SunnyvaleRTC

March 23, 2004

SUBJECT: Authorization for NOVA to Submit a Proposal for a Demand-Driven System Case Study Grant through the Department of Labor in the Amount of $48,500

REPORT IN BRIEF

Through our ongoing relationship with the Business Relations Group of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, and our involvement as a mentor site in the National Business Learning Partnership Program, staff has become aware of the challenge of transitioning to a demand-driven workforce development system. Although NOVA has been successful at managing this transition, we are aware that other agencies may not have the resources or expertise to do the same. We are looking to the Department of Labor to provide support for the development of three case studies that will serve as resources to help agencies improve their relevant practices. NOVA, as a mentor site under the National Business Learning Partnership Program, will be the first case study site of this project. Two additional sites, pending satisfactory completion of this first study, will be selected in consultation with the Department of Labor. As there is no specific solicitation for proposals currently available that would cover our request, this would be an unsolicited proposal.

Staff recommends that the Sunnyvale City Council, on behalf of the seven-city NOVA consortium, concur with the decision of the NOVA Workforce Board Executive Committee, acting under the authority of the full Board, and authorize NOVA’s submission of a proposal in the amount of $48,500 to create three case studies that analyze demand-driven systems.

BACKGROUND

The proposal supports three pilot case studies designed to communicate the “best practices” in transitioning to demand-driven systems. In rapidly changing economies, it is essential to ascertain on a continuous basis which services are best suited to a particular region. Staff hopes to further the goals of the National Business Learning Partnership Program (a collaborative endeavor between the Employment and Training Administration and the Business Relations Group of the U.S. Department of Labor and a number of selected workforce investment boards) by facilitating the transition to a demand-driven system, one in which services are closely matched to emerging employment trends at the regional level. NOVA is a mentor site under the National Business Learning Partnership Program, and an ally to the Business Relations Group.

This transition involves different measures of success and ways of operating for many agencies, with significant implications for program development and management, delivery of services, leadership, and relationships to the regional business community. Agencies differ in their success to date in making the transition to a demand-driven system, and the goal of the proposed evaluation project is to create several case studies that will serve as resources to help agencies improve their relevant practices. The resulting publication(s) will be disseminated by the National Business Learning Partnership as part of its effort to support the participating employment and training agencies. The NOVA Workforce Board Executive Committee approved submission of this proposal at its meeting of March 17, 2004.

EXISTING POLICY

The proposed activities are consistent with the City of Sunnyvale's Socio-Economic Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services within constraints of operative, federal regulations and available federal funding, to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs.

DISCUSSION

The evaluation will ultimately incorporate three case studies, each based on research conducted in a different employment and training agency representing distinct workforce investment areas. In order to conduct the research, NOVA will contract with Charles N. Darrah (Ph.D. Education, Stanford University). Dr. Darrah is a cultural anthropologist who has studied work, organizations, and the use of technology.

The case studies will consist of stories or narratives that address three related questions about process, system and maintenance. First, what is the process by which an agency has successfully moved to a demand-driven system, while adapting to changing conditions? Second, what is an effective demand-driven system from the perspectives of different stakeholders? Third, what must be done in order to maintain the demand-driven system, while adapting to changing conditions?

The development of the case studies will consist of the following milestones:

Develop evaluation instruments to analyze the transition to demand-driven systems;
Visit each site so that the evaluation team might familiarize itself with local operations, meet staff delivering business services, and identify potential interviewees;
Conduct interviews to document the shift to a demand-driven system;
Analyze the data collected to present a coherent story documenting the shift to a demand-driven system;
With input from NOVA and DOL, develop drafts of the individual studies to determine the most helpful presentation for use by others;
Finalize a 20- to 30-page case study for each site selected, with the NOVA case study completed by June 25, 2004 (subsequent case study due dates will be determined by DOL).

Contingent upon the experience of creating the first study, and the desire of DOL to continue, a timeline will be detailed for two additional studies.

FISCAL IMPACT

There will be no fiscal impact to the City because funds received will offset program expenditures.

PUBLIC CONTACT

1. Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City's official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City's web page and the availability of the report in the Library and City Clerk's Office.

ALTERNATIVES

1. Council approves submission of a proposal to the U. S. Department of Labor for a Demand-Driven System Case Study Grant.

2. Council rejects submission of the proposal to the U. S. Department of Labor.

3. Other action as determined by Council.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended by staff that the Sunnyvale City Council, on behalf of the NOVA seven-city consortium, concur with the decision of the NOVA Workforce Board and adopt Alternative 1: Council approves submission of a proposal to the U. S. Department of Labor for a Demand-Driven System Case Study Grant. It is further recommended that the City Manager or his designee be authorized to execute the necessary grant agreement and subcontract relative to this grant.

Prepared by:

Heidi Bonner
Employment Training Prog. Coord.
Department of Employment Development

Reviewed by:

Jeanette Langdell
Employment Training Manager
Department of Employment Development

Reviewed by:

Michael J. Curran, Director
Department of Employment Development

Approved by:

Amy Chan
City Manager