About: The King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is pleased to release this Request for Proposal for System Navigation for Persons with Disabilities and their Caregivers with funding from the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services (VSHSL) and guidance from the VSHSL Implementation Plan.

This service system access and improvement strategy (VSHSL Strategy SS 3C) seeks to promote the ability of vulnerable populations to access the human services system and to improve the ability of these services to systematize and engage in continuous improvement. Persons with disabilities and their caregivers face particular challenges when attempting to navigate complex human and housing services systems. The guidance offered by the VSHSL Implementation Plan through consultation with the community is that persons with disabilities themselves may be supported in self-advocacy with focused assistance in navigating service systems. Caregivers could also benefit from specialized system navigation assistance from persons who have similar lived experiences. Acknowledging the unique and long-term needs of persons with disabilities and their caregivers, it is important that both persons with lived experience and the systems that serve them be given the resources to build capacity needed to promote system navigation.

Successful proposals will promote the inclusion, equitable access, advocacy and self-determination of persons with disabilities and their caregivers. Funded programming will also address the root causes of inequitable access to resources and information and will center and amplify the experiences of marginalized communities. Successful applicants will provide programming to build the capacity of systems and/or people. Proposals should address, at a minimum, work in one of the following areas: peer-support and peer-led services, training and support for social service and systems-based providers, and/or innovative services. 

Please refer to the Library tab for the full RFP and associated attachments.

Available Funding: Up to $1,035,300 in Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy funds

Investment Period: Apr. 1, 2020 - Dec. 31, 2023 (subject to change)

Bidders Conference:
Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
King County Chinook Building, Room #115 
401 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104

Join by Skype Join by phone: 206-263-8114, Conference ID: 9568917

The meeting room at the King County Chinook Building is wheelchair-accessible. If you need any other accommodations to participate in the bidders conference, please use the Contact Admin tab to put in your request by Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2019.

Questions: Submit questions through the Contact Admin tab. Final day to submit questions is Jan. 27, 2019.

Proposals Due: Proposals must be submitted through ZoomGrants no later than 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2019.

Notifcation of Award Decisions: March 2020

Anticipated Contract Start Date (subject to change): April 1, 2020

The dates listed above are subject to change. The full RFP and associated attachments are available for download under the Library tab. Applicants are advised to review these documents in their entirety for guidance on the purpose, requested program models, application questions and deadlines. Applicants are responsible for regularly checking ZoomGrants for any updates, clarifications, or amendments that may be uploaded.