Agency Employ & Econ Development Dept

Contractor St. Cloud State University

SWIFT Contract Number 189372

Project Name Work-Based Learning Licensure Endorsement

Project Number (if applicable) {Empty}

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: DEED-Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) funded training for licensed special educators to obtain their work-based learning licensure endorsement. This was necessary because VRS' federal law, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), requires VRS to spend 15% of our federal funds on Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS). If we aren't able to spend all of that funding on direct services to students with disabilities, then we must spend those funds on "Authorized Services" which include capacity building activities to improve the system that provides transition services to students with disabilities. By funding for more special educators to obtain the work-based learning licensure endorsement, there will be more staff in the schools to support work-based learning experiences for students with disabilities. Paid work experience is one of the top indicators for successful employment outcomes for youth with disabilities.

Project Duration

Start Date Sat, 07/31/2021 - 00:00

Original end date Fri, 09/30/2022 - 00:00

Actual end date Sat, 12/31/2022 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $97700

Amendments $0

Contract total $97700

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? Federal VR Funds

Is this a sole source contract? No

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) {Empty}

Evaluator Name Alyssa Klein

Evaluator Email Address alyssa.klein@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness St. Cloud State University (SCSU) provided the training exactly as planned and 275 special educators were able to be trained within the timeframe of the contract.

Evaluate the contractor's quality Special educators were surveyed on their experience and they report satisfaction with the training.

Evaluate the contractor's cost The cost matched what any student who attends the work-based learning program at SCSU would pay.

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance Kurt Helgeson was the instructor for all 3 courses for this program. He wanted to help as many educators as possible and thus allowed for extra classes to be offered and allowed as many students into the program as we were able to fund. He worked tirelessly to get the students what they needed. 187 completed/passed the 3 courses and are eligible for the licensure endorsement. This is a huge impact on our state system for serving students with disabilities. Furthermore the billing department was so amazing. They sent invoices with the associated reporting detail just as we needed them done. When there were any discrepancies that needed to be resolved they did so accurately and timely. This was a very successful program!

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): We did get some feedback about ways the coursework could be presented better. We held a meeting with Kurt to give this feedback and he made course improvements. He was very receptive to this feedback.

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 5 - very satisfied