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Request for Proposals: Mobilizing Mayors to Expedite Lead Service Line Replacement and Promote Water Equity: Collaboration with Community-Based Organizations

Request for Proposals

Mobilizing Mayors to Expedite Lead Service Line Replacement and Promote Water Equity: Collaboration with Community-Based Organizations 

February 6, 2025

 

Overview

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (Cities Initiative) is soliciting statements of qualifications for community-based organizations (CBOs) in Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee to support the Mayors Commission on Water Equity and the Great Lakes Lead Pipes Partnership. The participating CBOs will have the opportunity to advise mayors and water utility leadership in participating cities on promoting fast, equitable lead service line replacement (LSLR).

 

Submittal Process and Deadline

Proposals must be submitted by 5:00 pm EST on February 28th. 

Proposals should be submitted in digital, PDF format via email to Travis Wheeler, Chief Policy Officer, at twheeler@glslcities.org, and Bree Bzdawka, U.S. Policy Manager, at bbzdawka@glslcities.org.

Failure to meet the deadline will result in disqualification of the proposal without review.

 

Information Session

Applicants are encouraged to attend a virtual information session on February 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM (CST) to ask questions about the application process and requirements. Register here.

 

Background on the Soliciting Organization

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative is a multinational coalition of over 270 municipal and Indigenous government executives representing communities in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region who are working to promote economic prosperity in our communities and protect our fresh water for the benefit of current and future generations. Founded in 2003 by Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago and Mayor David Miller of Toronto, the organization provides a forum for municipal leaders to connect, learn, and collaborate on critical water and environmental issues facing coastal communities. Current focus areas include water equity, healthy lakes and rivers, water infrastructure funding, and coastal resilience and climate change adaptation.

 

The Great Lakes Lead Pipes Partnership (GLLPP) was formed to expedite lead service line replacement (LSLR) in large cities within the region and facilitate intra-city collaboration and dialogue on this issue. Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee have committed to the partnership and would benefit from the perspectives and advisory recommendations of community-based organizations in these cities.

The following will be required of selected organizations:
  1. Participate in quarterly calls with the MCWE Advisory Team – As part of the advisory team, selected CBOs will provide strategic guidance to the Mayors Commission on Water Equity, along with other organizations including the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, the U.S. Water Alliance, and the Alliance for the Great Lakes.
  2. Participate in monthly check-in calls – Selected CBOs will participate in regular check-in calls on GLLPP with Cities Initiative staff and also provide updates of key developments in their respective cities.
  3. Provide community-based recommendations – Selected CBOs will provide recommendations to expedite lead service line replacement in participating cities. Recommendation topics and format will be determined in consultation with Cities Initiative staff. Topics may include but are not limited to community outreach, equity prioritization plans, and water workforce development.
Proposal Format and Required Information
Proposals must be a brief, two-page memorandum of no more than 1,000 words and must include the information listed below. Failure to provide the required information may lead to a proposal being disqualified.
  • Name of community-based organization
  • Primary point of contact and contact information
  • Status as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and willingness to comply with lobbying requirements
  • Overview of the organization’s qualifications, including:
    • Project Understanding – demonstrated understanding of project and proposed role of CBOs
    • Community Presence – demonstrated community presence in organization’s respective city
    • LSLR Expertise – demonstrated understanding of LSLR and water equity challenges in the organization’s respective city
    • Track Record of Engaging Local Governments – demonstrated history of working with local government in organization’s respective city
    • Key Personnel Qualifications and Experience – demonstrated involvement in LSLR issues in organization’s respective city
Proposal Evaluation
Proposals will be reviewed and rated by a Selection Committee based on the selection criteria listed below. Scores for each criterion will be determined by multiplying a raw score of 0 – 10 by the listed weight. A combined Committee score will be assigned to each proposal to determine an initial ranking.
Selection Criteria
Weight
Maximum Score
Project Understanding
1
10
Community Presence
2
20
LSLR Expertise
2
20
Track Record of Engaging Local Governments
2
20
Key Personnel Qualifications and Experience
1
10
Maximum Total Score
80
Selection and Grant Award
Selected community-based organizations will be awarded $8,333.33 per year for a period of two years.
Schedule
Request for Proposals Released: February 6, 2025
Mandatory virtual meeting to discuss RFP and submit questions: February 12, 2025
Proposals due to the Cities Initiative: February 28, 2025
Selected applicants notified: March 3, 2025
Anticipated date to execute Subgrant Agreement: March 14, 2025