HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Manager's ApprovalCITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO:
Daniel J. Alfonso
City Manager
DATE : June 6, 2016 FILE :
SUBJECT : LaunchCode: IT Talent
Mentorship/Apprenticeship Program
and Placement Services
FROM : 1 PREFERENCE 9Ie Source# 15-16-026
Annie Perez, CPPO Po.
Director of Procurement ENCLOSURES:
Market Research was conducted by the Procurement Department to determine whether The
LaunchCode Foundation, Inc. (LaunchCode), a foreign not for Profit Corporation, registered to do
business in Florida, with headquarters located at 4811 Delmar Road, St. Louis., MO 63108, was
the sole -source provider to provide an Information Technology (IT) Talent
Mentorship/Apprenticeship Program and Placement Services for the City of Miami (the City).
The City's Information Technology Department (ITD) has a need for a company that has the
capacity to recruit, screen, train, and place apprentices within ITD through a robust apprenticeship
and mentoring program. LaunchCode, a non-profit job placement firm, has the capabilities to
provide the requested unique and specialized services. LaunchCode has a six -step process for
potential entry level jobseekers in the IT field that do not possess formal IT education. LauchCode
currently matches these entry level jobseekers with local companies through paid apprenticeships
that may lead to long-term careers.
Through the six -step process, the participant shall: 1) apply for admission into LaunchCode; 2)
Test and Interview; 3) Career Mentorship; 4) Connect with Companies; 5) Apprenticeship; and 6)
Job Placement. Following training, once a potential job is identified for the applicant, LaunchCode
and the prospective employee, in this case the City, will commence the Apprenticeship Program,
allowing the applicant to acquire on-the-job training.
No other company sourced was able to provide an in-depth mentorship program for applicants, or
an apprenticeship program, whereby applicants are able to work while learning with a potential
employee.
According to the LaunchCode website and communications with the Firm's Director of
Administration, LaunchCode has partnered with two local South Florida Institutions to focus their
services in the Greater Miami community. LaunchCode entered into an agreement with Miami
Dade College to utilize their Ideas Center for the purpose of offering a version of a popular
Harvard coding class, CS50X, which serves as low cost education and the first step towards an IT
job/career. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has made a sizeable investment of over
$1 million dollars in support of LaunchCode's reach into all communities across Miami -Dade
County.
Given that ITD is in dire need of programmers, this market research was conducted to determine
available resources for the recruitment, mentoring, apprenticeship, and subsequent placement of
potential IT employees, within the City. Research did yield a comparable contract with a public
agency in effect between the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, MO and LaunchCode for similar
services. References were also provided from Washington University and HedgeCo Vest.
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With the above in mind, issuing a competitive solicitation for this procurement wouldn't be practical
for the City. In accordance with Section 18-92 (a) (1) and (3) of the City of Miami Procurement
Ordinance, "sole -source awards may be made [.. ] Where the unique and specialized expertise of
one source of services is unlikely to be obtained from any other source."
Accordingly, pursuant to Section 18-92 (a)(3) of the Code of the City of Miami, I am recommending
that the requirements for competitive bidding be waived, and these findings be approved: The
LaunchCode Foundation, Inc., a foreign not for Profit Corporation, registered to do business in
Florida, with headquarters located at 4811 Delmar Road, St. Louis., MO 63108, is the sole -source
provider of the LaunchCode Program, providing IT Talent Mentorship/Apprenticeship Program and
Placement Services. The terms and conditions of the award have been negotiated so as to obtain
the most favorable terms and conditions, including price, as may be offered to other clients by
LaunchCode. The sole source contract will be for a term of two (2) years, with three (3), one (1)
year options to renew, at an estimated cost of $200,000 annually. The fiscal impact is estimated
at $1 million over the five (5) year period. Funds for this procurement will be allocated from the IT
Department's Fund Account Code No. 00001.251000.531000.0.0.
APPROVED BY:
APPROVED BY.
Annie Prez, CPPO Date
Director of Procurement
Daniel J. Alfonso
City Manager
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