The City of Bothell seeks proposals from qualified consultants or organizations for consulting and administrative services to improve the impact and administration of its human services grant program. Summary of Current Situation: The City of Bothell allocates $8 per resident of its General Fund for a grant program to support human services providers in the region. This is a total annual allocation of $356,000 in 2019-2020. Many Small Grants and Lack of Staff Resources Create Administrative and Oversight Challenges - This program is complex, granting the following amounts in the past two years: 43 programs at 27 grantees in 2018, with grants ranging from $22,000 to $1,000 with an average grant award of $7,102.33. 52 programs at 29 grantees in 2019, with grants ranging from $22,000 to $1,000 with an average grant award of $6,591.54. The full list of grantees and size of grants is attached. As well, the program lacks dedicated a staff person. It is supported administratively (contracts, invoices) by the Executive Department’s Administrative Support Coordinator and overseen by the Assistant City Manager. Neither staff member has expertise in human services not capacity in their schedules to conduct monitoring visits to grantees. City Council Supports the Program but Does Not Wish to Add Staff - The Council has expressed an interest in streamlining and contracting out administration of this program for improved results without the addition of staff. The video for the Council’s discussion of this program (https://youtu.be/anjiSTr-jA4?t=1h10m31s) at their January 8, 2019 Council meeting is available and the agenda bill is attached. Application Process Limits Ability to Set Criteria - The City participates in the regional Share1App application, which generates a high volume of applications. However, applicants in that process often provide regional services such as shelters that do not operate in Bothell, so the application does not ask yet applicants to address how their work will serve Bothell itself. Lack of Time Limits Involvement of Grant-Making Committee - The program is overseen by a City Council Committee of three Council members and one alternate. One member works for full time, and the other two work part time and serve on numerous regional committees. There is no citizen’s oversight committee. Reporting and Impact Assessment Are Below Expectations - This Committee is frustrated by the lack of proven local impact in Bothell of these grants and by minimal reporting from the centralized program. The Council wants to receive more information on an ongoing basis about the impact of this program. Potential Solutions: The City seeks proposals from qualified consultants or foundations to improve this program and streamline the City’s administration of it in the future. This could include, but is not limited to, the following: Needs assessment for human services in Bothell Community engagement (focus groups, interviews, online surveys, etc.) on human services needs in Bothell Assessment of City’s involvement in current regional grant process and recommendations for improved impact and measurement in Bothell *Creation of a Bothell-specific grant program and proposal for effective program administration within existing resources Assessment of impact of past City grant-making in this area Recommendations of organizations to fund in 2020; strategic advice on effective, appropriate funding distribution between local Bothell programs and regional human services infrastructure *Assistance with creation of new program in 2019 Administration services for grant program in 2020 *- Items of highest interest to the Committee About the City of Bothell: The City of Bothell (pop: 45,260) is a city in King and Snohomish Counties. It is led by a seven member City Council, who chose their Mayor from its members. Its form of government is Manager-Council, so daily administration of the City falls to a City Manager and her staff. Recent regional growth and annexations has caused Bothell’s population to grow from 30,510 in 2005 to 44,500 in 2018. The community has struggled with the effects of this growth, including homelessness, challenges in affordability, the opioid crisis, and increasing mental health needs. Budget: The City can spend up to $50,000 for one-time program design costs in 2019 and first-year administrative costs for a 2020 grant cycle. The City’s ongoing funding commitment to this program’s administration will be determined in 2020 as part of the 2021-2022 biennial budget. RFP Deadlines: Questions by March 6, 2019; Request for Proposals due by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 15, 2019; Interviews on April 2, 2019. Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the outside clearly marked with “RFP – Human Services Grant Program” and the name and address of the proposer. Proposals shall be addressed to: Catherine Jansen City of Bothell 18415 101st Avenue NE Bothell, WA 98011 Attachments: Funded Human Services Grants 2017-2019; Agenda Bill for City Council Discussion about 2019 Human Services Grants at January 8, 2019 Regular Meeting. Publication Date/Time: 2019-02-22T00:00:00Z Closing Date/Time: 2019-03-15T17:00:00Z Submittal Information: See description below. Bid Opening Information: Interviews on April 2, 2019. Related Documents: RFP for Human Services Grant - Jan 8 2019 AB Final (https://www.bothellwa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8539); RFP for Human Services Grants - 2 22 2019 (https://www.bothellwa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8540); RFP for Human Services Grants - Funded Grants 2017-2019 (https://www.bothellwa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8541). Return To Main Business Opportunities Page (https://www.bothellwa.gov/bids.aspx).

Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked with “RFP – Human Services Grant Program” and the proposer’s name and address; addressed to Catherine Jansen, City of Bothell, 18415 101st Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011.

Qualified consultants or foundations; proposals from qualified consultants or organizations for consulting and administrative services to improve the impact and administration of Bothell’s human services grant program.