Now accepting applications for the Community-Led Data RFP – apply by September 23!  

We are excited to share that the Best Starts for Kids Community-Led Data request for proposals (RFP) is now open! This funding opportunity closes on Friday, September 23 at 2PM, please submit your application by then.  

Click here to view the full funding opportunity details and apply.  

Note: please register as a supplier to log-in to view details and access the King County E-Procurement Portal webpage. 

About this opportunity: 

Best Starts is seeking community partners to collect information to help understand and evaluate what pregnant people and families with children elementary age or younger are experiencing. Partners should collect data that provides insight for their communities as a whole and projects should include families’ voices who may or may not be currently participating in any type of program or service (e.g. project should not be focused solely on a Best Starts-funded program).  

A general project timeline should follow this process: 

• 2023: plan, train, build relationships, and implement data collection 
• 2024: data analysis, share findings, sustain relationships, adjust 
• 2025: collect and analyze data again, share findings  

Eligibility: 

This funding opportunity is open to nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, community groups (networks of people who work together to benefit the community), tribes and tribal organizations, and faith-based organizations serving communities in King County or their fiscal sponsors. Proposals from organizations or groups that are led by and for the community in which the proposed data collection takes place will be prioritized.  

Eligible applicants must meet the qualifications below: 

• Be uniquely situated within community – proposers must represent and have deep existing relationships within the communities in which the data will be collected in order to facilitate participatory, meaningful, and accurate data collection.  
• Organizational Capacity – proposers must show that this project will fit into the larger scope of their organization and that they have the staff and project management expertise to complete the project in the allotted time frame.  
• Data-Driven Culture – proposers must also have experience with community data or significant interest in devoting time and energy to developing skills in data collection, analysis, and data decision-making to support this project. 

Funding Available: 

We have budgeted approximately $490,000 for this project over a period of three years. The expected number of awardees is three to five, depending on the amount of funds requested. The estimated award amount for each successful proposal (covering two data collection cycles in 2023 and 2025) is $163,000.   

Attend our information session: 

We strongly encourage anyone interested in applying to attend our information session to learn more: 

• Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 9 am – 10 am, Pacific Time 
• Thursday, August 25, 2022, 1 pm – 2 pm, Pacific Time 

Learn more about this funding opportunity and access meeting details for the information session within the full RFP document here.  

Timeline: 

RFP Issued	August 8, 2022
Information Sessions	August 24, 2022, 9:00 am – 10:00 am   August 25, 2022, 1:00 pm –2:00 pm
Final day to Submit Questions to the Contract Specialists	September 16, 2022
Final Day to Initiate Request for Technical Assistance	September 16, 2022
RFP Application Due	September 23, 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 Estimated 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 16, 2022, to the Contract Specialist and Alternate Contract Specialist listed in the RFP. The response to all questions received will be posted in the E-Procurement Supplier Portal.   

If potential proposers experience technical difficulties with E-Procurement leading up to the due date, please email your proposal to the Contract Specialist, Stephanie Wong at swong@kingcounty.gov, or Alternate Contract Specialist listed in the RFP 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 

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. 

• Request for Proposals