REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Facilitation of Strategic Planning Process 1. Background and Purpose For 100 years, the (AFSC) has worked for peace with justice in the United States and around the world.

1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Facilitation of Strategic Planning Process 1. Background and Purpose For 100 years, the (AFSC) has worked for peace with justice in the United States and around the world. Founded in response to World War I, AFSC provided food, shelter and medical care to all sides in that and subsequent wars, and worked ceaselessly in the U.S. and at the UN to address the roots of militarism. Over the past century, the AFSC has often been at the forefront of social change movements, carrying out work that many considered experimental and sometimes taking unpopular stands on controversial issues. We ve joined with communities around the world in struggling with oppression and in working for a world that respects the value and dignity of every person. As we begin our second century of work, AFSC is launching a re-visioning process. While honoring the achievements of the past, we wish now to look honestly and faithfully at the challenges and needs of this 21 st century and to re-examine our place in the world. We envision a strategic planning process which reaches out broadly to partners and constituencies around the globe, to staff and to governance members, to Quakers and other faith and non-faith partners, in order to answer the question: What are we called to do, at this moment in history, to build the world we long to see? The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to invite prospective bidders to submit a proposal to facilitate this process, and to work closely with us to develop and disseminate a new strategic plan for The strategic planning process will be under the direction of the AFSC General Secretary, as approved by AFSC Board of Directors in January Consultations and information gathering will be done in conjunction with key staff members in the AFSC Central Office in Philadelphia and in offices around the world. A draft timeline for the process is attached. 2. Requirements and Scope of Work The AFSC operates in 17 countries and in 33 U.S. cities on programs related to peacebuilding, 1

2 immigrant and migrant rights, mass incarceration, ending discrimination/inclusive communities, and just economies. AFSC also maintains offices for public policy and advocacy in Washington DC and manages the Quaker United Nations Office in New York City. The consultant(s) will work under the AFSC General Secretary assisted by the Director of Program Support. The process will be closely coordinated with and guided by the Strategic Plan Working Group comprised of Board and staff members. The Working Group envisions a highly engaged consulting role that is deeply involved in gathering, processing and summarizing the information generated by various consultation and participation processes1. The planning process should be conducted in a manner that listens intently to stakeholders, in particular communities with which AFSC works to overcome oppression. Scope of the Plan: AFSC envisions a thorough strategic planning process that builds community and provides shared direction for our organization under a renewed vision for our second century. Underpinned by an anti- racism/anti-oppression framework, the Strategic Planning process should, therefore: a. Undertake a re-articulation of the Mission/Vision; b. Conceptualize a more focused AFSC within revenue projections; c. Develop agreed frameworks, directions and strategies for Key Issue Areas; d. Promote organization-wide collaboration for greater impact; e. Address the tensions in AFSC's status as both an international peace and justice organization and an American advocacy-based organization f. Articulate approaches that would lead to tighter more focused and high-impact programs; g. Determine organizational management and governance structures that will enable implementation of the plan; and h. Ensure ongoing monitoring to measure plan progress and make adjustments based on changing conditions 1 Note: In addition to the process facilitation being sought in this RfP, the AFSC may seek additional subject-matter expertise from external consultants or firms during the strategic planning process. The consultants chosen to facilitate the entire process would be expected to collaborate with and incorporate the work of the subject-matter experts into the process. 2

3 The Plan itself should remain at a strategic level. That is, it will provide clarity on general program directions and internal goals, while avoiding engagement with detailed work plans or program descriptions, which will be work of staff and specific governance groups during implementation. 3. Proposal Submission Requirements The following schedule applies to this RFP, but may change in accordance with AFSC s needs or unforeseen circumstances: Issuance of RfP February 13, 2018 Technical Questions/Inquiries Due Proposals and Work Samples Due February 26, 2018, 5:00 P.M. EST March 6, 2018, 5:00 P.M. EST Phone interviews with Finalists March 13, 2018 Estimated Date of Selection Notification March 16, 2018 All proposals must be received by 5:00 pm EST on March 6, Proposals received after this deadline will not be given primary consideration. A transmittal letter and proposal should be sent to pdeboer@afsc.org as an Adobe PDF. Other formats will not be accepted. Proposals will be accepted from both firms and individual consultants Consultants selected for further consideration must be available for a telephone interview on March 13, 2018 The proposal itself should be no more than six pages in length and should address the complete scope of work and deliverable. Work samples, including examples of strategic plans and other relevant information, may be submitted as links or as appendices. Proposals should include the following sections: a. Organization/Consultant Background State the name of the organization and/or consultants. If an organization, describe the general nature of its work and specifically name the lead consultant who will be conducting the work. Describe the education, skills, and experiences that uniquely qualify the lead consultant and his or her team for this work. Proposals must include three examples of related work completed with contact information for the organizations served. b. Statement of Proposed Work Methodology: AFSC is looking for consultants who will partner closely with us and engage regularly with staff and the Strategic Planning Working Group throughout the strategic plan process. Describe in succinct terms the methodologies proposed to complete the strategic planning process including: The approach to partnership and team-building. How would you and/or your 3

4 organization build and maintain an engaged relationship with the key stakeholders in the strategic planning process? Creative ideas and methods for data gathering and information dissemination appropriate for a geographically, linguistically and culturally diverse organization Ways to ensure cross-fertilization of ideas and feedback loops between the various stakeholders, which include both U.S. and international program constituencies and staff, Quakers, donors and governance groups; Innovative ideas for ongoing communications strategy that engages various constituencies and clarifies when and how people can participate; Ideas or examples of how to present and promote the finalized plan Workplan: Describe the work plan for the strategic planning process, including key milestones, timetable for completion of specific tasks, the personnel needed to complete tasks, and expectations for support and assistance from AFSC. The work plan should include regular consultation with key staff and the Strategic Planning Working Group starting with an initial meeting to present the strategic plan design and make any necessary adjustments in the partnership agreement. Proposals may also include other activities deemed necessary by the consultant and specified within the work plan. AFSC anticipates that this process will include some travel by the consultant[s] to specific program sites or consultation meetings. Logistics such as travel and accommodations will be arranged by AFSC staff according to policy, unless a specific request is made by the consultants to manage their own travel arrangements. c. Budget and Deliverables Provide a detailed budget as well as a description of the specific deliverables that will be submitted, the time line (with dates for completion of individual planning stages), and expected schedule of compensation. Deliverables are expected to include: Finalization of the work plan with the Strategic Plan Work Group, including a schedule and question framework for consultation process with various constituencies and stakeholders; Redraft of the Mission and Vision, based on both internal discernment and external scanning of actors in the peace and social justice field for circulation to staff, governance, and external partners; Draft frames, directions and strategies for key issue areas, informed by analysis of field, constituency engagement process and discernment of staff and governance for circulation to staff, governance, and external partners; A Strategic Plan with 5-6 high level goals, at least one of the them an internal organizational development goal, in both document form and in simpler, more colorful format [brochure, PDF ] for public outreach; An accompanying analysis in memo format of implementation issues raised during 4

5 the Strategic Planning Process and suggestions for models or best practices related to organizational management, governance, and monitoring of strategic planning. d. Additional Information and Comments Include any other information deemed important, but not specifically required elsewhere. 4. Proposal Evaluation Criteria The evaluation of each response will be based on demonstrated competence, compliance, format, and organization: 1. Approach, thoroughness, and completeness of the proposal (30%) 2. References and past performance with multi-cultural, multi-national organizations engaged with peace and social justice issues (35%) 3. Expertise in participatory processes, including details on key personnel (25%) 4. Price (10%) The consultant(s) should demonstrate: Experience with organizations of similar or comparable scale Skill at facilitation of inclusive and participatory team processes Clarity in writing and presentation of information Experience with multi-cultural organizational development, organizational management, change management Knowledge of qualitative data analysis/ participatory research and ability to apply that to both internal processes and external research, information collection Skill at designing processes for facilitation of focus groups, listening sessions Experience with NGOs and/or in International Context Knowledge of latest thinking in social change organizing and roles of NGOs, FBOs The following skills or experience would also be considered beneficial: Survey design and processing Advocacy organizations Program design, implementation, management Peace and social justice issue research Faith-based organizations 5. Inquiries Questions that help clarify the work to be completed can be submitted to Inquiries by are preferred; telephone calls can be arranged via as necessary. 5

Appendix 1: High-Level Timeline Jan 18 First Strategic Planning Working Group (SPWG) Meeting SPWG confirms charge, outline process/timeline, communications and staffing Board Approves Design Proposal

Reviewed and Consultants Interviewed and Hired Agreement on Major Points of Inquiry, Mission/Vision Conversation, Program Direction Internal and External Environmental Scans and Listening - Survey,

6 Appendix 1: High-Level Timeline Jan 18 First Strategic Planning Working Group (SPWG) Meeting SPWG confirms charge, outline process/timeline, communications and staffing Board Approves Design Proposal and Budget Feb SPWG refines consultant support needs in Request for Proposals RFP for Consultant Released and circulated 1st update newsletter shared to staff and governance March - June Proposals Reviewed and Consultants Interviewed and Hired Agreement on Major Points of Inquiry, Mission/Vision Conversation, Program Direction Internal and External Environmental Scans and Listening - Survey, Focus Groups, Interviews of Staff, Governance, Partners, Communities Served, Experts July - October Sense-making - Development of Draft Strategic Posiition and Operating Model Development of Goals and Objectives in Targeted Issue Areas. Draft Strategic Plan Completed. November - January 19 Seasoning of Strategic Plan with Constituencies Board Adopts Strategic Plan in January Feb 19 - July 19 Implementation Plan Developed and Incorporated into Program Planning and Budgeting for FY 2020 Performance Monitoring System Devised October 19 Strategic Plan Implementation Begins 6

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) EMPOWERMENT EVALUATION CONTRACTOR FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH EQUITY Release date: Jan.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) EMPOWERMENT EVALUATION CONTRACTOR FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH EQUITY Release date: Jan. 16, 2018 DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Letters of qualifications