Data Management Services/StriveTogether Cradle to Career Collective Impact—Bridgeport
Request for Proposals
Introduction-
The United Way of Coastal Fairfield County is serving as the Backbone Support Organization for the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Collective Impact work in Bridgeport. The Backbone organization is charged with providing staff, technical assistance, facilitation and financial resources to support the community led movement to improve outcomes for all children and families cradle to career. In addition to overall project management and facilitation; communications, community engagement and data management are all critical to supporting a robust collective impact approach and civic infrastructure.
At this time, the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County (UWCFC) is seeking proposals for the period June 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016 for Data Management Services. Based on experience to date and anticipated work to be completed within the 13 month timeframe, the UWCFC anticipates approximately 600 hours of engagement. For planning purposes, approximately 220 hours of time or more may be necessary from June – September 2015 in order to complete specific key milestones detailed under the Scope of Services. Respondents should carefully consider capacity and ability to be in Bridgeport 2-3 times per week. Space will be provided as needed to accommodate work time in Bridgeport. This is not a hired staff position. The selected bidder will serve as a consultant under contract for a 13 month period.
Background-
In September 2013, UWCFC brought Jeff Edmondson of StriveTogether to Bridgeport to begin a discussion on Bridgeport’s interest in using a collective impact approach to improve cradle to career outcomes. After that meeting, UWCFC invested in a considerable pre-work phase which included hundreds of interviews. Input was summarized and recommendations for how to move forward were developed and honored. In June 2014, Bridgeport began building its civic infrastructure by seating its Core Leadership Team. A number of community meetings followed. A broad community convening was held in November 2014. During the November convening nine cradle to career outcomes were selected for intense focus:
- Infant Health
- Kindergarten Readiness
- Early Grade Reading
- Middle Grade Math
- High School Graduation
- Youth Safe from Violence
- Post-secondary Enrollment
- Post-secondary Completion
- Youth Employment/Jobs
The work of building out Bridgeport’s civic infrastructure is continuing. The Data Table was seated in February to help support the data needs of the effort. In September, a major convening is planned to release Bridgeport’s baseline community vision report and launch the first Community Action Networks (CANs). The CANs will serve as the detailed action/work tables associated with each outcome area across the cradle to career continuum. Progress will be measured year over year.
Eligible Applicants-
Organizations (for profit or non-profit), Universities, consulting groups and/or individuals with a demonstrated track record of providing data management services and analyzing, collecting and interpreting data are encouraged to apply. Applicants familiar with the Bridgeport community are preferred. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient capacity to undertake the full scope of services outlined in the RFP.
UNWCFC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Provider and as such strongly encourages minority and women owned businesses to consider applying.
Scope of Services-
The Data Manager/Consultant is a critical role in the cradle to career collective impact work. The selected Data Manager/Consultant will be under contract with the United Way of Coastal Fairfield County for an initial period of 13 months. The Data Manager/Consultant will work under the direction of the Project Consultant/Project Director and support the data needs of the cradle to career infrastructure. The Data Manager/Consultant will organize and facilitate the Data Table, a key cross-sector work table within the cradle to career infrastructure.
Specific deliverables include (in collaboration with the Data Table):
- Development of Indicators/measures to support Bridgeport’s nine cradle to career outcomes. (July)
- Data collection associated with indicators/measures. (August)
- Data analysis and key message development related to data. (August)
- Development of data content for community scorecard and community vision report. (September)
- Development of the supporting data narrative for Bridgeport’s baseline report (September)
- Technical Assistance and support to the Community Action Networks (CANs) (September – June)
- Determine and support additional data needs of the CANs (September – June)
- Establish a system for updating the score card and community vision report annually (data and findings) (September – June)
Experience and Fit-
1)Please share any experience you/your organization has had working with a collective impact framework. Discuss how you view the role of data in a cradle to career collective impact movement.
2)Please detail your experience working on community connected data initiatives. Describe work you have undertaken in the Bridgeport community and what role you/your organization played(s) in that work. If you are currently working on initiatives in Bridgeport discuss how you will balance independence and objectivity in taking on this new role.
3) Specifically highlight experience identifying indicators/measures and your ability to facilitate a group process to identify initial/new/improved indicators/measures.
4) Detail your experience collecting community level and disaggregated data related to academic, social emotional, health, and family strengthening/support indicators.
5)Explain any involvement you have had in developing data sharing agreements.
6)Discuss your experience in data analysis (“story behind”) as well as researching best practices for addressing certain downward-trenddata. Share any experience providing technical assistance/training for coalitions or workgroups on how to use data to inform decision making.
7) Highlight your experience in preparing data for presentation, reports and various formats. Please feel free to attach a work sample (one copy).
8)Please highlight the credentials of staff who will be dedicated to the cradle to career collective impact work in Bridgeport. If multiple staff are involved please identify the number of hours each will be dedicated to the project and who the lead person will be that will report to the cradle to career project director. Attach a resume or CV for each staff person/consultant.
Additional Background Information-
For additional background, applicants are strongly encouraged to visit and review information on the UWCFC and StriveTogether websites. Links are provided below:
Timeline-
RFP Release-April 9, 2015
Responses Due- April 23, 2015, 4:00 pm (EST)
Selection-On or before May 8, 2015
Contract to begin-June 1, 2015
Submission Instructions-
Please submit 1 original proposal and 4 full copies of the proposal by 4:00 pm, Tuesday, April 21, 2015. Please include one CD with the full submission. Packages can be hand-delivered or sent express mail but must be received by the deadline. Please do not submit fax or email transmissions.
Please deliver submission to:
United Way of Coastal Fairfield County
855 Main Street, 10th Floor
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Attention: Rina Bakalar/Data Management Services
Contact Information-
For clarification on RFP instructions, please contact:
Rina Bakalar
Project Consultant/UWCFC
855 Main Street, 10th Floor
Bridgeport, CT 06604
203-584-0203
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