We are excited to share that the Best Starts for Kids Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Supportive Coordination request for qualifications (RFQ) is now open! This funding opportunity closes on Friday, September 16 at 2PM, please submit your application by then.
Click here to view the full funding opportunity details and apply.
Note: please create a log-in to view details and access the ZoomGrants webpage.
About this opportunity
At Best Starts, we believe that supporting caregivers and providers who help children form close relationships with adults and peers provides the foundation for babies, young children, families, and communities to thrive. The IECMH strategy is seeking to partner with up to two organizations to improve and support the social and emotional outcomes for babies, young children, and their families in the context of culture, language, and community by supporting the people who work with them.
This RFQ seeks up to two qualified partners to deliver supports in one or more of the following areas:
- Reflective Consultation (RC) Groups Coordination: Partner with IECMH program managers to coordinate and implement RC groups for reflective facilitated conversations. This includes, but is not limited to: building and sustaining relationships, onboarding reflective consultants, co-planning logistics, Reflective Practice training, invoicing, and data collection.
- Training/Workshops Coordination: Partner with IECMH program managers to coordinate and implement training/workshops focused on foundational knowledge and awareness around IECMH. This includes, but is not limited to: recruitment and onboarding of trainers, co-creating training and advertising materials, website management, and coordinating logistics for both virtual and in-person training/workshops when applicable.
If two organizations are awarded contracts, they will be expected to collaborate closely with one another. Responders to this RFQ can submit qualifications to satisfy one or both bodies of work.
Eligibility:
This funding opportunity is open to individuals, private agencies, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, tribes and tribal organizations, schools and school districts, and public or governmental agencies serving communities in King County. Eligible small nonprofits and community-based organizations are encouraged to submit applications.
Eligible applicants must meet the qualifications below for each body of work:
Reflective Consultation Minimum Qualifications:
- Capacity to subcontract with up to 25 to 30 Reflective Consultants serving 100 to 150 groups
- Three to five years of complex project management or systems coordination experience
- Ability to work with diverse Reflective Consultants and group participants
Training/Workshops Minimum Qualifications:
- Three to five years of complex project management or systems coordination experience
- Ability to work with a diverse group of trainers/workshop facilitators
Funding Available:
We have budgeted up to $1,000,000 annually for both bodies of work (RC Groups Coordination and Training/Workshops Coordination) described in the RFQ. One-, two-, or three-year contracts may be available.
Attend our information session:
We strongly encourage anyone interested in applying to attend our information session to learn more:
- Friday, August 5, 2022, 11 am – 12:30 pm, Pacific Time
Learn more about this funding opportunity and access meeting details for the information session within the full RFQ document here.
Timeline:
| RFQ Issued | July 29, 2022 |
| Information Session | August 5, 2022, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm |
| Final day to Submit Questions via ZoomGrants | September 2, 2022 |
| Final Day to Initiate Request for Technical Assistance | September 9, 2022 |
| RFQ Application Due | September 16, 2022 by 2:00 p.m. |
| Applications Reviewed | September 2022 |
| Interviews with Applicants (if applicable) | October 2022 |
| Notification of Selected and Non-Selected Applicants | October 2022 |
| Contract Anticipated Start Date | January 2023 |
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about this funding opportunity, you can submit a question before Friday, September 2, 2022, through the Contact Admin tab in ZoomGrants. The response to all questions received will be posted as an RFQ amendment on ZoomGrants.
If potential proposers experience technical difficulties with ZoomGrants leading up to the due date, please email your proposal to the RFQ Lead, Joanna Armstrong, at DCHScontracts@kingcounty.gov to avoid a late submission.
Would you like support? Access Best Starts technical assistance!
Free application support is available for organizations interested in applying for this Best Starts funding opportunity! Best Starts partnered consultants can support by: helping to determine appropriate fit between your work and this funding opportunity, providing guidance on how best to answer application questions, supporting your application development (including editing and reviewing), and supporting you in explaining your qualifications in the most clear and concise way.
If you are interested in partnering with a technical assistance consultant, learn more here.
1. Check out our funding calendar here
This calendar shares upcoming funding opportunities staggered throughout the year. Subscribe to our blog and newsletter to the right of the calendar to receive notices whenever we post a new funding opportunity.
2. Watch our latest recorded info sessions
If you were unable to make it to the info session for an open funding opportunity, check out the recordings and slideshows here.
3. Save the date for our next open house!
Mark September 28, 2022 on your calendars for our next Best Starts virtual open house! More information about our sessions and how to register to come.