Overview

Overview

In June 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1507 into law, establishing the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act. This innovative, system-wide approach to workforce development and education in Florida will create opportunities for meaningful employment and economic freedom for Floridians. FloridaCommerce is coordinating on this important initiative with the REACH Office, the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Florida Department of Education, Florida Digital Service, and CareerSource Florida.

The strategic alignment and coordination of education and workforce initiatives will include an online opportunity portal, allowing access to available state, federal, and local services and tools. This will provide Floridians with broader access to education and training options, labor market information, career planning tools, workforce training, and education support. Additionally, the REACH Act strengthens oversight, accountability, and transparency measures for the network of agencies, partners, and systems.

The Workforce System Integration effort is currently under way at FloridaCommerce with the completion of a Feasibility Study. The study provides alternatives and recommendations to best establish a consumer-first workforce system and improve coordination among workforce partners, as envisioned by the REACH Act. Additionally, the study provides a roadmap for program establishment, technical integration, and enhanced business process integration. These initiatives will take place over three to five years and set a foundation for enhanced coordination and service delivery for Floridians.

Roadmap

Roadmap

FloridaCommerce was provided a recommended Workforce Integration Roadmap through a Feasibility Study in December 2021.

Updates

Updates

The following are updates and milestones related to Workforce System Integration:

November 2023

• FL WINS Customer Portal Project Invitation to Negotiate (ITN), 24-ITN-001-TD, is posted on MyFlorida MarketPlace.

September 2023

• FL WINS Common Customer Portal Request for Information is posted on MyFlorida MarketPlace.

August 2023

• Procurement webinar held Friday, August 25, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
  • Webinar Recording 
  • Presentation Slide Deck

July 2023

• The second Executive Steering Committee was held on July 26, 2023.
  • Agenda
  • Presentation
  • Member Bios 
  • December Meeting Minutes
  • Monthly Reports 
  • Florida Channel Broadcast

June 2023

• The Business Support and Technical Advisory contract was terminated for convenience.

January 2023

• The Business Process Reengineering and Transformational Change Management contract was signed, and the contractor was onboarded and began services.

December 2022

• This inaugural Executive Steering Committee was held on December 19, 2022.
  • Agenda
  • Presentation
  • Program Management Plan - Section 1-5
  • Florida Channel Broadcast

August 2022

• The Business support and Technical Advisory contract was signed, and the contractor was onboarded and began providing services.

July 2022

• The Independent Verification and Validation contract was signed, and the contractor was onboarded and began providing services.

December 2021

• The Feasibility Study was delivered and published. This report provides the recommendations and roadmap for the Workforce Integration efforts.

July 2021

• The REACH Act became effective on July 1, 2021, thereby creating several strategic opportunities to enhance and expand services provided through Florida’s workforce development system by promoting, encouraging, and taking bold steps towards unification of partner programs and agency coordination. The REACH Act also strengthens oversight, accountability, and transparency measures for the network of agencies, partners, and systems. Additionally, the REACH Act contains operational and administrative requirements for related party contracts.

June 2021

• Governor DeSantis signed and enacted House Bill 1507, establishing the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act and creating a path to assess, facilitate, and develop an innovative, system-wide approach to workforce development and education in Florida. The REACH Act will create opportunities for meaningful employment and economic freedom for all Floridians by promoting and encouraging unification of partner programs and agency coordination. The strategic alignment of education and workforce initiatives will also include an online opportunity portal, allowing access to available state, federal, and local services and tools. This will provide broader access to education and training options, labor market information, career planning tools, workforce training, and education support. The REACH Act will be implemented by the REACH Office, the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Florida Department of Education, CareerSource Florida, and DEO.

Sign up for Workforce System Integration Updates

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the Workforce System Integration Initiative?

• Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1507 into law in June 2021, establishing the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act. This groundbreaking legislation established the goal of creating an innovative consumer-first workforce system to provide the training and resources job seekers need to obtain a career of their choice – this provides meaningful employment, economic freedom, and stability for Floridians. The REACH Act is designed to create a more efficient pipeline of talent from the classroom to the workplace, which benefits Florida’s employers and businesses. FloridaCommerce is coordinating with the Florida REACH Office (Executive Office of the Governor), the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), the Florida Department of Education (DOE), and CareerSource Florida (CSF) on this important initiative.

What are the objectives of the REACH Act and Workforce System Integration?

• The REACH Act will strategically align education and workforce initiatives across Florida agencies. This includes the development and implementation of an online opportunity portal, allowing Floridians to access available state, federal, and local services and tools, regardless which “door” in the workforce development system they enter. This centralized opportunity portal and “no wrong door” approach will provide Floridians with broader access to education and training options, labor market information, career planning tools, workforce training, and education support. The portal’s resources will provide an opportunity for Floridians to better plan their future, set career goals, and identify a path to accomplish those goals. Additionally, the REACH Act strengthens oversight, accountability, and transparency measures for the network of agencies, partners, and systems involved in this important initiative.

What funding has FloridaCommerce received for Workforce System Integration?

• Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1507 into law in June 2021, establishing the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act. This legislation includes cross-agency collaboration and the creation of a consumer-first workforce system to provide the training and resources Floridians need. FloridaCommerce was appropriated $100 million in General Revenue Funds from FY 2021-2022 State Fiscal Recovery Funds for the Workforce System Integration initiative. Additionally, the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 General Appropriations Act provides revert and reappropriate language for the budget authority remaining from FY 2021-2022 (section 195) and provides an additional $150 million for the FL WINS initiative (section 197).Of the $250 million in total funding, $10 million is held in reserve.

How will FloridaCommerce's efforts be monitored and assessed?

• In accordance with section 287.056, Florida Statutes, and 60GG-2 Florida Administrative Code, Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) is required for all State of Florida projects that have total project costs of $10 million or more. FloridaCommerce will procure services of a third-party vendor to provide independent, third-party IV&V services. FloridaCommerce’s Office of Economic Accountability and Transparency will also monitor development of the initiative.

What projects are included in the Workforce System Integration initiative?

• The roadmap for Workforce System Integration includes a series of projects. These include:

  Business Support and Technical Advisory Services

  • Development of the technical requirements necessary to procure the data hub and customer portal
  • Development of project management and governance standards for shared technology operations

Business Redesign and Organizational Change Management

• Design of a new business operating model and processes
• Establishment of a communications and change management plan to assist with the understanding and adoption of the changes

Systems Integrator

• Development of the data governance and enterprise architectures required to design the future of systems integration and data sharing

Data Hub

• Development of the systems and data integration capabilities to share data between existing systems of record in an effective and efficient way leveraging modern technologies and cloud-based solutions

Customer Portal

• Enhancement of the customer experience through a single shared account, which provides a common access point to update personal information, access program information, and submit common intake applications

How will FloridaCommerce ensure the sharing of data with customers and partner agencies?

• FloridaCommerce and the partner agencies involved will develop and implement a hybrid integration approach for the Workforce System Integration initiative. This allows for the development of an integrated data hub, as well as a universal customer opportunity portal to share data and enhance the user experience. This solution enables the workforce partners to improve the functions of their existing case management systems through integrated data and provides for a seamless experience for Floridians looking to access these services through the customer portal.

Who are the Program Partners and what are their roles?

• The FL WINS Program Partners are: 
  • The Florida REACH Office within the Executive Office of the Governor – Co-Sponsor, project oversight, facilitation, and coordination of all workforce partner agencies. 
  • The Florida Department of Commerce – Workforce Partner Agency, Co-Sponsor, primary budget authority. 
  • The Florida Department of Education – Workforce Partner Agency 
  • The Florida Department of Children and Families – Workforce Partner Agency 
  • CareerSource Florida – Workforce Partner Agency 
  • Florida Digital Service – Large IT Project Management Oversight, pursuant to Chapter 60 GG, F.A.C. 

What are the benefits to citizens and partners?

• The FL WINS Program will implement a "no wrong door strategy" and the three building blocks (Customer Portal, Common Intake Form, Data Hub) into an online app that benefits citizens by streamlining the process for accessing workforce services.
  
  • Customer Portal –Enhances the customer experience through a single shared account which provides a common access point to update personal information, access program information, and submit common intake applications. 
  • Common Intake Form – Provides intake capabilities for applicable programs across the Workforce Partners. 
  • Data Hub – Enables the sharing the data between existing agency systems of record to enhance user experience. Orchestrates the data flow among systems and enables robust data analytics. 

What is the Workforce System Integration timeline?

• The Workforce System Integration includes an initial five-year roadmap. For details regarding this timeline, please view the Roadmap.

How will FloridaCommerce advertise its procurement solicitations?

• FloridaCommerce’s procurement strategy for the FL WINS initiative is to use a best-of-breed model. FloridaCommerce has chosen to procure products and services by using MyFloridaMarketPlace Sourcing by advertising eQuotes in accordance with section 287.056, F.S. FloridaCommerce may also use the federal eBuy system using the General Services Administration (GSA) 70 Multiple Award Schedule (MAS). Interested contractors must be registered in MyFloridaMarketPlace in order to conduct business with the State of Florida.
  
  FloridaCommerce may solicit quotes for the Workforce System Integration initiative from contractors included on State Term Contract and/or Alternate Contract Source lists. Contractors are notified of these procurements by email based on the commodity codes they selected upon registration in MFMP as well as the commodity codes they have selected specific to each contract.

Can anyone receive notification each time FloridaCommerce solicits quotes for the Workforce System Integration?

• Quote notifications are emailed to specific registered contractors who are listed on each respective State Term Contract or Alternate Contract Source and are not available for the public to view. Non-registered contractors can view solicitations only if they are a listed contractor or if a recipient of the solicitation forwards the notification. In accordance with chapter 287, F.S., the details of the solicitation (including scope of work, questions and answers, etc.) will not be posted to the public until after the contract is awarded. These resources will be listed on the Procurements tab as contracts are awarded.

How can I get updates on vendor opportunities related to Workforce System Integration?

• FloridaCommerce will provide updates on projects related to the Workforce System Integration initiative through MyFloridaMarketPlace. MyFloridaMarketPlace automatically notifies contractors of procurements by email based on the commodity codes they selected upon registration in MyFloridaMarketPlace, as well as the commodity codes they have selected specific to each contract. Additionally, FloridaCommerce hosted a webinar on May 23, 2022, to discuss the Workforce System Integration initiative. Those interested in additional updates regarding the Workforce System Integration initiative may sign-up to receive Workforce System Integration Updates.

How can I learn more about FloridaCommerce's procurement strategy?

• FloridaCommerce’s Workforce System Integration initiative is an ongoing process that involves the preparation of specifications for upcoming contracts. To protect the competitive nature of these procurements, FloridaCommerce will not have any discussions related to the scope, evaluation, or negotiation of any previous, current, or future procurements with vendors or their representatives, other than FloridaCommerce’s IV&V vendor, who is precluded from bidding on future FL WINS Workforce System Integration contracts.
  
  FloridaCommerce hosted a webinar on May 23, 2022, to discuss the FL WINS Workforce System Integration Initiative.

Does FloridaCommerce ’s procurements require contractors to provide financial statements?

• FloridaCommerce may request corporate information from contractors to better understand the organization that has submitted a reply to a procurement. Financial information, such as copies of financial statements, statements about bankruptcy filings, and Security Exchange Commission investigations may be requested. If requested, please note that FloridaCommerce EO prefers, but does not require, financial statements be audited by a Certified Public Accountant.

What types of procurement vehicles will FloridaCommerce use for Workforce System Integration?

• The appropriate procurement vehicle will be identified to meet the needs of each project in the FL WINS program.
  
  FloridaCommerce will issue a series of Requests for Quote for the initial procurements to enable the implementation of the Workforce System Integration initiative. These Requests for Quote may be advertised through the Florida Department of Management Services’ State Term Contract list or an Alternate Contract Source list. FloridaCommerce EO may also opt to use the federal eBuy system using the GSA Schedule 70 (MAS).

How will FloridaCommerce avoid conflicts of interest throughout the procurement process?

• Per Section 287.057, F.S., FloridaCommerce will avoid, neutralize, or mitigate significant potential organizational conflicts of interest before a contract is awarded. FloridaCommerce will not proceed with a contract award if a conflict of interest is based upon the vendor gaining an unfair competitive advantage, including gaining access to information that is not available to the public and would assist the vendor in obtaining the contract, or obtaining source selection information that is relevant to the contract but is not available to all vendors that would assist the vendor in obtaining the contract.
  
  Additionally, a person who receives a contract that has not been procured pursuant to subsections (1)–(3) of section 287.057, F.S., to perform a feasibility study of the potential implementation of a subsequent contract, who participates in the drafting of a solicitation, or who develops a program for future implementation, is not eligible to contract with FloridaCommerce EO for any other contracts dealing with that specific subject matter, and any firm in which such person has any interest is not eligible to receive such contract.

Resources

Resources

• 2023 Annual Report
• Program Charter
• Schedule IV-B  (updated 9/18/23)
• Workforce System Integration Feasibility Study

Procurements

Procurements

• Section 287.056, Florida Statutes

• Section 287.057, Florida Statutes

• DMS Vendor Resources

• MyFloridaMarketPlace

• FAC 60GG-1: DMS Project Management and Oversight

• Invitation to Negotiate (ITN), 24-ITN-001-TD, FL WINS Customer Portal Project 

  • Posting Period: 9:00 a.m. November 15, 2023 to 9:00 a.m. February 1, 2023

FL WINS Workforce System Integration Projects

FL WINS Common Customer Portal
Information Request

Business Process Reengineering and Transformational Change Management
Executed Contract

Independent Verification and Validation
Executed Contract

Business Support and Technical Advisory Services
Contract terminated for convenience.

Future procurements will be identified through the development of a program management plan in collaboration with the Business Support and Technical Advisory vendor. Updates will be provided on the FloridaJobs.org/FLWINS webpage.