Optional Pre-Proposal Meeting

A pre-proposal meeting to address questions about the project outlined in this RFP will be held via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, August 10 at 3:00 p.m. Please click the link on the cover page or use the call-in number. This meeting is not mandatory for firms seeking to submit proposals.

Purpose/Background

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the cornerstone of the Nation’s nutrition safety net and an investment in our future. SNAP helps low-income people buy the food they need for good health. Although SNAP is a federal program, it is administered by state agencies and local human services offices. State agencies administering SNAP have the option to conduct program informational activities (outreach) to inform low-income households about the availability, eligibility requirements, application procedures and the benefits of SNAP (Section 11(e) (1) (A) of The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended). SNAP outreach can also correct myths and misperceptions about SNAP and enable potentially eligible people to make an informed decision about whether or not to apply.

Outreach is also critical to achieving the goals of the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The first pillar of the strategy calls for improving food access and affordability and connecting more underserved populations to SNAP. USDA remains committed to advancing racial equity and reducing barriers to SNAP participation. As part of this effort, FNS continues to urge states (and by extension, local governments) to strengthen partnerships in the following FY 2024 SNAP outreach priority areas: students; veterans; immigrant and mixed status households, and other underserved communities; and older adults.

The purpose of the Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals as part of a competitive process in which the Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services (BCDHHS) will contract with one or more organizations, at BCDHHS’ discretion, to develop and implement a SNAP Outreach Plan for Boulder County that is designed to increase enrollment in the program, particularly amongst community members who are traditionally more difficult to reach and/or face a range of additional barriers to enrolling or remaining enrolled, and to better understand these barriers, stigma, and other community-specific circumstances that may impact SNAP enrollment and utilization.

Scope of Work: Mandatory Requirements for an Awarded Vendor. Each organization must be able to provide mandatory elements:

Provide in-person and virtual direct application assistance (through PEAK or PEAKPro) to any Boulder County resident who wishes to apply, including assistance with obtaining required documentation, and/or provide informational activities to Colorado residents who are potentially eligible or interested in applying.

Create, implement, and conduct SNAP outreach for potentially eligible persons and community partner organizations that can lead persons to SNAP Outreach partners. As part of the proposal process, organizations will have the opportunity to present their outreach methods. Organizations must demonstrate how their strategies meet mandatory components, while also demonstrating flexibility in plan design.

Must provide initial SNAP application assistance, recertifications, and mid-certification (periodic) report forms.

Must target an increase in SNAP enrollment in Boulder County of at least 3,850 individuals each year of the contract. This will be measured through the State of Colorado FNS-388 report published monthly.

Must collect, aggregate, and provide initial analysis of qualitative and quantitative information and data around 1) general barriers to SNAP enrollment/recertification, 2) barriers to identifying and/or connecting with all potential Eligible But Not Enrolled (EBNE), 3) disparities in access to or participation in SNAP enrollment processes and/or SNAP utilization for BIPOC communities, and 4) unique characteristics or circumstances related to Boulder County residents or communities that may contribute to lower SNAP enrollment rates compared to neighboring large counties.

Must provide application assistance through PEAK and/or PEAKPro, the specialized portal given to vendors. Organizations should be familiar with PEAK and/or computer-based application assistance and adhere to all applicable IT policies. All applying partners must agree to utilize this system for future outcomes and evaluation tracking and provide manual information as requested. Additional evaluation and outcomes information may also be included if desired by the agency.

Must provide in-person and virtual outreach to communities in targeted regions on basic SNAP eligibility criteria utilizing gap maps, U.S. Census poverty data, and other research to define how organizations will target those potentially eligible individuals. This could include aforementioned sources for targeting or include data sharing with other agencies to identify potentially eligible individuals. Must clearly explain how in-person and virtual outreach will be conducted .

Shall offer clients assistance with documentation collection so that county offices can make an eligibility decision effectively and efficiently, and shall utilize PEAK or PEAKPro system for all documentation transmitted to county offices.

For vendors operating phone assistance, must clearly explain how in-person assistance will be linked to and/or partnered with in tandem with the call center.

Outreach plans should detail the organization’s plan for years one and two and show goals for growth each year, but a detailed plan is only required for year one.

Be an organization with knowledge and expertise of the unique needs and challenges for the Boulder County and/or Colorado EBNE (Eligible but Not Enrolled) SNAP population.

Must accept applications for any Boulder County resident who wants to apply, regardless of potential ineligibility for SNAP or how the individual was referred to the organization. Pre-screening to inform potential applicants that they may be eligible and how much they could potentially receive is allowable. However, if a resident still wishes to apply, assistance must be provided.

Must provide concise report of process, outcomes, and findings related to the SNAP Outreach work as the project concludes.

Work with BCDHHS and community partners to identify where and how food security work is coordinated across Boulder County. Provide recommendations on how Boulder County could better collaborate around food security efforts.

Budget: SNAP Outreach is federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s SNAP Outreach program and is administered through the Department of Human Services (CDHS) to local implementing agencies, along with state and local funds (General Funds).

An amount of up to $300,000 is allocated for the contract period October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025.

Optional Pre-Proposal Meeting

A pre-proposal meeting to address questions about the project outlined in this RFP will be held via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, August 10 at 3:00 p.m. Please click the link on the cover page or use the call-in number. This meeting is not mandatory for firms seeking to submit proposals.

Written Inquiries

All inquiries regarding this RFP will be submitted via email to the Boulder County Purchasing Office at purchasing@bouldercounty.gov on or before 2:00 p.m. August 24, 2023. A response from the county to all inquiries will be posted and sent via email no later than August 31, 2023.

Please do not contact any other county department or personnel with questions or for information regarding this solicitation.

Submittal Instructions

Submittals are due at the email box only, listed below, for time and date recording on or before 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time on September 8, 2023. Vendors must answer whether line-item pricing information submitted with a bid is confidential or closely held.

Please note that email responses to this solicitation are limited to a maximum of 50MB capacity.

NO ZIP FILES OR LINKS TO EXTERNAL SITES WILL BE ACCEPTED. THIS INCLUDES GOOGLE DOCS AND SIMILAR SITES. ALL SUBMITTALS MUST BE RECEIVED AS AN ATTACHMENT (E.G. PDF, WORD, EXCEL).

RFP #7503-23