Appeals Workflow Analysis and Way Forward

The New York State Department of Labor (“NYSDOL”) intends to procure workflow analysis services pursuant to its discretionary purchasing authority under State Finance Law § 163(6). This procurement opportunity is limited to businesses certified pursuant to Article 3 of the Veterans’ Services Law.

BACKGROUND

The New York State Department of Labor (“NYSDOL”) is seeking vendor to provide consulting services to assist in addressing a significant backlog of appeal cases related to the DOL Unemployment Insurance (“UI”) program. The backlog is largely attributed to the unforeseen influx of cases that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and is preventing DOL from meeting federal timeliness standards and is adding complications to the UI Modernization project. The appeal process in New York begins when a hearing request is received by DOL. DOL staff in the Adjudication Services Office (“ASO”) process the request, package the hearing file, and forward the file to the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board (“UIAB”). ASO also represents the Commissioner before the UIAB, The UIAB is independent from the Commissioner of Labor and has two authorities: (1) the lower authority consisting of administrative law judges (a.k.a. UI Referees); and (2) the higher authority consisting of the 5 members of the UIAB. The UIAB is responsible for scheduling hearings, overseeing the hearings, and issuing decisions. The ability for the UIAB and DOL to upgrade or change technology systems involved in the appeal process is limited pending go-live for the UI Modernization project.

STATEMENT OF WORK

The Selected Vendor shall provide services as outlined within the Attachment K - Statement of Work document attached to this ad.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A The proposer or consulting firm that the proposer is partnering with must meet the following minimum qualifications:

1) Experience in measuring and modernizing the unemployment insurance claims process for state entities with a population as large or greater than New York State that has a two-tiered appeals process and an Appeals Board. This assessment must have been completed within 60 calendar days.

2) Has performed evaluations that resulted in recommendations that lead to significantly reduced claims backlog to be in line with US DOL payment timeliness measures for a state entity with a population as large or greater than New York State that has a two-tiered appeals process and an Appeals Board. This experience must have included the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claims.

3) Experience instrumenting a dashboard that automates measurements of UI claims and appeals backlogs. The dashboard must have integrated data from various sources including DB2 databases, Mainframe, Microsoft SQL server, and a Platform as a Service (e.g., Salesforce, Microsoft dynamics and manual inputs such as Excel workbooks). This assessment must have been completed within 60 calendar days.

4) Making recommendations for state and federal government entities that successfully reduced other forms of backlogs with populations as large or larger than New York State. This assessment must have been completed within 60 calendar days.

5) The proposer must be able to deliver the assessment as detailed within the SOW within two weeks of contract execution.

6) Must be able to demonstrate past performance of delivering similar assessments within two weeks of the start of the engagement.

PREFERRED VENDOR QUALIFICATIONS

In the event that more than one proposer or in the event that the proposer is partnering with another firm, meets all of the minimum qualifications as described in this NYS Contract Reporter Ad, NYSDOL reserves the right to invite the proposers or in the event that the proposer is partnering with another firm, to interview either in person at NYSDOL’s location at 1220 Washington Ave, Albany or via video conference.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Vendors responding to this solicitation must submit the following:

• Attachment 1 – Bidder Certified Statements
• Attachment 2 - Cost Proposal

Interested vendors must submit a response to:

labor.sm.dolpurchase.contracts@labor.ny.gov

Designated Contacts:

Justin Green

labor.sm.dolpurchase.contracts@labor.ny.gov

Vandana Ameerally

labor.sm.dolpurchase.contracts@labor.ny.gov

NOTE: Procurement documents may, from time to time, be amended. It is the Proposer’s responsibility to become aware of any such amendments and/or addenda prior to submission of a response. All amendments and/or addenda to procurements will be posted to this ad.

Submission documents listed above must be received by NYSDOL no later than the deadline contained in this advertisement.

The proposer must be willing to enter into an agreement substantially in accord with the terms of the Draft Contract posted to this ad should the proposer be selected for contract award.

All inquiries concerning this procurement must be addressed to the designated contacts listed on this procurement.

Questions regarding this procurement opportunity must be received by NYS DOL by 5:00 p.m. ET on 03/21/2025. The comprehensive list of questions and responses will be posted to this ad on or about 03/28/2025. This listing will not include the identities of the vendors submitting the questions; those vendors will remain anonymous to the extent allowed by law.