We are excited to share that the Best Starts for Kids Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) – Strengthen the Workforce 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 know that it’s important to reach babies, young children, and families where they are – in their homes, child care settings, and communities – to support healthy child development and family well-being.
Our Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) strategy promotes equitable outcomes for families with children, aged birth to three, who have developmental delays or disabilities. Read our one-pager to learn more about this strategy.
This RFQ is seeking one or two qualified organizations to address the following scopes of work:
- ESIT Workforce Partner: to support and strengthen the ESIT workforce in their current roles and to partner with King County ESIT program managers.
- ESIT Career Pathways Scholarship Manager: to promote opportunities and pathways to grow and diversify King County’s ESIT workforce. The purpose of this scholarship program is to support the expansion of quality, inclusive, culturally and linguistically relevant ESIT services.
Applicants may choose to apply for one or both scopes of work.
Interested in learning about a different funding opportunity to support the early childhood workforce? Check out Best Starts Workforce Development Systems and Community Support Coordinator RFQ.
Eligibility:
This funding opportunity is open to individuals, community-based organizations, private agencies, nonprofit organizations, for-profit 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 applications.
Eligible applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications for each focus area:
- ESIT Workforce Partner: 3-5 years of complex project management or systems coordination experience, with capacity to subcontract with multiple facilitators.
- ESIT Career Pathways Scholarship Manager: 2-3 years of project management experience.
In order to prevent any potential conflicts of interest, current ESIT provider agencies are not eligible to apply.
Funding Available:
We have budgeted up to $1,210,000 for this project over a period of three years. One, two, or three-year contracts may be available.
| Scope of Work | Three-Year Estimate |
| ESIT Workforce Partner | $710,000 |
| ESIT Career Pathways Scholarship Manager | $500,000 |
| Total Three-Year Estimate | $1,210,000 |
Attend our information session:
We strongly encourage anyone interested in applying to attend our information session to learn more:
- Thursday, September 8, 2022, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, Pacific Time
- Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Pacific Time
Learn more about this funding opportunity and access meeting details for the information session within the full RFQ document here.
Note: you will need to create a log-in to access the information session meeting link within the ZoomGrants webpage.
Timeline:
| RFQ Issued | August 26, 2022 |
| Information Session | September 8, 11:00 am -12:30 pm September 13, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm |
| Final Day to Initiate Request for Technical Assistance | September 30, 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 2022 |
| Interviews with Applicants (if applicable) | October 2022 |
| Notification of Selected and Non-Selected Applicants | November 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 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, Debi Donelan, at ddonelan@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.