2022 Farm to Table Support Services RFP

The Youth and Family Empowerment (YFE) Division of the City of Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) is seeking applications from organizations and farmers interested in food equity for Seattle Preschool Programs serving low-income children and families. This Farm to Table Support Services RFP invests in healthy, local, sustainable, culturally relevant food access and education in approximately 50 Seattle Preschool Programs located across the City of Seattle serving 2,000 children ages 3-5 years old. This RFP investment has two program components:

Component 1- Nutrition Education: Increase education on healthy, nutritious, and culturally relevant foods for children, families, and staff in Seattle Preschool Programs:

• Increase nutrition awareness
• Reduce health disparities among preschool children and their families
• Increase connections and relationships between farmers, children, and families
• Increase education about water consumption

Component 2- Farm to Family Food Bags: Increase access and consumption of fresh and local produce to Seattle Preschool Program children, families, and staff by providing take-home Farm to Family Food Bags including:

• Food that is culturally relevant
• Food sourced from Washington State farmers
• Food sourced from farms owned and operated by Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers and business owners, immigrants and refugees, and women

Applicants may apply for one or both program component(s). All funded organizations in both program components will be required to participate in a community-based program evaluation designed by program participants and facilitated by a community-based evaluator.

This RFP is investing approximately $839,815 from the following sources: $766,158 in Seattle Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT) funding and $73,657 in City of Seattle General Fund. Initial funding will be for the period of January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. 

While it is the City's intention to renew agreements resulting from this funding opportunity on an annual basis through the 2026 program year, future funding will be contingent upon performance and funding availability. HSD seeks to contract with a diverse group of providers to help ensure that the result of HSD's Farm to Table Support Services investment is that all people living in Seattle can meet their basic needs.

An Information Session will be held Friday, April 1, 2022 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. PDT via Cisco WebEx online virtual meeting technology. The Last Day to Submit Questions will be Thursday, April 21, 2022 by 4:00 p.m. PDT. HSD will not provide individual notice of changes; and applicants are responsible for regularly checking this web page for answers to questions, process updates, clarifications, or amendments. HSD will not pay for any costs organizations may incur while they are preparing their application, providing information requested by HSD, or participating in the selection process.

This RFP is competitive and open to all agencies that meet the standard HSD Agency Minimum Eligibility Requirements and any additional Program Requirements outlined in these guidelines. Completed application packets are due by 4:00 p.m. PDT, on Thursday, May 5, 2022. Applications may be submitted electronically via:

• HSD's Online Submission System at: http://web6.seattle.gov/hsd/rfi/index.aspx
• or email at HSD_RFP_RFQ_Email_Submissions@seattle.gov. Email attachments are limited to 30 MB. The subject heading must be titled: 2022 Farm to Table Support Services RFP.

Any risks associated with submitting a proposal by email are borne by the applicant. Applicants will receive an email acknowledging receipt of their application. No faxed or mailed applications will be accepted.

Technical Assistance Sessions

HSD has partnered with New Transitions Consulting to provide technical assistance for Farm to Table Support Services RFP applicants. These help sessions are optional and are intended for any applicant to receive additional grant writing assistance and/or guidance about the City of Seattle's procurement processes.

New Transitions Consulting will provide assistance in the form of clarifying application and budget questions, thinking through proposal development ideas, and reviewing proposal drafts. They will not write proposals for applicants.

Applicant help sessions will be scheduled by appointment on a first come, first served basis. Appointments are available from April 1 to April 27, 2022 and will be scheduled online only via a virtual platform. Applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule appointments as early as possible, as a high volume of requests close to the application deadline will result in limited availability. The last day to schedule an appointment is on April 27, 2022. To schedule your help session appointment contact Claudia Alexandra Paras at claudia.alexandra.paras@gmail.com or at (206) 859-7525.

Questions?

Please contact Pamela Maskara, Funding Process Coordinator, via email with any questions about this RFP or to request an accommodation for the information session: pamela.maskara@seattle.gov