We are excited to share that the Best Starts for Kids Workforce Development Systems and Community Support Coordinator request for qualifications (RFQ) is now open! This funding opportunity closes on Friday, October 7 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 want babies and young children to grow up happy, healthy and safe. We offer support to the prenatal to five workforce through continuous learning and improvement, so that they in turn can support the children and families in their care.
Our Workforce Development (WFD) strategy, provides training, technical assistance, and peer learning opportunities to build the knowledge and skills of early childhood practitioners and to promote shared community healing.
This RFQ is seeking one qualified organization to work with Best Start’s WFD strategy to coordinate three focus areas:
- Large Group Workshops (LGW): 12 to 15 workshops per year in content areas: Healthy Childhood Development, Racial Equity, and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.
- P-5 Strengthening Community-Based Facilitators (P-5 SCBF): An ongoing process to recruit, mentor, and promote community-based workshop facilitators.
- Communities of Practice (CP): A space for King County’s prenatal to five providers to co-determine needs and engage in deeper-learning on specific, self-identified topics.
Interested in learning about a different funding opportunity to support the early childhood workforce? Check out Best Starts Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) – Strengthen the Workforce RFQ.
Eligibility:
This funding opportunity is open to individuals, private agencies, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, community-based organizations, tribes and tribal organizations, schools and school districts, and public or governmental agencies serving communities in King County. Small nonprofits and community-based organizations are encouraged to submit proposals.
Eligible applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Three years of experience with complex project management or systems coordination, and capacity to subcontract with multiple facilitators.
- One year of experience in promoting well-being of young children and families, planning or delivering adult education, and implementing equitable and Culturally Relevant approaches.
Funding Available:
We have budgeted up to $2,400,000 for this project over a period of three years. The maximum funding request is $800,000 per year.
Attend our information session:
We strongly encourage anyone interested in applying to attend our information session to learn more:
- Friday, September 2, 2022, 1:30 – 3 pm, Pacific Time
Register in advance for this meeting. You will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Learn more about this funding opportunity within the full RFQ document here.
Timeline:
| RFQ Issued | August 25, 2022 |
| Information Session | September 2, 2022, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm – Register here |
| Final Day to Initiate Request for Technical Assistance | September 23, 2022 |
| Final day to Submit Questions via ZoomGrants | September 30, 2022 |
| RFQ Application Due | October 7, 2022 by 2:00 p.m. |
| Applications Reviewed | October 28, 2022 |
| Interviews with Applicants (if applicable) | November 2022 |
| Notification of Selected and Non-Selected Applicants | November 2022 |
| Contract Anticipated Start Date | November – December 2022 |
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about this funding opportunity, you can submit a question before Friday, September 30, 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, Ebasa Sarka, at esarka@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
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.