Landscape Scan of Organizations Improving Quality of Life for People with Disabilities in the Central Coast of California

Request for Proposal (RFP): Landscape Scan of Organizations Improving Quality of Life for People with Disabilities in the Central Coast of California

1. Introduction

La Centra-Sumerlin Foundation seeks a consultant to conduct a comprehensive landscape scan of organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities in California’s Central Coast. The aim is to gather key information, develop a taxonomy, map the network connections among these organizations, and provide insightful analysis on strengths, gaps, and opportunities.

2. Background on the Funder

The Health Equity & Access Fund is a new fund of The LaCentra-Sumerlin Foundation, established in 2024 and dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with physical disabilities. We believe every person deserves to live a dignified life, and that disability should not be a barrier to this. We aim to further health equity by supporting evidence-based initiatives that reduce disability, improve accessibility, and alleviate the burden of living with a disability.

Areas of interest include: 

Accessibility and Independence (Central Coast California)

• Accessible Housing & Home Modifications
• Employment Accessibility 
• Transportation Independence
• Increase Accessibility in Public and Private Spaces

Support for Caregivers  (Central Coast California)

• Caregiver Navigation and Support
• Caregiver Training and Education

Advocacy (California and National)

• Research & Advocacy for Caregiver and Disability Support
• Advocacy on Income Limitations for SSDI

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Identify Organizations: Conduct thorough research to identify organizations operating within the Central Coast of California that focus on improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
2. Develop a Taxonomy: Create a taxonomy to categorize the different types of organizations and their roles within the ecosystem, such as the social movement ecology framework.
3. Database Creation: Compile a database (e.g., AirTable or Excel) containing key information on each identified organization. The database should include:
   • Organization name
   • Contact information
   • Mission and vision
   • Programs and services offered
   • Taxonomy categorization
   • Target population
   • Operating Budget
   • Funding sources
   • Partnerships and collaborations with other organizations in the ecosystem
4. Network Analysis: Analyze and map how these organizations are networked, including partnerships, collaborations, and referral systems.
5. Insights and Analysis: Provide a detailed report that includes:
   • Strengths of the current organizational landscape
   • Gaps in services or geographic coverage
   • Opportunities for collaboration or new initiatives
   • Recommendations for strengthening the ecosystem

4. Deliverables

• Database: A database with relevant information on each organization.
• Taxonomy: A clear and comprehensive explanation of your taxonomy categorizing the organizations.
• Network Map: Visual representation of the network connections among organizations.
• Final Report: A detailed report with insights, analysis, and recommendations.

5. Timeline

The project is expected to be completed within approximately 8 weeks from the date of contract initiation. Key milestones include:

• Week 1-2: Project kick-off, initial research, and organization identification
• Week 3-4: Database creation and taxonomy development
• Week 5-6: Network analysis
• Week 7-8: Compilation of final report and review

6. Proposal Submission Requirements

Interested consultants should submit a proposal including:

• Overview of the consultant’s qualifications and experience, highlighting data analysis in an academic or evaluation context. 
  • Consultant need not have previous experience with the network of disabilities organizations in this geography if they are able to demonstrate a clear understanding of methodology.
  • Consultant should not currently have a formal relationship with any of the organizations (funders or recipients) in this geographic area, such as employee, consultant, board member or client. 
• Approach and methodology for the project
• Estimation of hours required to complete, and availability to begin work
• Hourly rate (to be billed monthly with a “not to exceed” limit)
• References 

7. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Relevant experience and qualifications
• Understanding of the project scope and methodology
• Competitive and justified budget and timeline (note that we are not looking for the fastest or cheapest consultant to undertake this work)

8. Submission Deadline

Proposals must be submitted by August 9, 2024 to hello@incapstrategies.com

9. Contact Information

For any questions or further information, please contact:

Sharon Schneider, Integrated Capital Strategies (consultant)

hello@incapstrategies.com

We look forward to receiving your proposal and partnering to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities in the Central Coast of California.