Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract for a capacity assessment, technical assistance, and accelerator program for organizations focused on creating green jobs or training for green jobs with Blue Sky Incubators LLC d/b/a Blue Sky Partners, for up to two years for a total contract amount not to exceed $120,000.
[Note: This procurement was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9C (Minority Owned and Women Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this procurement, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established].
Body
Lead Department
Financial Services Department.
Client Department(s)
Management Services - Innovation Office.
Fiscal Note
Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Operating Budget of the Innovation Office.
Purchasing Language:
Professional Service.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department - Central Procurement at: FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov <mailto:FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov> or 512-974-2500.
Additional Backup Information:
The contract will provide program services for the Innovation Office to create a program comprised of a capacity needs assessment, targeted technical assistance, and an accelerator, all aimed at building the capacity of Austin’s organizations to create green jobs and/or training for green jobs. Based on industry definitions, green jobs are jobs that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources, reducing the environmental impact of enterprises and economic sectors.
This program will target organizations that provide green jobs and/or training for green jobs; owned by and/or focused on serving residents who are low income, underemployed, and who have historically had limited access to green careers. The program elements will help ensure these organizations are able to build capacity strategically, and successfully create new jobs and training programs. It will strengthen the ecosystem of partners that are able to help achieve the City’s climate, equity, sustainability, and workforce goals, including the Climate Equity Plan's overarching strategy "Green Jobs and Entrepreneurship: Create green jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities that expand economic opportunity and inclusion, and build agency and decision-making power in low-income communities and communities of color." The program will also build collaborations and inform programming for the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps and Resilience Plan framework. Furthermore, increasing capacity and partnerships for green jobs will help the City pursue opportunities related to the federal Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which will collectively invest over $1 trillion in communities over the next decade to expand renewable energy infrastructure and related workforce development programs.
The contractor was selected to provide these program services because they are the only incubator/accelerator/capacity-building provider in Austin which has established programming for developing social impact organizations that focus on climate change, sustainability, and a green workforce, and uses a business model that does not require a membership from or direct investments in the organizations it serves.
This is a new contract. Estimates were based on previous capacity building programs with similar elements that were focused on homelessness and green jobs.
If this contract is not secured, the Innovation Office, along with the collaborating departments and offices, would have to significantly reduce the size, scope, and potential impact of the program, or abandon it completely.
Contract Detail:
Contract Length Contract
Term of Term Authorization
Initial Term 1 yr. $ 120,000
Optional Extension 1 1 yr. $ -
TOTAL 2 yrs. $ 120,000
Note: Contract Authorization amounts are based on the City’s estimated annual usage.