MADISON - Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman announced today the agencies that have been selected by DWD to administer Wisconsin Works (W-2) and related Programs from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2005 as a result of a competitive bidding process.
A total of 38 of the current 69 W-2 geographic regions were open for competition. The administration of the W-2 contracts was up for competitive bid in each of the 38 regions because the current agency did not earn Right of First Selection (first right to the contract if the agency's 2003-2003 performance met the department's standards).
"We encouraged W-2 consortia this year and are pleased with the response. We appreciate that the areas have met the challenges of this tough fiscal time by working collaboratively to reduce administrative costs," said Secretary Gassman.
Consortia allow W-2 participants to easily transfer between regions. In areas where a consortium is established, an agency will not have to go through all the steps of a formal transfer. This ability will ensure uninterrupted services for the participants. In the past, especially in Milwaukee, a move across the street could result in disruption of services because the participants might have moved into a new region, activating the transfer process.
"I have every confidence that the agencies selected will meet the expectations the department has for the administration of the W-2 program," said Secretary Gassman. "In the case of Milwaukee County, the department's highest priority is to become more participant-friendly and we are taking a step in that direction by ensuring that transfers between regions are not needed when the services are being delivered by the same provider," Gassman added. "This process is all about finding agencies that can provide quality customer service, and it only makes good common sense to encourage partnerships across boundaries whenever possible."
OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Center) was given a letter of intent to contract for Regions 1,3 and 4. All are located in the central and north central portion of Milwaukee County. OIC is currently, either through direct contract or with subcontracts, involved in multiple Milwaukee W-2 regions. This will be the largest consortium in the state.
UMOS (United Migrant Opportunity Services) was given a letter of intent to contract for their original Region 2 on the south east side of Milwaukee County. UMOS has operated Region 2 since the beginning of W-2.
Maximus was given a letter of intent to contract for Regions 5 and 6 on the western side of Milwaukee County. Maximus has operated Region 6 since the beginning of W-2.
See attachments 1 and 2
Attachment 1
Agencies selected through the competitive process:
Kenosha County for Kenosha County
Racine County for Racine County
Maximus for Milwaukee County Regions 5 and 6
Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) for Milwaukee County Regions 1, 3 and 4
United Migrant Opportunity Services, Inc. (UMOS) Milwaukee County Region 2
Washington-Ozaukee-Waukesha Workforce Development Board for Ozaukee and Washington counties
Calumet County for Calumet County
Forward Service Corporation for Marinette, Menominee, Adams, Lincoln, Portage and Wood Counties
Sheboygan County for Manitowoc and Sheboygan Counties
Marathon County Employment and Training for Marathon County
Ashland County for Ashland
Iron County for Iron County
Taylor County for Taylor County
Sawyer County for Sawyer and Washburn Counties
Workforce Connections, Inc. for Pierce, St. Croix, Buffalo and Trempeleau Counties
Dunn County for Dunn County
Chippewa County for Chippewa County
Clark County for Clark County
Polk County for Polk County
Dane County for Dane, Dodge, Marquette and Sauk Counties
Rock County for Rock County
- end attachment 1 -
Attachment 2
31 W-2 Agencies with Right of First Selection:
Barron County Department of Health and Human Services
Bayfield County Department of Human Services
Brown County Human Services Department
Burnett County Department of Health and Human Services
Workforce Connections, Inc. for Columbia County
Crawford County Human Services Department
Door County Department of Social Services
Douglas County Department of Human Services
Eau Claire County Department of Human Services
Forward Service Corporation for Florence County
Fond du Lac County Department of Social Services
Forward Service Corporation-Northern Consortium for Forest, Oneida, Vilas and Langlade Counties
Grant County Department of Social Services on behalf of the W-2 Southwest Consortium for Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties
Green Lake County Department of Health and Human Services
Workforce Connections, Inc., Consortium on behalf of Jackson, Juneau and Monroe Counties
Jefferson County Human Services Department
Forward Service Corporation for Kewaunee County
La Crosse County Human Services Department
Oconto County Department of Human Services
Outagamie County Department of Health & Human Services
Pepin County Department of Human Services
Price County Human Services Department
Rusk County Department of Health & Human Services
Shawano County Job Center, Inc. for Shawano County
Vernon County Department of Human Services
Kaiser Group, Inc. for Walworth County
ACS for Waukesha County
Waupaca County Department of Health and Human Services
Forward Service Corporation for Waushara County
Winnebago County Department of Human Service
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