Expanded Subsidized Employment (ESE)

The Expanded Subsidized Employment (ESE) program, managed by the County of Sacramento's Department of Human Assistance (DHA), seeks to assist CalWORKs Welfare-To-Work (WTW) participants in securing and maintaining full-time employment. Established in 2014, the program reimburses employers for wages paid to participants for up to six months and extends retention services including support such as transportation, childcare, and equipment purchases to remove employment barriers during placement and for two months afterward. The contract solicitation (DHA RFP 2027-004) invites proposals to expand this program, with a base performance period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and potential annual renewals. The geographic scope is Sacramento County, California, and proposals are to be submitted electronically by December 19, 2025. The solicitation is directed primarily at state and local government entities (SLED), though private non-profit and for-profit organizations are also encouraged to participate. Contractually, the agreement establishes the contractor as a fiscal agent responsible for coordinating employer partnerships, verifying wages, tracking participant employment outcomes, and reporting to the county. The contractor must comply with applicable federal, state, and county regulations, including financial and programmatic audit standards, confidentiality, and security protocols related to Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Invoicing is conducted electronically via SacDrive with a 30-day payment term upon submission of complete documentation. The contractor personnel require background security clearances and confidentiality attestations aligned with DHA system access policies. Proposal evaluation is weighted toward technical merit and program fit (80 points total) with key factors including experience, program approach, and deliverables, awarded on a trade-off basis rather than lowest cost. The contract template reflects a budget reimbursement structure with placeholders for cost details but does not include populated financial data, suggesting negotiation post-award. Special provisions govern data handling, proprietary information protection, and audit compliance, all supporting the program’s objective of sustainable employment placement and retention for eligible CalWORKs participants.