CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR VICTIMS’ SERVICES GRANT
PART 1: OVERVIEW
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Oregon Legislative Assembly charged the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) with administering the Justice Reinvestment Grant Program. Each Oregon County is eligible to receive grant funding via this program. The amount of money available to each county is determined by county population. 90 percent of each county’s available grant funds are dedicated to local criminal justice systems, and 10 percent of each county’s available grant funds are dedicated to community-based nonprofit victim services programs. This victim services grant money is what this solicitation relates to. This is a one-time solicitation, offering support for a maximum period of 24 months.
Community-based nonprofit victim services programs provide comprehensive services to victims, such as accessing safe emergency shelter, crisis counseling, court and medical accompaniment, safety planning, obtaining protective orders, and applying for benefits. Programs may also provide, for example, but not limited to, support groups, assistance in returning to school, finding living wage jobs, support finding safe and affordable housing, family support services, and prevention classes. Services are available before, during, and after a criminal case. Services are also available if a victim hasn’t reported to law enforcement and if there is no pending criminal case. Community-based victim services should have serving victims of crime as part of their mission statement.
The Union County Local Public Safety Coordinating Council (LPSCC) was established by the Oregon Legislative Assembly to coordinate local criminal justice policy. LPSCC members will select one or more community based nonprofit victim services program proposals to include in Union County’s Justice Reinvestment Grant application to the CJC. It is CJC that will make the final decision as to whether to fund the community based nonprofit victim services program(s) contained in Union County’s application. Once CJC approves one or more community based nonprofit victim services program(s), LPSCC will serve as the local administrator of the grant program.
1.1 GOALS, VALUES AND OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
In addition to the rules provided by the CJC, several areas of need have been identified as critical components of a comprehensive approach to service provision:
1.1.1 Broad and ongoing impacts to the crime victim population that are sustainable over time.
1.1.2 Program components that support data collection and data driven strategies.
1.1.3 Outreach to and/or impact on persons who would not necessarily self-identify as crime victims but are nonetheless experiencing barriers to receiving necessary supports.
1.1.4 Service enhancements which leverage existing resources.
1.1.5 lnformalized programs that are not reliant on victims meeting strict criteria to be considered for services.
1.1.6 Culturally responsive service delivery models that assist in navigation of the existing systems reducing areas which pose traditional barriers.
All viable methodologies and strategies for establishing or enhancing services for victims of crime in Union County will be considered under this solicitation.
1.2 TARGET POPULATION SERVED
The target population for these services will be victims of crime.
1.3 GEOGRAPHIC BORDERS/LIMITATIONS & SERVICE AREAS
Funding is designated to serve crime victims in Union County.
1.4 FUNDING
Funding will be allocated for the 2 year biennium and is $310,915.00. The intent is to fund a broad programmatic impact with a focus on underserved areas of the system. However, all programmatic offerings will be closely reviewed and considered as a potential value for these resources. LPSCC reserves the right to recommend to CJC that they fund more than one community based victims services program.
1.5 SCOPE OF SERVICES
Service Offerings must be Community Based Strategies providing services to victims of crime. Major components being considered are:
1.5.1 Services that meet a demonstrated need for the proposed services in the community to be served with emphasis on services that target marginalized, underserved populations.
1.5.2 Services that address access barriers, such as but not limited to: Language, literacy, disability, cultural practices, and transportation issues.
1.5.3 Services that will increase capacity for areas where services are difficult to access, limited or non-existent.
1.5.4 Services that demonstrate that the award will be invested in trauma-informed services.
1.5.5 Services that include data collection and analysis, including but not limited to, demographic information of victims served.
1.6 FISCAL REQUIREMENTS AND REPORTING
Successful proposers will be required to adhere to any fiscal and reporting requirements imposed by LPSCC. Generally, regular and periodic data collection and reporting will be required as appropriate to the program design. LPSCC will negotiate final reporting requirements with the selected grantee(s).
1.7 PERFORMANCE MEASURES/PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING
Selected grantees will be required to adhere to any performance measures or performance contracting standards imposed by LPSCC. Generally, a successful Proposer’s performance will be measured through program elements that can be reasonably collected and reviewed against agreed criteria to determine program/contract effectiveness. The final performance measures appropriate to the program design will be negotiated between LPSCC and the selected grantee(s).
PART 2: PROPOSAL TERM, QUESTIONS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA
2.0 GRANT TERM
The grant term is initially expected to be two years. Continuation of the grant beyond the initial two year period will be contingent on the ongoing availability of funding, demonstrated need, and specific performance measures identified for the services proposed.
2.1 PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND SCORING
LPSCC intends to include one or more victim services programs in our application to CJC. To be considered for inclusion in this application to CJC, proposers must initially qualify under this request for proposals process. Allocation will be dependent on the actual funding available and the programmatic offerings received through the process.
Evaluation of proposals will be conducted comprehensively, fairly and impartially. Structured quantitative scoring methods will be used to maximize the objectivity of the evaluation. The evaluation committee of designated reviewers shall review and evaluate proposals. The committee will be composed of LPSCC members with experience in, knowledge of, and program responsibility for program service and financing.
Each evaluator will independently assign a draft score to each evaluation criterion based on review of the written proposals. Then the evaluators shall meet at a Proposal Evaluation Session and share their key findings from the proposals. After sharing their findings, each evaluator shall be given an independent opportunity to revise their draft scores and to finalize them. Final scoring by each evaluator will then be summed. The evaluation committee will present to the LPSCC a summary each qualified proposal. LPSCC membership will decide whether to fund all the proposals, some of the proposals, or none of them.
2.2 PROPOSAL QUESTIONS INSTRUCTIONS
All Proposers must complete the questions in Section 2.3.
2.3 PROPOSAL QUESTION
2.3.1 Background and Experience (35 points possible; 1 page maximum)
Provide an overview of the background of your organization and detail any experience in providing services to crime victims. Define your agency’s mission and how crime victim services fit into the overall perspective and purpose of your work, underscoring how you define the term “crime victim” and any special qualifications you bring to the crime victim population. Include information about connections and collaborations you have in the existing community infrastructure or your plans to establish them.
Evaluation Criteria:
Proposal details a relevant background and specific experience in working with the crime victim population. Organization’s mission and goals are in alignment with overall program objectives defining crime victims in a broad sense. Qualifications demonstrate a valuable component to the overall community resource network.
Connections and collaborative relationships enhance the community infrastructure and provide opportunities to reach a broad range of potential crime victims.
2.3.2 Proposed Program Services (40 Points Possible; 2 pages maximum)
Describe your proposed service program in detail. Include in your service description the outreach method you use to bring clients into your services and how clients transition from the proposed services as they reach their goals or objectives. Underscore the components of service delivery that are trauma informed, data driven and/or best practice methodologies. Define the specific population that will be targeted and how outcomes will be measured and reported. If you are new to providing the proposed services, describe your capacity and capability to deliver the proposed services.
Evaluation Criteria:
Proposer is able to provide a comprehensive plan for the proposed services. Services provide a relevant and valuable support to crime victims and are trauma informed, data driven and represent best practices. Population benefiting is an underserved population and/or a population that is not likely to self-report as a crime victim. Performance measures are proposed within the program design. Proposal clearly defines an outreach and transitional component to allow a logical path for clients to enter and exit service resources.
2.3.3 Program Pricing (15 Points Possible; 1 page maximum)
Provide details about the funding that will be required to provide the crime victim services described in your proposal. Programs are encouraged to provide a number of funding options that may be scalable to fit available resources (i.e. hourly rates, service capacity funding at a graduated level, per person based on minimum and maximum utilization, etc.).
In your response, briefly summarize any other funding streams that will be or may potentially be leveraged, accessed, or enhanced through the addition of new funding requested under this proposal.
Evaluation Criteria:
Proposal reflects realistic and reasonable request for funding the proposed services that is competitive and demonstrates a favorable cost to value ratio. Funding is scalable to the variable award expected by the County and maximizes possibilities to leverage access and/or enhance existing resources.
2.3.4 Social Equity Business Practices Section (5 points possible; 1/2 page maximum)
LPSCC is committed to extending contracting opportunities to businesses that demonstrate social equity in the areas of workforce diversity, business practices, and health insurance and other benefits for employees. In order to promote economic growth, the County seeks to maximize the participation of diverse consultants, partners, contractors, and suppliers throughout the duration of the project.
How does your agency incorporate equity values and strategies, manage diversity and involve clients, families, and communities who are most affected by inequities in all aspects of policy and service delivery?
Evaluation Criteria: Must demonstrate through stories & metrics how the organization has created new ways to successfully plan for and manage workforce, recruitment, hiring, retention, internship and succession planning.
Describe in detail how your organization includes diverse suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors in the conduct of your business and supply chain. Please provide specific examples.
Evaluation Criteria: The proposer describes efforts, practices, and/or processes to include a diverse vendor pool that reflect the diversity of Union County.
2.3.5 Economic Impacts and a Healthy Workplace (5 points possible; 1/2 page maximum)
LPSCC values the community as a whole and believes those providing and receiving services should have a positive economic impact from the delivery of services that is long term and positively changes our hierarchical systems to incorporate those who are most affected by inequities.
It is the LPSCC’s desire to create full and equal access to opportunities for all people that enable them to attain their full potential. We pay particular attention to the development of income and wealth for communities most affected by inequities.
Please describe how you can provide service in a sustainable manner by providing positive economic impacts for the community served?
Evaluation Criteria: We are looking to see how service delivery will help the client and community have positive economic impacts.
PART 3: APPLICATION DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION DETAILS
3.0 DEADLINE
Applications must be received by August 21, 2017 at 5 PM Pacific Time.
3.1 SUBMISSION DETAILS
Applications must be submitted via email to address: vschlichting@union-county.org