Request for Qualifications to build capacity and technical assistance, opportunity from 4Culture also available
The City of Seattle’s Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) is soliciting consultants for a program specific roster to support and develop awardees’ organizational capacity and provide project specific technical assistance.
We will be available to answer questions to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) through Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Questions and answers will be posted on the OpenGov application portal in an addendum to the RFQ on Friday, April 4, 2025.
What is EDI?
The EDI supports neighborhoods by fostering community leadership and funding projects that advance economic mobility, prevent displacement, build on local cultural assets, and develop healthy, connected, and safe communities. EDI works to ensure that public and private investments address past inequities, meet current community needs, and create opportunities for future growth. This program, guided by the City’s Equitable Development Framework, allocates over $20 million annually to projects and organizations addressing displacement and promoting equitable access to housing, jobs, education, parks, cultural expression, healthy food and other community needs and amenities.
EDI awards capacity building and capital funding to organizations serving communities at high risk of displacement to develop and activate spaces that help their communities thrive. EDI funds may be deployed to hire organizational development consultants to strengthen their operations and fundraising. Funds can also be used to contract with real estate development consultants to support project management, feasibility, legal, or other project technical assistance.
Request for Qualifications Opportunity
Through this RFQ we hope to build a network of support for EDI grantees and make it easier to find consultants that will help grantees develop strong projects and organizations. This solicitation will develop a roster of consultants that meet our baseline criteria:
- Existing practice working directly with cultural organizations or cultural facilities for Seattle/King County’s historically marginalized communities
- Demonstrated ability and experience, skills, and experience in one of the core non-profit management systems or cultural space development processes
- Cultural Responsiveness and multi-lingual capabilities
- Thorough understanding of how institutional racism and other forms of institutional discrimination have limited cultural organizations’ capacity
- The ability to provide excellent, relationship-based service
- Current licensure, certification, or registration per industry standard for their trade (i.e. architects, engineers, real estate brokers) as applicable
There are no funds attached to this solicitation. EDI grantees will be able to select roster consultants and contract with them directly. Additionally, the EDI program will use the roster to hire consultants on an ad hoc basis to support program implementation, including technical assistance for grantees to apply to annual EDI funding opportunities.
How to Apply
Interested consultants must apply through the Seattle Open Gov Portal:
https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/seattle/projects/138696
To learn more about how to register with OpenGov: https://opengov.my.site.com/support/s/article/dceacbcf-203c-4b0d-aa57-550043bb0dc0
To learn more about how to respond to a project: https://opengov.my.site.com/support/s/article/8e675a48-dad3-4759-9bae-6b4cb7970d21
The OpenGov portal has many helpful guides, all available here: https://opengov.my.site.com/support/s/procurement
Timeline
| Solicitation Released | March 6, 2025 |
| Pre-Submittal Conference 1 | March 19, 2025 at 2 pm Meeting Link |
| Pre-Submittal Conference 2 | March 26, 2025 at 5 pm Meeting Link |
| Deadline for Questions | April 1, 2025 |
| Addendum Published | April 4, 2025 |
| Submission Deadline | April 10, 2025 |
As you prepare to apply, keep the application deadline of April 10, 2025 at 5:00 pm PDT in mind!
For More Information
Please email giulia.pasciuto@seattle.gov.
Partner Opportunity
Concurrently, 4Culture is issuing an RFQ for similar consultant services. 4Culture and the City of Seattle Equitable Development Initiative have chosen to require similar application materials and hold a joint selection process to strengthen each program’s efforts and minimize duplicate efforts for applicants.
If you want to be considered for the 4Culture RFQ, you must complete the 4Culture application process separately. Applications submitted to Seattle EDI will be considered for selection only by Seattle EDI. Applications will be reviewed under the same criteria by a joint selection panel. If applicants have applied to both the City of Seattle Equitable Development Initiative and 4Culture, selection can be made by both programs.
To learn more about the 4Culture opportunity, visit:
https://www.4culture.org/apply-to-become-a-network-of-support-coach-mentor-consultant-or-technical-assistance-provider/