Empleos
Community Facilitator (RFP)
Opportunity for Professional Services Contract
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
I. SUMMARY
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuario) seeks qualified applicants to provide services as a Community Facilitator in the Juan Méndez Creek (JMC) Restoration Project. The Community Facilitator will work with JMC adjacent communities located in the municipality of San Juan, the Estuario team, and key stakeholders and partners to kick-start a process to develop a restoration plan for the JMC, a critical component of the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) and its urbanized watershed. The Community Facilitator will develop a stakeholder outreach and engagement strategy that will promote community engagement and ensure the inclusion of community concerns throughout the project. In addition, the strategy will support education efforts related to water quality, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem services through an environmental justice lens.
II. ABOUT ESTUARIO
The Corporation for the Conservation of the San Juan Bay Estuary is a 501©3 non-profit organization that operates the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership, or Estuario. The Estuario became part of the National Estuary Program (NEP) in 1994 and is the only tropical and non-continental location within the NEP under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act. The Estuario’s mission is to restore and conserve the waters and associated ecosystems of the San Juan Bay Estuary and its watershed as a sustainable axis of social and economic development. The work is guided by the Estuario Plan, a master restoration plan for the San Juan Bay Estuary officially known as the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).
III. ABOUT THE PROJECT
In November 2021, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to invest in the nation’s infrastructure and resilience, with major focus on environmental justice and climate change. Estuario will use BIL funding to kickstart a planning process for the Juan Méndez Creek (JMC) restoration project. The Juan Méndez Creek (JMC) is located within the San Juan municipality in a heavily urbanized watershed. The headwater portion drains from the east part of Nuevo Milenio State Forest, moving through communities like Capetillo, Villa Capri, Dos Pinos, Manuel A. Pérez, Truman, Israel, Cantera, and discharges into the San José Lagoon. This creek was channeled using traditional methods during the midcentury and suffers from extensive deterioration due to lack of maintenance. This project will center the use of high-impact blue/green infrastructure, nature-based solutions and environmental justice throughout its planning, design and implementation phases to support resilience and climate adaptability at diverse scales.
IV. SCOPE OF WORK
The Community Facilitator is an individual or group that is a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in strategic community outreach, planning, and organizing within an environmental justice context. They will shape and lead the stakeholder and community outreach and engagement component of the JMC restoration project during its various phases. The goal for the SJBEP is to develop a meaningful working relationship with JMC adjacent communities and multisector stakeholders to steward its long-term restoration. The Community Facilitator will work with the Estuario team, key stakeholders, and partners connect the project with real problems communities are facing to maximize impact. They will develop a stakeholder and engagement strategy that will promote the JMC restoration project, ensures the inclusion of community concerns and suggestions during the development of the JMC Restoration Roadmap, and includes multisector stakeholder education efforts related to water quality, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem services through an environmental justice lens. In the short-term, this role will be in charge of developing a stakeholder outreach and engagement strategy for the project and leading its implementation. They will advise the Estuario on how to obtain short-term achievements while moving towards the long-term vision of the project.
V. REQUESTED SERVICES/ DELIVERABLES
The Community Facilitator will work in collaboration with Estuario staff to design and develop strategies and tools to promote participation and organization around the project, build capacity, and provide a space for reflection and dialogue.
The service provider will be expected to deliver the following services:
- Develop participatory strategies and tools for meaningful community engagement. This includes conducting stakeholder research, mapping and analysis, and making recommendations to Estuario.
- Build strong relationships with community groups and diverse multisector stakeholders to support project goals, including developing education strategies aligned to their respective profiles.
- Facilitate among diverse groups of audiences and stakeholders to achieve project goals.
- Develop and lead the implementation of the stakeholder outreach and engagement strategy that is consistent with the goals of the JMC restoration project.
- Conduct meetings with the Estuario team and JMC project partners, including the Steering Committee to develop the goals and objectives of the stakeholder outreach and engagement strategy.
- Design, facilitate, and document outputs from meetings with communities and stakeholders.
In addition, the Service Provider will be expected to:
- Coordinate all meetings with stakeholders and/or the general public as needed.
- Submit quarterly written reports to Estuario or as requested.
- Provide own assistants, as needed.
- Cover own business and travel expenses and tools, including transportation, computer, computer software and licenses, materials, etc.
- Be able to work from outside the Estuario’s premises and be on-site as needed.
- Be able to provide evidence of liability and worker’s compensation insurance.
- Be in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service, both at the federal and state level.
The Service Provider must posses the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- Extensive experience organizing or working with environmental justice communities.
- Experience in building just working relationships with diverse stakeholders, including high-level executives, public servants, and community members.
- Comfortable working outdoors, including in challenging weather and terrain.
- Detail-oriented with strong oral, written, and graphic communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively and independently, efficiently managing time.
- Must provide their own computer and transportation.
- Fully bilingual in English and Spanish.
VI. APPLICATION PROCESS
Submit the proposal via email to [email protected] on or before November 13, 2024 at 5pm AST. Please include “Community Facilitator” with the applicant’s name in the subject line.
The proposal must address the following items in a concise yet complete manner:
Applicant Overview:
1. Statement of qualifications and relevant experience/CV for all team members
2. Three previous project references of relevant experience
3. Detailed Methodology and/or philosophy used to implement the task. The Service Provider must be specific regarding the methodologies that will be used.
4. Timeline with tasks, meetings, milestones, deliverables, and deadlines to comply with the deliverables/requested services.
5. Budget with detailed description of all fees and expenses.
VII. SELECTION PROCESS
An evaluation committee composed of members of Estuario and local experts will evaluate each proposal received according to the criteria described below.
The following criteria will be considered during the evaluation process:
• Comprehensiveness, conciseness, clarity, thoroughness, and professional quality of presentation
• Rigor and appropriateness of selected methods, which are based on identified goods and services to be valued.
• Proposed costs
• Ability to complete project in the stated time period
• Experience and history of performance on similar projects, regarding such factors as quality of work, cost control, and ability to meet schedule.
• The organization and scheduling of the project requirements and contractor accessibility.
• Qualifications of team members, as demonstrated by experience, education, and potential project role.
X. OTHER CONDITIONS
TIME EXTENSIONS
Estuario, in its sole discretion, may change and/or extend the deadlines for the above-mentioned task, and such changes and deadlines will be communicated to all applicants that sent an interest notification.
RESERVATIONS
This RFP does not commit Estuario to award a contract, to defray any costs incurred in the preparation of a Proposal pursuant to this RFP, or to procure or contract for work, and request additional information and/or clarifications.
PUBLIC RECORDS
All proposals submitted in response to this RFP become the property of Estuario and public records, and as such may be subject to public review.
RIGHT TO CANCEL
Estuario, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to cancel this RFP for any or no reason, in part or in its entirety, including but not limited to: the selection schedule, submittal date, and submittal requirements. If Estuario cancels or revises the RFP, all potential consultants will be notified in writing by Estuario.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
Selection announcements, contract awards, and all data provided by Estuario shall be protected from public disclosure. consultants desiring to release information to the public must receive prior written approval from Estuario. Estuario, at its sole discretion, shall determine the release and disclosure of information related to this RFP and any final work products as a result of this.
Start Date:
Ideally the candidate will be available to begin in November 2024
Sources of funding:
Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
The Corporation for the Conservation of the San Juan Bay Estuary is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that operates the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership. The Corporation for the Conservation of the SJBE provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or genetics. MBE/WBE and other certified minorities and small businesses are encouraged to apply.
