Request for Proposals

Task: Program and Workshop Facilitation and Content Creation
Due: January 30, 2023 by 5PM EST

 

Background

Grow is a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) that is committed to providing responsible and accessible loans that expand economic opportunity for small business owners. Grow is headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI with a service area spanning nine counties: Kent, Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Montcalm, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa. We acknowledge the historical harm of traditional financial systems and combat this by providing capital to small business owners and entrepreneurs who have been systemically excluded. We strive to provide capital and knowledge that is informed through curiosity and authentic relationships. In addition to business loans, we offer business advising and targeted programming for entrepreneurs in West Michigan in partnership with our network of local expert entrepreneurs and practitioners. It is critical that our programming is on trend and that it aligns with the emerging and ongoing needs of entrepreneurs. The purpose of this Request for Proposals is to solicit fresh ideas for programming content and facilitation from local small business owners, organizations, and industry experts.

Submittals

Proposals should be submitted electronically no later than January 30th at 5pm EST. Any proposals received after this date will be returned to the sender. Questions and inquiries are welcome. We encourage proposals for programming that can be presented in languages other than English, and are able to respond to questions in both English and Spanish.

Questions and submissions should be sent to:

Lauren Conrad – Director of Programs: lconrad@growbusiness.org

Scope of Work

Grow is seeking industry professionals who can develop and implement cutting edge programming with the goal of small business enhancement and elevation. Examples of past workshop topics include: business marketing, legal support, business plan creation, managing economic ups and downs, lending 101, and more. Additional examples can be found on Grow’s website: https://growbusiness.org/events-calendar/.

Proposals should include:

• An overview of the topic and why it is relevant and supportive to Grow’s target audience.
• A PowerPoint presentation that supports effective delivery of the content.
• A brief description of the bidder’s facilitation/presentation style and experience.
• A proposed plan for content delivery (in person vs virtual, ideal number of participants, etc).

Note: Grow does not own the rights to any content that is submitted and will not save, share, or disseminate proposals that are not chosen.

Budget

The contractor must prepare a budget that clearly describes all costs and fees. All costs should be stated as one-time or non-recurring costs. All costs must be itemized and include an explanation. (For example, expense for content creation should be separate from expense for facilitation). Candidates are encouraged to submit multi-class offerings where appropriate. Candidates may be requested to offer their session more than one time throughout a calendar year. We exercise the right to accept the proposal in its entirety or adapt our requirements to align with the budget for this project. Contract terms and conditions will be negotiated upon selection of the winning bidder(s) for this RFP.

Facilitator Qualifications

All facilitators are expected to be familiar with Grow’s target market and share a desire to embrace, support, and have a working knowledge of the varied cultures that exist within our communities at large. Please tell us about yourself by including the following information:

• Name, address, and phone number
• How long have you been in your current industry/profession?
• What are your areas of expertise?
• Are you a business owner?
• Bio/Resume
• Two to three references who can speak to your expertise and/or your ability to engage an audience

Proposal Evaluation

The following criteria will be used in the consideration of proposals:

• Overall proposal suitability and relevancy. Proposal must meet the project scope of work and be presented in a clear and organized manner.
• Lived experience and expertise. Bidders should be able to demonstrate expertise in their industry and will be evaluated on their personal and professional experience as it pertains to the scope of this project.
• Social capital. Bidders will be evaluated on their demonstrated ability to connect with Grow’s target market, to generate interest, and to drive class attendance.
• Budget and value. Bidders will be evaluated on the cost of their bid based on the proposed work

Project Timeline

• January 30, 2023 at 5pm EST: All responses are due.
• February 2023: Evaluation of proposals is conducted. If additional information is needed, bidders will be notified during this time. Facilitators will be selected and invited to share a follow up conversation with Grow’s Director of Programs prior to final decisions.
• March 2023: Selection of proposals from winning bidder(s) will be made.