The Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway (INCAP) is a new professional education and training pathway that combines classroom education with on-the-job training to prepare high school students for careers while simultaneously developing a new talent pipeline for employers seeking to address workforce needs.
Through a $1.2 million grant from the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation to Ascend Indiana, we are seeking up to 12 regionally based organizations interested in serving as INCAP intermediaries. Each selected intermediary will be awarded $100,000 total in two phases.
Intermediaries will act as a bridge between Industry Talent Associations and participating schools and students. They will establish relationships with schools, help prepare students to apply for and start their apprenticeship program, and support student success during program participation, among other responsibilities.
Those interested in learning more about becoming an INCAP intermediary can find the RFP details below.
(Revised July 31, 2025)
Final proposals are due Friday, August 15, from those organizations invited to submit.
A virtual Q&A webinar was held on July 15, which included an overview of the RFP and proposal instructions as well as responses to submitted questions. For those unable to attend the webinar, the presentation, recording, and answers to questions are available below.
The evaluation of proposals will be overseen by the CEMETS iLab Indiana Governing Committee, in partnership with an Advisory Committee, representing members from industry talent associations, K-12 schools, and philanthropy.
The iLab Governing Committee will announce awardees the week of October 6th. All applicants will be informed of their award status via email.
Selected intermediaries will be awarded $15,000 following the notice of the award to support planning activities from October to December 2025.
The selected intermediaries will be awarded the remaining $85,000 in January 2026 to begin implementation activities outlined in their implementation plan.
RFP Launch
June 30, 2025
Virtual Q&A Webinar
July 15, 2025
Deadline for Questions
July 15, 2025
Response to Questions Posted
July 18, 2025
Letter of Intent Deadline
July 25, 2025
Invitation to Bid
August 1, 2025
Proposal Deadline
August 15, 2025
INCAP Intermediary Selection Announcement
Week of October 6, 2025
Final proposals are due Friday, August 15, from those organizations invited to submit.
