RFP for a Statewide Racial Justice Initiative

The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board is seeking proposals to design and implement a statewide racial justice initiative. The goal of the initiative is to examine how racial inequities impact Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Vermonters and identify actions to expand access to affordable housing for all Vermonters. Read the Request for Proposals for details about the scope of work and timeline.

Questions: 

Q: In reviewing the RFP, it states that the requested services are part of a 12-18 month effort that includes two phases. Can you clarify the period of performance for this particular project? The RFP states that implementation would begin in October 2021. Is there a target date for when all of the speaker series events and roundtables should be completed?

A: Consultants should include in their submission a proposed timeline with target completion dates for both the speaker series and roundtable discussions. Our preference is that the proposed timeline includes meeting or making substantial progress on the goals of Phase 1 (hosting 3-5 speakers and 4-6 roundtable discussions) within 18 months.  We would prefer that an initial event take place by October 2021, with subsequent events occurring over an 18-month period. A RFP will be issued at a later date to address the goals, scope, and period of performance for Phase 2 of the initiative.