DFSS CSD seeks one (1) entity that can provide subject matter expertise in activities related to conducting a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment that provides CSD with timely and accurate data about young children and their families in Chicago.

Head Start Program Performance Standard 1302.11 requires that each agency receiving Head Start funds “use data that describes community strengths, needs, and resources and include, at a minimum:

• The number of eligible infants, toddlers, preschool age children, and expectant mothers, including their geographic location, race, ethnicity, and languages they speak, including:
  • Children experiencing homelessness in collaboration with, to the extent possible, McKinney-Vento Local Education Agency Liaisons (42 U.S.C. 11432 (6)(A));
  • Children in foster care; and
  • Children with disabilities, including types of disabilities and relevant services and resources provided to these children by community agencies;• The education, health, nutrition and social service needs of eligible children and their families, including prevalent social or economic factors that impact their well-being;
• Typical work, school, and training schedules of parents with eligible children;
• Other child development, child care centers, and family child care programs that serve eligible children, including home visiting, publicly funded state and local preschools, and the approximate number of eligible children served;
• Resources that are available in the community to address the needs of eligible children and their families; and,
• Strengths of the community.

Because DFSS does not have staff with subject matter expertise in data collection and analytics, statistics and statistical analysis, and demography, it seeks an entity with subject matter expertise in these subjects to support DFSS in conducting its community needs assessment and making results available to its Head Start-funded delegate agencies and internal and external stakeholders.

The community needs assessment plays an important role in multiple aspects of Head Start program planning, including: 1) allocating slots or seats across areas with the most need; 2) creating enrollment selection criteria and recruitment plans; 3) determining the program models, options, and duration that will best meet the needs of families; 4) setting program goals and objectives for program quality improvement; and 5) creating community partnerships to meet the health and social service needs of the children and families.

For more information, please refer to the application posted on the City of Chicago’s eProcurement page:

https://eprocurement.cityofchicago.org/OA_HTML/OA.jsp?OAFunc=PON_ABSTRACT_PAGE&PON_NEGOTIATION_STATUS=ACTIVE

A NOTE ABOUT THE CITY’S EPROCUREMENT SYSTEM:
For those who have not done business with the City of Chicago before, registration in iSupplier is the first step to ensuring your agency’s ability to conduct business with the City of Chicago and DFSS. Please allow five to seven days for your registration to be processed.

Current contractors need only to start an application via their existing iSupplier/eProcurement account.

All vendors must have a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and an IRS W9 for registration and confirmation of vendor business information.

RFP DUE DATE/SUBMISSION LOCATION:

July 2, 2020
12:00, NOON CST

Proposals must be submitted via on-line application.
E-mailed or faxed proposals will not be accepted.

PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE:

A Pre-Proposal Webinar will be held on June 10, 2020 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2643161488872155915

Please register prior to the Webinar’s start using the link found in the RFP and above.  A link to the completed Webinar will be available on-line after the time and date listed above for those who cannot attend at the live scheduled time.  The purpose of this pre-submittal event is to clarify the RFP process and the scope of the required services.  Attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly suggested that interested applicants attend.

Head Start Support Services Community Needs Assessment RFP Webinar