DVPN seeks consultant to conduct community assessment to improve our role as an intermediary

September 27th, 2024

Request for Proposals (RFP) 

Strengthening the Role of 

Domestic Violence Prevention Network (DVPN) as an Intermediary

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: November 1, 2024

Introduction

The Domestic Violence Prevention Network (DVPN) is a nonprofit intermediary organization dedicated to addressing and preventing domestic violence. As part of our mission to change the culture that leads to domestic violence through advocacy, education and collaboration,  we support and amplify the work of Central Indiana service providers by serving as an intermediary between organizations. In this role, DVPN facilitates long-term strategic focus for domestic violence service providers, community members, and community serving agencies, addressing gaps in service, and providing relevant training to professionals and community members. DVPN seeks to better understand the needs and expectations of our stakeholders to enhance our role in the community and add value to the network.

We invite proposals from consultants with an understanding of domestic violence prevention and response programs to guide us in strengthening our intermediary role and better serve the community. Your insights will help us improve our support mechanisms and ensure that our services align with the organization’s and community’s need.

The comprehensive nature of the Community Needs Assessment involves a multi-layered approach designed to capture the diverse nuances of the community’s landscape. This methodology should incorporate an array of methodologies to gather a holistic view of the community’s needs, aspirations, and the challenges it faces.

Quantitative data collection stands as a cornerstone, harnessing information through surveys, existing reports, and data analysis. In parallel, qualitative methods such as community engagement sessions, focus groups, and interviews with various community members might be utilized. These interactions facilitate a deeper understanding of the community’s unique social fabric, uncovering the lived experiences, concerns, and aspirations of individuals. This nuanced approach helps in identifying latent needs that might not be captured through quantitative means alone, enriching the overall assessment.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this project is to gather comprehensive feedback from domestic violence service providers, community-based organizations and the community, particularly in the 46218 zip code, regarding DVPN’s current role, identifying improvement areas, and exploring opportunities to enhance our contributions as an intermediary organization. This project aims to identify areas where DVPN’s support can be more impactful and explore opportunities to enhance collaboration across the network. By understanding the strengths, weaknesses, and current perception of DVPN, we seek to strengthen our role as a trusted resource, advocate, and partner to the service providers addressing domestic violence in our community.

We aim to:

Project Goals:

1. Understanding DVPN’s Role: We aim to gain a deeper understanding of how DVPN is currently perceived by domestic violence service providers, community-serving organizations, and community members. This includes their perspectives on DVPN’s contributions, areas where our support has been beneficial, and areas where we may need to better align with their needs and expectations.
2. Identifying Gaps in Support: Through this assessment, we will identify specific gaps where DVPN’s services, resources, and advocacy efforts could be enhanced to create a more meaningful impact. Understanding these gaps will allow us to address areas of unmet need and develop a more tailored and effective support system for service providers.
3. Enhancing Collaboration and Partnership: Collaboration is essential to the success of domestic violence prevention and intervention efforts. This project seeks to explore opportunities for DVPN to facilitate stronger partnerships and foster better coordination within the domestic violence service provider network. By identifying barriers to effective collaboration, we will work to remove these obstacles and create a more cohesive, supportive, and efficient system for all stakeholders.
4. Developing Strategic Recommendations: Based on the feedback collected, we will develop actionable recommendations and strategies aimed at improving DVPN’s role as an intermediary organization. These strategies will focus on enhancing the value we bring to domestic violence service providers, supporting their mission more effectively, and increasing overall impact in the fight against domestic violence.

Scope of Work

We are seeking proposals that address the following areas:

The selected firm will be responsible for conducting the needs assessment, which includes but is not limited to:

1. Designing and implementing surveys, focus groups, and/or interviews with key stakeholders (e.g., domestic violence service providers, community-based organizations, advocates, and survivors, particularly in the 46218 zip code).
2. Analyzing the data collected to identify common themes, strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
   • DVPN can provide the following data: focus group data, programmatic data including demographic information, special survey data, and other data that may be relevant
3. Providing a comprehensive report detailing findings, including a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) of DVPN’s current role and recommendations for improvement. The report should also include benchmarking from other states and a competitive landscape assessment.
4. Collaborating with DVPN leadership to ensure the assessment aligns with organizational goals and priorities.
5. Presenting findings and next steps.
6. Identifying similar organizations in different states and compare and contrast. 

Expected Outcomes:

At the conclusion of the project, DVPN expects the following deliverables:

1. A comprehensive report detailing the current perception of DVPN’s role, identified gaps, and areas for improvement.
2. A set of strategic recommendations to enhance DVPN’s support for domestic violence service providers, community-based organizations, and survivors. 
3. Proposed strategies for fostering stronger collaboration and partnerships across the network.
4. Actionable insights to inform DVPN’s future plans and initiatives as an intermediary organization.

Timeline:

The project is expected to be completed within 6 months from the date of contract award, with regular progress updates to DVPN leadership throughout the process.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals should include the following elements:

1. Executive Summary
   • Brief overview of the proposal, including key findings, and recommendations.
2. Organizational Background
   • Description of the proposing organization’s background as well as leading an external stakeholder evaluation.
3. Methodology
   • Detailed description of the approach and methods to be used for assessing DVPN’s current role and gathering input from service providers.
4. Team and Expertise
   • Information about the project team, including relevant experience, and qualifications.
5. Timeline
   • Proposed timeline for completing the assessment and delivering recommendations.
6. Budget
   • Detailed budget outlining costs associated with the project.
7. References
   • At least two references from previous clients or projects with a similar scope.

Submission Guidelines

• Deadline for Proposals: [Insert Deadline Date]
• Submission Method: Proposals should be submitted electronically to: kelly@dvpnindy.org with subject line: RFP for DVPN  in PDF format.
• Contact Information: For any questions regarding this RFP, please contact Kelly McBride, executive director, kelly@dvpnindy.org

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Relevance and Quality of Approach
   • How well the proposed methodology addresses the needs and objectives outlined in the RFP.
2. Expertise and Experience
   • Relevant experience/qualifications of the proposing organization project team.
3. Feasibility and Innovation
   • Practicality of the proposed recommendations and potential for innovative solutions.
4. Cost-Effectiveness
   • Reasonableness and clarity of the proposed budget.
5. References and Past Performance
   • Strength of references and demonstrated success in similar projects.

Additional Information

DVPN is committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment. We encourage proposals from organizations of all sizes and backgrounds. The selected organization will be expected to work closely with DVPN staff and stakeholders throughout the project. We look forward to receiving your proposal and working together to strengthen our collective efforts in preventing and addressing domestic violence.

Thank you for your interest in helping us enhance our role and impact within the Domestic Violence Prevention Network.

Sincerely,

Kelly McBride
Executive Director kelly@dvpnindy.org | 317.250.1245 cell
Domestic Violence Prevention Network (DVPN) www.dvpnindy.org