Section 503 Community of Practice September 10 2014 Federal Contractor 503 Obligations Affirmative Action requirements apply to all Federal contractors and subcontractors with 10000 or more in awards ID: 667199
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Slide1
Locating and Engaging Federal Contractors/Subcontractors
Section 503 Community of Practice
September 10, 2014 Slide2
Federal Contractor 503 Obligations
Affirmative Action requirements apply to all Federal contractors and subcontractors with $10,000 or more in awards
Federal contractors/subcontractors with $50,000 or more in Federal contract awards, and 50 or more employees, must prepare and maintain Affirmative Action Programs (AAP)
Federal contractors are required to undertake “
appropriate outreach and positive recruitment activities
….reasonably designed to effectively recruit qualified individuals with disabilities.” Examples of such
outreach and recruitment activities
include, but are not limited to, enlisting the assistance and support of such groups as:
American Job Centers
State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies
Employment Networks
http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/section503/503_summary_qa_508c.pdfSlide3
Objectives
Introduce three websites where organizations awarded funding by the Federal government are catalogued for specific business or administrative purposes
Explain how these websites can be used to locate and learn about the work of Federal contractors and subcontractors
Conduct sample searches on each website
Explain that identifying Federal contractors is only the first step in helping Social Security disability beneficiaries to access employment opportunities with Federal contractors
Provide tips on what to do after identifying a few Federal contractors for targeted outreach efforts for Section 503 employment purposesSlide4
Important Reminder
Each website has a specific purpose
Although not created to locate Federal contractors for Section 503 employment purposes, each can be used for this purpose
Locating Federal contractors is just the first step in helping your Ticket customers take advantage of the changes to Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act Slide5
Federal Contractor Employment Opportunities
In August 2013, approximately 22%, or an estimated 34 million workers, were employed by over 200,000 Federal contractors and subcontractor companies
Overall, it is estimated that 2.7 percent of all private sector jobs are directly funded by Federal contracts
When the Department of Labor (DOL) published the revised 503 regulations, it estimated that Federal contractors would need to hire close to 600,000 individuals with disabilities to meet the new 7% utilization goal established in the new regulations
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics on line report at:
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, U. S. Department of Labor at:
www.dol.gov/ofccp/
Federal Register at:
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/09/24/2013-21228/affirmative-action-and-nondiscrimination-obligations-of-contractors-and-subcontractors-regardingSlide6
Using Federal Data Banks
and ResourcesSlide7
Three Federal Websites
Federal Procurement Data System -
https://www.fpds.gov/fpdsng_cms/index.php/en/
System for Awards Management -
https://www.sam.gov
USA Spending -
www.usaspending.gov/Slide8
The Federal Procurement Data System
The Federal Procurement Data System – Next Generation (FPDS-NG) - A government website that provides Federal procurement reports on contracting in all Federal agencies. Houses information on the procurement activities of more than 60 Federal departments
Includes information on Federal contracts with an estimated value is $3,000 or more
Every modification to a contract, regardless of dollar value, must be reported to FPDS-NG.
Grants and cooperative agreements are not reported to FPDS-NG
Visit:
https://www.fpds.gov/fpdsng_cms/Slide9
FPDS-NG (continued)
Probably the most highly searchable data base for basic information on all Federal contractors, current and in progress.
Can be used to identify employers that have Federal contracts – Once identified, need to visit the company’s website to find information on job openings
Review the Successful Search Techniques section prior to using the systemSlide10
Live Searches - FPDS
Search by state for rural and sparsely populated areas.
Tennessee:
SEARCH Tennessee, 2014, refine by clicking criteria in right column, use:
Action Obligation ($)
, look for awards over $50,000.
Nebraska
: Nebraska, 2014, Again, refine by clicking criteria in right column, use
Action Obligation ($)
, look for awards over $50,000.
Important:
Note location of company versus place of performance
10Slide11
FPDS – Search by Service/Product
Landscaping/Lawn Service
SEARCH: Landscaping, MD, 2014, Refine by
Action Obligation ($)
, and , look for awards of over $50,000.
Food Service
SEARCH: Food Service, CA, 2014, Refine by
Action Obligation ($)
, look for awards over $50,000.
Search by Military Installation
SEARCH: Fort Meade, MDSlide12
System for Award Management (SAM)
A database that combines two prior management information systems into one system
The Federal procurement system, and
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Federal contractors must register when “doing business” with the government
12Slide13
SAM and Employment Networks (ENs)
Registration on SAM is Quick and easy
Requirement of the EN Request for Quotation
Critically important to keep information up-to-date, particularly banking information which is used to make payments to the EN under the Ticket programSlide14
Using SAM to Locate Federal Contractors
Service providers can use SAM to perform simple searches to identify organizations receiving Federal funding and/or to determine if a particular company of interest receives Federal funding
Additional research on each company’s website will likely be neededSlide15
Conducting SAM Searches
To conduct a search on the SAM website
Go to
https://www.sam.gov
and click on “Search Records”
Click on “Advanced Search - Entity” and make sure “Active Registrations” is checked
Click on “Entity Type” if you want to narrow your search to a particular type of business
Click on “Location” to identify organizations in a specific city, state, Congressional district or zip code
Click on “Socio-Economic Status” if you want to limit your search to Minority owned businesses, Veteran owned businesses, and/or Woman owned businesses
Note: Results can be saved in a PDF file, exported to an Excel file or printedSlide16
Live Search on SAM.gov
Search Criteria
Entity Type: Hospitals, Manufacturer of Goods, For Profit Entity
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Click on Search
To learn more about a specific organization listed in your search results:
Click on View Details
Click on Reps & Certs and then on FAR 52.222 (Affirmative Action Compliance)
Click on Service Contract Report
Click on Core Data for location information and look for URL, or do a web search for the organization
Click on POC for information on key points of contact Slide17
Live Search on SAM.gov
Search Criteria
Entity Type: Education Institution
Location: Colorado
Click on Search
To learn more about a particular organization listed in your search results:
Click on View Details
Click on Reps & Certs and then on FAR 52.222 (Affirmative Action Compliance)
Click on Service Contract Report
Click on Core Data for location information and look for URL, or do a web search for the organization
Click on POC for information on key pointsSlide18
USASpending.gov
Promoted as a source for identifying “government spending at your fingertips”
Repository for data on different types of contracts, grants, loans and other spending mechanisms used across all Federal agencies
Includes information on both prime contractors and subcontractors
Highlights trends associated with spending in each state
18Slide19
Using USA Spending to Locate Federal Contractors
USASpending.gov includes information on the following contractors:
New contracts over $20 million
New contracts with a prime contract value greater than $550,000
New contracts with prime contract value of $25,000 or more
Subcontractors of Federal contracts where the subcontracts are valued at $25,000 or more
19Slide20
USA Spending Search Options
The USA Spending website offers two advanced search options
General Search
Prime Award Advanced Search
Sub-Award Advanced Search
Information on subcontractors to prime contractorsSlide21
USA Spending (continued)
Search options include, but are not limited to
Location (state),
Spending Type (ENs will want to check contracts)
Recipient (if looking for information on a specific company)
Department or Agency providing the funding (uses codes)
Fiscal Year
Place of Performance (zip code/state/Congressional district/county)
Recipient Location (city/zip code/state/Congressional district/county)Slide22
USA Spending (continued)
Search results include information on, among other things:
The recipient, contractor, and/or grantee name
The Federal agency or department funding the contract, and
The product or service associated with the contract
A brief description of the purpose of the contract
The date the contract was signed
The obligation amountSlide23
Conducting Searches on USA Spending
Visit:
http://www.usaspending.gov/
Start with Map for Place of Performance State Then Refine Search Using Right Column --
Contracts
Fiscal Year
Product/Service
P
lace of Performance
Sample
Search: Arizona
Refine by: C
ontracts, FY2014, Product/ServiceSlide24
Next StepsSlide25
Conduct Research on Identified Contractors
Review the Federal Contractors’ website
Look for general business information
Select a few Federal contractors for more extensive research
Research their websites and create files with notes on key contact, types of jobs offered and associated qualifications, application process, etc.Slide26
Create Your Marketing Pitch/Strategy
Develop an introductory email, letters, flyer or brochure
Create a 3 - 5 minute introduction that include
A description of your organization, the services your EN provides, and the value of those services
A explanation of who you serve
Information on specific resources and/or services available through your EN, e.g., expertise on job accommodations, benefits counseling, etc.
Review the new OSM resource: “Tips for Discussing Section 503 with Federal Contractors”
Visit
https://yourtickettowork.com
and click on “Section 503” in the left navigation
Look for the “Tips” under “Finding Federal Contractors” Slide27
Initiating Contact with Selected
Federal Contractors
Contact the Affirmative Action Officer or Human Resources Director/Manager for the employers identified for your targeted marketing
Briefly explain who you are and request a date and time for a meeting (in person or by phone)
Offer to send marketing materials prior to the meeting
27Slide28
Prepare for the Meeting
Review the contractor’s file before the meeting
Prepare a list of questions (e.g., special requirements – skills testing, medical exams, security clearance, skills testing, drug testing, etc.
Be prepared to discuss Section 503 and how your organization can assist this particular Federal contractor to meet its 503 obligations. Slide29
During the Meeting
Briefly explain what you do and
the population your EN serves
Describe the mutual benefit of a partnership
Social Security disability beneficiaries represent an untapped pool of qualified job-seekers
EN prescreens job-seekers to refer those most qualified
EN stays involved to ensure long-term employment success (ongoing support services)
Offer suggestions on how the Federal contractor can work with your EN to meet its Section 503 Affirmative Action obligationsSlide30
Possible Topics for Partnering Strategies
ENs active in Section 503 recruitment activities have identified the following ideas for partnering with Federal contractors
Establish an agreed upon process for sending/receiving information on job openings
Agree on a process for referring candidates who may or may not choose to disclose a disability prior to hire
Determine if and how you will post job opportunities or share information on job opportunities with your Ticket customers
Plan methods for recruiting beneficiaries to fill open positions when no one on your caseload is qualified for a position
30Slide31
Ideas for Placement Success
Methods used to
match Federal Contractors’ open positions with qualified
Social Security beneficiaries
Website opportunities, e.g., announcements about the availability of certain types of job openings, interest forms to screen job-seekers
Marketing efforts, e.g., mailings,
r
obo-calls, community bulletin boards, geographically targeted mailings using the Beneficiary Referral CD
Resources for information sharing, e.g., the National Employment Network Association (NENA), blogs, groups, emails, websites
Consider developing tools, best practices, processes and partnerships that allow your EN to coordinate its efforts with other service providers (State VR agencies, American Job Centers, other ENs
Expand the pool of qualified Ticket Holder job applicants
Share job leads
31Slide32
Other Ideas ENs Use to Support
Their 503 Efforts
Include the organization’s name, primary contact’s name, title, address, phone number and email address on all marketing materials
Develop targeted marketing materials, e.g., targeted flyers or brochures developed specifically for Section 503 recruitment
Include marketing information for employers on your organization’s website
Consider providing an employer interest form on your website
32Slide33
Before Referring an Applicant
Prepare Ticket Holders for Section 503 participation
Identify key areas of interest and skill sets
Provide information about Section 503 and standard Section 503 forms employers use
Share the importance of work-related soft skills
Prepare for interviews - Discuss voluntary self-disclosure vs. nondisclosure
Check out the April 2
nd
and July 9
th
Section 503 CoP forums that dealt with self-disclosure (Go to the “Information Center” on
www.yourtickettowork.com
and look for “Events Archive”)
33Slide34
Tracking Referrals and Applicants
Create a standard process for making and tracking referrals and applicants
Maintain an ongoing list to reflect
Each beneficiary and the applications that person submitted
The date and outcome of each application submitted
Date hired, if applicable
If not hired, feedback obtained from the potential employer
34Slide35
Join Us for the October Section 503 CoP
Next month’s CoP will be an overview of key websites that have been identified as good places to search for jobs and to post resumes
Will highlight the National Labor Exchange’s website (
http://us.jobs/
) and State workforce job banks as tools for both finding Federal contractors and locating job openings
Will also highlight a few websites listed on the OSM resource, Job Banks and Job Posting Services: Resources for Service Providers and Employments (updated July 28, 2014)
Visit
www.yourtickettowork.com
, look for the Section 503 page in the “Information Center” and then click on “503 Resources”Slide36
Additional Information/Resources
For additional information on how to take advantage of the new Section 503 rules to find employment opportunities for Social Security disability beneficiaries, visit the Your Ticket to Work website:
https://yourtickettowork.com/
Click on the “Information Center” and then on “Events Archive”
Look for archives of the “503 Readiness Training” series and the “503 Community of Practice” series
36Slide37
Questions and Ideas from the Audience
37