We are looking for education and training vendors to provide occupational skills and basic skills training.  Please read the sections below to understand where your program might fit.

Occupational skills education and training programs provide people with occupation-specific knowledge and skills.  Programs may vary from traditional instructor-led classes to synchronous eLearning opportunities.  Programs must award a competency-based credential (such as a certificate or degree).  Examples of occupational skills education and training programs are registered nursing, welding and petroleum engineering.

We will only approve education and training programs that prepare people for employment in occupations on the Workforce Solutions High-Skill, High-Growth Occupations Supported by Scholarship List.  Click here to see our High-Skill, High-Growth Occupations Supported by Scholarship List.

How to become a vendor offering occupational skills programs:

1. Please click here to review the Standards and Guidelines for becoming an Education and Training vendor.
2. Click here for instructions on submitting an application.
3. Click here to submit an application to offer occupation skills education and training using the Texas Workforce Commission’s Eligible Training Provider System.

Basic skills are those skills that generally equip customers with the ability and understanding necessary to enter the workforce and be an active participant in work across a variety of occupations.  We are looking for vendors who will provide:

• Computer skills training (programs that teach customers non-job specific computer skills from introductory courses on how to use a computer to specific software products as the Microsoft Office Suite)
• Adult basic education (programs that teach people basic literacy, remedial education or GED preparation or teach them how to speak, read or write English.

How to apply to become a vendor offering computer skills or adult basic education:

1. Please click here to review the Standards and Guidelines.
2. Click here for instructions on submitting an application.
3. Click here to download an application for computer skills training.

• We are also looking for vendors who provide job readiness skills training (programs that teach customers non-technical skills and how to function in different work environments.)

Workshops may include an overview of a group of jobs or information about working in a specific industry. Workshops do not teach occupation-specific skills (how to do a job).  For example, a job readiness skills course might provide customers with an overview of the construction industry, and teach them basic safety training and terminology used in a variety of construction jobs.  Workshops may include instruction in problem-solving and other cognitive skills, oral communication skill, personal qualities and work ethics, and interpersonal and teamwork skills. (Note:  We will not approve stand-alone courses that teach communication skills, problem-solving, team work, etc.  They must be part of a larger, more comprehensive job readiness skills training course as described above.)We approve job readiness skills programs in response to employer demand.

How to apply to become a vendor offering job readiness skills courses:

1. Please click here to review the Education and Training Standards and Guidelines.
2. Click here for instructions on submitting an application.
3. Click here to download an application for job readiness skills training.

Work and education support service vendors provide services that help customers obtain or maintain employment, or attend a work-related education and training program.  We are currently seeking vendors who provide the following services:

Transportation
We are looking for certified Public Transit Providers vendors to help customers attend classes that prepare them for work, look for work, and get to work.  We may ask approved transportation service vendors to expand their own transportation services or arrange transportation services for customers through other local transportation providers.   We are looking for transportation service vendors in our thirteen county region which includes Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Waller, Walker and Wharton counties.

Foreign Language Translation and Interpreter Service

• Interpretation
  We are looking interpretation service vendor to help customers communicate with Workforce Solutions staff.  Service may be provided either by telephone or in person.

• Translation
  We are looking for translation service vendors to help Workforce Solutions staff translate written documents into languages spoken by customers.

How to apply to become a vendor offering work and education support service:

1. Please click here to review the Standards and Guidelines for becoming a work and education support service vendor.
2. Click herefor instructions on submitting an application.
3. Click hereto download an application for work and education support service.

We may provide outplacement service to large numbers of customers who have been laid off.  Vendors must offer the services in settings for groups of fifty (50) or more people, and we expect services to be offered at the employer site which can be anywhere in our 13 county region.  We are looking for vendors to offer the following types of service.

Job Search Workshops - provide customers with information and instructions on how to effectively look for work. Workshops may include one ore more of the topics listed below:

• Career planning and skills evaluation
• Job search techniques
• Preparing job applications
• Developing a resume or work history data sheet
• Effective interviewing skills and salary negotiation
• How to organize and manage an effective job search
• Developing and maintaining your network
• Using the internet to secure a job or job lead
• Local labor market information
• Using community resources

Change/Stress Management Workshops - provide customers with effective strategies for coping with job loss and change, and provide information on the stages of job loss and the impact it has on one’s family.

Financial/Debt Management Workshops - provide information on financial issues that may arise when someone is laid off, techniques on financial planning, negotiating manageable payment schedules with mortgage and other lending institutions, and handling retirement and tax deferred accounts.

Emergency Crisis Counseling - provide customers with round the clock access to personal counseling service.  Services are targeted to customers who engage in “at risk behavior” and provide emergency crisis interventions. Providers must be licensed mental health professionals.

Introduction to Entrepreneurship Workshops - provide customers with information on starting and operating a business, skills and resources (such as the Small Business Administration) needed to start a business, strategies for developing a business plan, and techniques for raising venture capital.

How to apply to become a vendor offering outplacement service:

1. Please click here to review the Standards and Guidelines for providing outplacement service.
2. CLick here for instructions on submitting an application.
3. Click hereto download an application for outplacement service.