Updated March 6, 2020.

This FAQ is a compilation of questions that came out of the request for proposal (RFP), whose submissions deadline is March 19, 2020.

Applicants and Selection Process

Q: Can the applicant be a training institution?

A: A training entity could apply to be the report author. However, they should carefully consider if they are more interested in providing input (as a stakeholder) or synthesizing information from national and state reports and expanding stakeholder input into implementable recommendations (as the report author). If they were to be selected as the report author, it would be critical that they understand and uphold the neutrality of the role.

Q: Has the stakeholder engagement grantee been named yet? Do you have a sense of whether the grantee will also be applying for this RFP?

A: The stakeholder engagement grantee has not yet been announced as the contracting was being finalized. The announcement should be made in the next week. This grantee is not applying for the report author grant. The finalists from the report author proposals will have the opportunity to meet with this grantee during the interview process.

Q: It does not seem that subject matter expertise is emphasized in the RFP, although it is mentioned as one of the selection criteria. Would someone who is not a subject matter expert (SME) be seriously considered in the review process?

A: We do not require the primary applicant be a SME. However, at least one SME would need to be in a primary role as part of the applicant team. This could, for example, be a contracted partner with whom the applicant has previously worked on a similar project.

Roles

Q: Will the report author / content expert be able to participate in the stakeholder/advisory group?

A: In this process, the report author cannot be a participant in the stakeholder group or advisory group. The report author will be present in many of the meetings; however, their role in those meetings would be neutral. The report author would deliver fact-based education and listen to participant responses.

However, if the report author works within a larger organization, then another person from that organization could be represented in one of the subgroups (if they are selected and if their expertise is a match for the subgroup).