Commissioner presses for enforcement of First Source hiring as county awards large contract

Commissioners used a purchasing‑awards block on Dec. 9 to press county staff on how the County enforces First Source hiring commitments when it awards large contracts.

Commissioner William O'Dea asked how the County will ensure participants in training programs are placed with contractors who receive substantial County contracts. "We're giving them a million and a half dollar contract," O'Dea said, and asked whether the vendor is unionized and what steps the County will take to make sure graduates are placed.

Procurement representative Mr. Sax said he did not know the vendor's union status but would find out and requested the contact information for National Career Institute. County staff agreed to provide that contact information.

Director Frank Mazza described the County's process: department staff are expected to reach out to awarded vendors and encourage interviews with trainees. Mazza also referenced Workforce Development Board performance expectations that were in the notice of award: under the board's metrics, 80% of people who enter training must obtain employment and 60% must retain employment for six months. Mazza said those performance expectations will be tracked under the current grant period, which ends June 30.

Commissioner O'Dea and others urged stronger, documented enforcement, including monthly follow-ups from a named County official who can verify interviews and placements. County administration said the new approach differs from earlier practice and that staff will provide placement and performance data showing which trainees were sent to which employers and who obtained jobs.

The caucus advanced the purchasing awards for the formal agenda; staff committed to return with details on the contractor's union status, a list of trainees placed with vendors and follow‑up procedures for enforcement of First Source hiring commitments.