REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 29, 2025
FROM
JAMES LOCURTO, Director, Transitional Assistance Department
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with Technical Employment Training, Inc. for Machine Trades Vocational Education and Training Services
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve contract with Technical Employment Training, Inc. for the provision of Machine Trades Vocational Education and Training Services, for the contract amount of $1,386,000, for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028.
(Presenter: James LoCurto, Director, 388-0245)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost) as the cost of this contract is 100% federally funded by the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Single Allocation. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Human Services Administrative Claim 2024-25 recommended budget and will be included in future recommended budgets. If funding has declined or been reduced by the Federal Government, then the County can reduce or terminate the contract.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Since the passage of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies have been required to improve Work Participation Rates (WPR) and engage more TANF customers in productive work activities. The Transitional Assistance Department has provided the mandated education services since March 2001 through contracted vendors to enable CalWORKs customers to transition from welfare to self-sufficiency.
Under the terms of the recommended contract, Technical Employment Training, Inc. (TET) will provide Machine Trades Vocational Education and Training Services to approximately 180 CalWORKs customers for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028. These education services include vocational education/training that will result in unsubsidized employment and economic self-sufficiency, while also helping the County meet the federally mandated WPR.
TET is a unique nonprofit business and education cooperative that was formed in partnership with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools to provide manufacturing trades education and hands on machinist skills training to prepare students for the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) credentials. Students that achieve competency in the entire 630 hour curriculum will prepare and take the examination for two NIMS Machining Level 1 certifications. NIMS certifies individual skills against the national standards. The manufacturing trades industry uses the credentials to recruit, hire, place, and promote individual workers.
TET’s curriculum is designed for students with no prerequisite skills. The course of instruction is 630 hours of classroom, computer training, and hands on training in the machine shop. The classes include introduction to machining processes, safe operation, quality control, basic math, basic blueprint reading, metrology, inspection, basic machine operations, Computer Aided Machining, entry level Computer Numerical Control operations, team building, and leadership skills. The last block of the training includes resume writing and job interviewing. The machine shop is an actual operating business. TET provides actual manufacturing services to contracted industries where students gain hands on experience and are provided with opportunities for employment.
TET’s performance will be monitored by reviewing the progress of each CalWORKs customer and an annual review for compliance with the administrative, fiscal, and program terms and conditions of the contract.
PROCUREMENT
The Purchasing Department supports the non-competitive procurement of the Machine Trades Vocational Education and Training Service Program, as it is the only local and accredited NIMS vocational program in the County offering these specialized credentials and services. Although a Request for Proposals was created, research into potential vendors revealed no other accredited schools in the area. Additionally, the only alternative NIMS accredited school was scheduled to close on February 25, 2025.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on March 20, 2025; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 19, 2025; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on March 18, 2025; Finance (John Hallen, Principal Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on April 11, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on April 11, 2025.