collaborative partner, rather than a "client" of the Prospective Trainer?

• Answer 18: Yes. Please explain the nature of the relationship between the Prospective Trainer and each reference. For example, a reference could be a client or a co-trainer.

Question 19: The reference worksheets do not contain the opportunity for reference "persons" to submit statements with the application. Therefore, as part of the "Selection Process," will the evaluators individually contact the references?

• Answer 19: As part of the selection process, CALPELRA evaluators will contact the references.