RFP for Community Engagement Agency Partnership
| Agency: | Washington County |
|---|---|
| State: | Minnesota |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
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| Posted: | Nov 21, 2023 |
| Due: | Jan 2, 2024 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
| Bid Title: |
RFP for Community Engagement Agency Partnership
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| Category: | Washington County Public Health and Environment |
| Status: | Open |
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Attachment Preview
Request for Proposals (RFP) for
Community Engagement Agency
Partnership/Trusted Messengers
RFP release date: November 21, 2023
Submission due date: January 2, 2024
A great place to live, work and play…today and tomorrow
Government Center | 14949 62nd Street North | P. O. Box 6 | Stillwater, MN 55082-0006
P: 651-430-6001 | F: 651-430-6017 | TTY: 651-430-6246
www.co.washington.mn.us
Washington County is an equal opportunity organization and employer
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1. Background Information............................................................................................................................ 3
1.2. Schedule..................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.3. Eligible Contractors .................................................................................................................................... 4
2. Scope of Services ............................................................................................................................................... 5
2.1. Scope of Work to be Performed ................................................................................................................ 5
3. Proposal Content ............................................................................................................................................... 6
3.1. Cover Letter ............................................................................................................................................... 6
3.2. Qualifications and Experience ................................................................................................................... 7
3.3. Person Center Practice and Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) ..................................................................... 7
3.4. References ................................................................................................................................................. 7
3.5. Cost and Fee Schedule ............................................................................................................................... 7
3.6. Appendix A................................................................................................................................................. 7
3.7. Appendix B ................................................................................................................................................. 7
4. Proposal Submittal............................................................................................................................................. 7
5. Proposal Evaluation and Selection..................................................................................................................... 8
5.1. Evaluation Committee ............................................................................................................................... 8
5.2. Evaluation Criteria ..................................................................................................................................... 8
5.3. Interview/Presentation.............................................................................................................................. 8
5.4. Final Selection ............................................................................................................................................ 9
5.5. Reserved Rights.......................................................................................................................................... 9
6. Proposal Questions ............................................................................................................................................ 9
8. Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9
8.1 Appendix A - County's Standard Terms and Conditions
8.2 Appendix B - Special Provisions for Federally Funded Procurements
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Community Engagement Agency Partnership/Trusted Messengers
1. Introduction
The Washington County Department of Community Services and Department of Public Health and
Environment (the County) are soliciting proposals for Community Engagement Agency Partnerships and
Trusted Messengers. The goal of this RFP is to identify and contract with one or more experienced
organization(s) to promote community health and recovery after COVID-19, by developing relationships with
community organizations and cultural communities, crafting culturally relevant messaging on department
programs, and partnering to provide low-barrier opportunities for health improvement.
Many cultural communities and underserved groups experience barriers to receiving health and human
services. These barriers include language, misinformation, transportation, limited access to information, and
lack of trust with government. The County seeks to connect with key community leaders and organizations
that serve as trusted messengers to their communities regarding COVID-19 and other health issues.
Partnerships with community leaders and organizations will help identify unique barriers experienced by
members of specific communities and may lead to collaborative events for community members.
This Request for Proposal (RFP) has been prepared by Washington County to secure services for building
relationships with community organizations and cultural communities, crafting culturally relevant messaging
on department programs, and partnering to provide low-barrier opportunities for health improvement. The
start date for services under this RFP solicitation will begin on approximately January 10, 2024, with a
proposed contract term through December 31, 2024. Depending on the funding source(s) available,
contracts may be eligible for an annual renewal with a maximum total term of five (5) years based on
continued performance and funds available. These services will go through the RFP solicitation process
every five (5) years at minimum.
1.1. Background Information
The County was established in 1849 and has the powers, duties, and privileges granted counties by state
law, codified in Minn. Stat. § 373. The County serves an area of 423 square miles, with an estimated
population of 262,748. The County’s fiscal year begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. The County is
governed by a five-member board of County commissioners representing separate districts within the
County. In addition, the offices of County attorney and sheriff are elected on a County-wide basis.
The County offers a full range of services including courts, property tax administration, law enforcement and
corrections, public works, human services, parks, solid waste management, library, community health,
County extension, and general administration. The County employs approximately 1300 employees.
This RFP is jointly distributed by the Department of Community Services (CSD) and Department of Public
Health and Environment (PHE).
CSD is the entity responsible for delivering human services to Washington County residents. The CSD
Mission is to “provide equitable access to services and supports to ensure that individual and family needs
are met, empower people to make meaningful decisions and live the life they want, protect those who may
not be able to protect themselves.”
PHE provides public health and environmental services to individuals, families, and communities. The
goals of these services are to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, promote healthy lifestyles and
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Community Engagement Agency Partnership/Trusted Messengers
build healthy communities. The Mission of PHE is to “protect, promote and improve the community’s
health and the environment.
In 2022, the two departments developed and launched a Community Engagement program out of American
Rescue Act Plan (ARPA) funding, with the express goal to develop a community engagement program within
the Health and Human Services areas of Washington County and directly address community recovery from
the COVID-19 pandemic through a health equity lens. The program is jointly led by the two departments.
Services solicited under this RFP will advance the work of the two departments and the community
engagement team to build relationships with community organizations and cultural communities, craft
culturally relevant messaging on department programs, and partnering to provide low-barrier
opportunities for health improvement.
1.2. Schedule
Washington County anticipates the following schedule:
Schedule
RFP Release Date
RFP Questions Due by 4 pm
Question and Answer Session (virtual)
RFP Questions Published
RFP Responses Due by 4 pm
RFP Evaluation
Estimated Contract Negotiations and Final Award
Due Date
11/21/2023
12/8/2023
12/14/2024 3:00 pm
12/15/2023
01/2/2024
01/3/2024-01/21/2024
01/21/2024
Please contact Stephanie Holt at stephanie.holt@co.washington.mn.us to receive a meeting link for the
virtual Question and Answer (Q&A) session.
1.3. Eligible Contractors
Eligible Contractors include governmental, educational, not-for-profit community based and faith-based
organizations or agencies engaged in a public service. Private, for-profit organizations engaged in providing
the requested services to governmental entities or partner organizations may also apply.
Entities that are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible or voluntarily
excluded from participation in this transaction by any Federal or State department or agency are not eligible
to respond to this RFP.
The County embraces and supports person-centered practices and expects Contractors to demonstrate they
do the same. Person-centered practices are structured in a way to support a service recipient’s comfort and
ability to express choice, control, and direction in all aspects of service delivery and support. While the
nature of some services and service deliveries is such that it must account for factors beyond the service
recipient’s choice, control, and direction, including, but not limited to court orders, the safety of the person
and others, and governing law, the County values consideration of the service recipient’s perspective,
knowing that services are more efficient and effective when aligned with personal choice.
The County further recognizes that pervasive racism, discrimination, and other institutional and community
biases, as well as harm from historical trauma, are experienced by cultural communities and that this may
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Community Engagement Agency Partnership/Trusted Messengers
contribute to overrepresentation of cultural communities in some County services. Appropriate service
delivery often requires open discussion considering the real-life experiences of the people served, paying
attention to the impact of pervasive racism and bias. At the referral level, it means inquiring with service
recipient’s about how to integrate their family or individual culture into service delivery. At the service level,
it includes attention to outcomes for people receiving services in order to assess whether effectiveness
differs in cultural communities and responding to any differences.
It is expected that while performing services for the County, providers shall abstain from unacceptable
behaviors including, but not limited to:
• Racial, ethnic or discriminatory jokes or slurs;
• Hostile, condemning, or demeaning communications, both verbal and written;
• Behavior demonstrating disrespect, dishonesty, intimidation, or disruption to the work relationship;
• Retaliation against any person who reports or addresses unacceptable behavior.
It is the responsibility of the Contractor to demonstrate that staff delivering services for the County are able
to meet these expectations and are trained, as needed, to ensure respectful, cooperative and professional
conduct in interactions with County staff and service recipients. Contractors are expected to have the
competence, knowledge, and expertise to provide interpreter and translation services, as well as qualified
staff and the administrative and fiscal management systems to accomplish the scope of service delivery
stated in this RFP. Providers selected through this solicitation must adhere to all applicable federal and state
rules, laws, statutes, bulletins, and manuals.
2. Scope of Services
The County is soliciting proposals to identify and contract with an experienced organization(s) to promote
community health and recovery after COVID-19, by developing relationships with community organizations
and cultural communities, crafting culturally relevant messaging on department programs, and partnering to
provide low-barrier opportunities for health improvement.
The successful organization(s) will have the abilities to perform some or all the functions below.
Organizations who cannot provide the full range of requested services may submit a proposal but must
clearly note any services listed in this request which would not be provided. Organizations are also
encouraged to highlight any services for which they possess particularly notable qualifications.
2.1. Scope of Work to be Performed
Include a detailed list of Contractor responsibilities and tasks to be performed.
Activity
Partner with the County to identify and establish connections with diverse
1
racial, ethnic, and cultural community leaders that will allow ongoing
partnerships to be utilized for addressing health priorities
Deliverable/Performance Measure
Provide contact information for
cultural community leaders.
Assist with facilitating initial
meetings
between community leaders and
County staff.
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