Submission of Proposals

The City of Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) is inviting nonprofit agencies to respond to this Request for Proposals (RFP) for programs that serve the public in addressing community crime and safety issues.  Eligible activities under this RFP are listed below.

Program Grants are designed to produce documented impact on community identified crime and safety issues. Funds are available for multi-year projects that have a high likelihood of success based on both the agency’s documented performance and the link of the proposed strategy to other proven methods to address crime and safety.  This includes funding for direct program expenses including personnel, fringe benefits, program supplies, equipment, etc.

Funding awards made through this RFP will result in a contract based on the schedule(s) provided in this document.  Funding commitments and the execution of contracts are subject to the City of Fort Worth’s budget appropriation process.  As such, the number of awards will be based on the amount appropriated for the FY22 fiscal year and the approval of the CCPD Board of Directors.  All applications must be submitted through the ZoomGrants™ online software. This RFP Summary & Instructions document is intended to give potential applicants all information relevant to submission of a proposal through ZoomGrants™.

To be considered for funding, proposers responding to this RFP may request a maximum of:

• $300,000 for Program Grants (3-Years).

Proposals requesting more than the maximum will be disqualified.

Submission of Proposals

Submission of proposals must be through the ZoomGrants™ platform.  Proposals received by mail, fax, email, or other method will not be accepted or considered. Proposal information that is not submitted in ZoomGrants™ will not be considered. Computers at branches of the City of Fort Worth Library branches are available to proposers that do not have internet access.  A list of the required documents to be completed in ZoomGrants™ is provided later in this document.

Scope of Services

Background                                                                                                         

In 1995, the citizens of Fort Worth voted to establish a Crime Control and Prevention District (CCPD) Board, and the District has been renewed by voters in 2000, 2005, 2009 and in 2014 for a five-year period.  After a review of practices in other municipalities, voters were asked to consider a ten-year period.  This was approved in July 2020.  Revenue is from the ½ cent sales tax and supports resources that effectively implement crime reduction strategies pertaining to violent crime, gangs, neighborhood crime, school safety, youth, and police enhancements.  The fund is administered by the Fort Worth Police Department and it is managed by a nine-member Board of Directors who establish the annual budget and policies, oversees expenditures, and evaluates programs funded by the District.

The CCPD Board seeks to collaborate with non-profit agencies to achieve the CCPD Mission to: "Enhance Fort Worth’s ability to increase safety and reduce crime through partnerships, increased capabilities, training, and crime prevention and intervention programs."

This RFP is issued to award CCPD funds for FY2022 in Development and Program Grant areas. Proposals should reflect activity that is consistent with the eligible funding area. 

Goals of CCPD

Proposals must meet one of the CCPD goals defined below.

Reduce crime through crime prevention or intervention projects, particularly those that:

1. • Reduce Juvenile Crime or Gang-Related Activity
   • Have a direct measurable impact to a neighborhood (See Direct Neighborhood Projects)
2. Increase safety through Direct Neighborhood Projects, Youth Crime Prevention, or Intervention Projects

Special Emphasis

Proposals that address Police/Community Relations may receive additional points. To receive points in this area, agencies must demonstrate their project will have a measurable impact on:

• “Increasing existing or creating new collaborations between Fort Worth Police Department and minority/underserved community members and stakeholders.”

Please complete all questions below.  All fields have character limits.  This will require you to decide which information is most relevant.  You are encouraged be concise and limit your descriptions to what most clearly answers each question and meets each scoring criteria.  After drafting your responses, be sure to review them multiple times and have a friend (or colleague) do the same.  Reviewers will be evaluating agency responses for projects that best meet the mission of CCPD, not for projects that limit their focus to their own mission.  Proposals that do not meet the expectations of the Selection Committee will not be awarded.

CCPD Staff will review submissions received by the 45-day deadline using the scoring criteria listed in the next section and input from an Advisory Council.  Staff will make recommendations to the Selection Committee based on the scores assessed.  The Selection Committee will review scores/comments provided by staff and ask questions about specific proposals.  The Selection Committee may elect to: 1) request a presentation, 2) approve recommendation, 3) approve recommendation (with proposal changes), 4) change recommendation, 5) decline recommendation (eligible for reapplication), or 6) declined (not eligible for reapplication).  

NARRATIVE (50-points)

The narrative is the expanded description of your project.  It ‘paints a picture’ that justifies your project is a strong candidate to have impact.  The Selection Committee is focused on developing impact for the community through sound practice and measurable data.  Your project should demonstrate how your project will enhance your agency’s ability to affect crime/safety.

• Provide a description of your project (up to 375 characters).
• Describe the eligible crime/safety situation the target group faces. Support the description with relevant data from your agency and the community that explains the extent of the problem and what causes it to persist.

1.  The agency demonstrates a clear understanding of the cited crime/safety problem 

2. The agency demonstrates a clear understanding of the causes of the cited crime/safety problem.

4. The agency has sufficient experience with the required program/population to be successful.

• Define the target group and how many will benefit from this project. Include defining characteristics, how the crime or safety situation (described in the previous question) affects them, and how they relate to community efforts to impact CCPD crime and safety goals. 

1.  The agency demonstrates a clear understanding of the cited crime/safety problem 

2. The agency demonstrates a clear understanding of the causes of the cited crime/safety problem.

4. The agency has sufficient experience with the required program/population to be successful.

• Describe your project. Discuss how you will address the causes of the crime/safety situation faced by the target group.  Describe how the project will be measured and how it will impact the selected crime/safety goal.  Explain how it is unique, new, and/or similar to other efforts.  Include relevant data and outside sources that prove that the project is likely to achieve the desired results.

3. The project does not duplicate or compete with other services.

5. The project has the necessary people and resources to be successful.

7. The project documents evidence-based, evidence-informed, and/or promising practice.

9. The project demonstrates collaboration that ensures impact beyond the project period.

• Discuss your anticipated results. Explain how the crime/safety situation will change in measurable ways for both the target group and the community.

7. The project documents evidence-based, evidence-informed, and/or promising practice.

8. The project is likely to have measurable impact beyond the project period.

• If applicable, describe how the project will address the CCPD Special Emphasis: Police/Community Relations defined as “increasing existing or creating new collaborations between Fort Worth Police Department and minority/underserved community members and stakeholders.”

7. The project documents evidence-based, evidence-informed, and/or promising practice.

13. The Project Plan has at least one Special Emphasis measurable activity.

14. The Project Plan has at least one Special Emphasis measurable Outcome Objective

• Briefly describe your agency and why it is the best to lead this project. Include how long your agency has served the community, its mission, partners, and the nature of your services.

4. The agency has sufficient experience with the required program/population to be successful.

5. The project has the necessary people and resources to be successful.

6. The agency has experience with the selected CCPD Crime/Safety Goal.

9. The project demonstrates collaboration that ensures impact beyond the project period.

• Describe how the project fits the mission of your agency.

4. The agency has sufficient experience with the required program/population to be successful.

5. The project has the necessary people and resources to be successful.

6. The agency has experience with the selected CCPD Crime/Safety Goal.

• Describe the geographic area you will serve (i.e. city-wide, council districts, zip code, neighborhood, census tracts, etc.) and why it was selected.

4. The agency has sufficient experience with the required program/population to be successful.

6. The agency has experience with the selected CCPD Crime/Safety Goal.

• Describe and list what other funds you have secured or requested on behalf of this project. If this is a new project, include a description of how you plan to maintain these services beyond the CCPD grant period.

5. The project has the necessary people and resources to be successful.

9. The project demonstrates collaboration that ensures impact beyond the project period.