Student Loan Counseling RFP Briefing

June 2026

Overview

Introductions: CEO • MOE • Student Debt Problem • EDNAV

1 on 1 Counseling • RFP Background • Goals

Scope of Work • Requirements

How to Apply • Timeline

Questions

Introductions

Sara Lepori

Director of Economic Mobility

Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity

Questions about this opportunity:

Ceo.contracts@phila.gov

Office of Community Empowerment & Opportunity

The Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO) is the City of Philadelphia’s Community Action Agency and anti-poverty organization. CEO provides leadership on issues of economic justice by advancing equity and inclusive growth to ensure that all Philadelphians share in the city’s prosperous future.

CEO does this by advocating for and investing in solutions that improve mobility out of poverty across multiple levels (including programmatic, procedural and systemic).

CEO works in multiple priority areas including employment services, benefits access, housing security, income support, place based/community focused initiatives, advocacy and stakeholder engagement, and community health.

Introductions

The Mayor's Office of Education

The Mayor’s Office of Education (MOE) provides leadership to advance

Mayor Cherelle Parker’s vision of a world-class system of education for

Philadelphians of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.

To achieve this vision, we:

• Focus on education goals that improve economic opportunities for all.

• Partner with multiple stakeholder groups to strengthen local schools.

• Support the Board of Education appointed by the mayor.

• Promote hiring and retaining teachers from diverse backgrounds.

• Oversee new initiatives that support today's families.

Jacquelyn D. Ajose Director of Student Debt Programs

Mayors Office of Education

Student Debt Problem

• $7.9 billion held by Philadelphians

• Confusing loan repayment options and shifting rules

• 231,000+ current City borrowers

• Misinformation and predatory "debt relief" scams

• 30% of residents in certain City zip codes are delinquent;

• Lack of access to timely help and legal advice

• $40,674 average student debt per Philadelphia borrowers

• Diffuculty navigating student loan servicers

• July 1, massive changes to the student loan system expected to increase financial harm https://www.phila.gov/programs/one-philly-student-loan-hub

EDNAV

The One Philly Education Debt Initiative

(EDNAV) is part of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s commitment to advance economic mobility for all Philadelphians.

EDNAV responds to the City's student debt crisis by helping residents manage student debt, remedy distressed student loans, increase access to federal forgiveness programs, and strengthen financial stability and economic opportunity.

EDNAV is led by the Mayor’s Office of

Education and works in partnership with

The Offices of Community Empowerment and Opportunity, and the Chief

Administrative Officer.

1 on 1 Counseling

• EDNAV's Counseling Services will be critical to helping Philadelphia residents navigate affordable payment plans, access forgiveness programs and cure distressed student loans.

• 1 on 1 counseling is part of a coordinated strategy to reverse or blunt the consequences of unmanaged student debt through one of five pathways:

Direct Services for City of Philadelphia Employees

School District ∙ Charter School Teacher ∙ Staff Support

Employer Toolkits ELAA ∙ PHL | Education Loan Awareness Alliance

EDNAV's Student Loan Hub

• Self-Service: A trusted, centralized online resource with clear, up-to-date information and tools for all city residents.

• Information and Referral Line: A staffed phone/email channel offering basic guidance and soft-touch assistance.

• 1 on 1 Counseling: In-depth casework for borrowers at risk of delinquency, default, and unmanaged student debt.

RFP Background

Scale of the crisis: 231,000 Philadelphia residents owe ~$8 billion; ~25% of adults hold student debt—well above state and national levels.

Federal policy change: H.R. 1 (The One Big Beautiful Bill Act) introduced major short- and long-term changes to federal student loan repayment and forgiveness.

Risk to borrowers: Reduced access to common repayment plans and forgiveness pathways, including options relied on by public servants. Increased risk of delinquency and default.

Local stakes: Thousands of Philadelphia borrowers could be affected, with disproportionate harm to low-income, first-generation college students and public sector employees.

City response: Impacts of student loan debt on Philadelphia borrowers were assessed resulting in a coordinated local strategy—EDNAV and 1on 1 counseling is a significant component.

Goals of RFP

Professional evaluation of the borrower's studentaid.gov account information; able to identify immediate federal or private student loan debt issues and debt management opportunities

Borrowers understand their current student loan situation, including balance, loan servicer(s), lender(s), current monthly payment, repayment status, delinquency or default status, and forgiveness eligibility

Borrower’s best loan tackling strategy is identified

Borrower receives clear action steps to address immediate issues, enrolls in the right repayment plan, and applies for relevant relief programs

Borrower is connected with other services and resources to meet additional needs

Scope of Work

Receive

• Receive referrals from the Mayor’s Office of Education and community partners.

Achieve & Report

• Achieve and report on improved student loan outcomes. See required details in RFP.

Establish

• Nonprofit applicant must establish a relationship with a legal aid org to receive ongoing advising on complex cases.

Deliver

• Deliver no-cost 1 on 1 student loan counseling sessions to Philadelphians in need of assistance.

Scope of Work Continued

General Requirements

Applicant must be:

• A non-profit organization.

• Engaged in providing financial coaching or financial counseling in some capacity

• Partnered (or will partner) with a legal aid organization to receive ongoing advising and support on complex student loan cases.

• Capable of providing web-based (virtual) and in-person services as an option for clients.

Applicant’s proposal must include:

• The physical site(s) located in Philadelphia and a description of how the site(s) provide sufficient private space for student loan counseling services.

Reporting Requirements

Including but not limited to:

Borrower Characteristics ∙ Unduplicated client-level demographics, psychographic, and household characteristics of the clients served.

Intake Process ∙ The main data points included in the intake and eligibility verification process. i.e., enrollment date, location, and referral source.

Borrower Services ∙ An activities or service report that details how the client borrower interacts with the provider. From this report CEO should be able to count, assess, and document all services delivered.

Borrower Outcomes ∙ Client progress toward achieving outcomes and outputs while enrolled or interacting with the provider.

Service Requirements

• Participate in bi-weekly program meetings with CEO/MOE.

• Dedicated staff must join National Student Debt Counselors Network, complete the Student Loan Counselor Core Training, and participate in monthly meetings.

• Dedicated staff should be ready for commencement of work on or shortly after contract start date. Each full-time staff person will serve between twenty (20) to twenty-five (25) clients per week.

• Obtain ongoing supports to resolve complex cases with a legal organization.

• Regularly advertise services provided.

• Refer clients, as needed, to additional services and report on referrals.

Metrics | Collected • Tracked • Shared

On a monthly basis the contracting organization will provide the following data:

1. Unduplicated # of borrowers served

2. Borrower outcomes

3. Outreach Activities

4. The # of borrowers:

• Who moved into a more affordable repayment plan. Determine cost savings for each.

• That began actively seeking PSLF, obtained student loan forgiveness, or discharge resulting from consultations. Determine cost savings for each.

• Whose delinquent or default status was cured. Determine impact on credit and cost savings for each.

• That moved into other programs supporting financial empowerment and sustained debt management.

How to Apply

1. Table of contents

2. Introduction/Executive Summary

3. Applicant Profile

4. Proposed Scope of Work

5. Budget Justification

6. Nonprofit status documentation

7. Statement of Qualifications

8. References

9. Proposed Subcontractors

10. Requested Exceptions to Contract Terms

11. Tax and Regulatory Clearance Statement

12. Disclosure of Litigation

13. Statement of Financial Capabilities

14. Local Business Entity or Local Business Certification

Proposal must include all 14 components. For details of proposal requirements see the RFP document.

a) electronically

b) through the City’s designated system (do not send via email)

c) before the deadline

d) signed by an authorized representative of the Applicant

e) See the RFP document for details

For your proposal to be considered, proposals must be submitted:

Please note that the phone number listed is not a live helpline

Allow for two business days prior to any application deadline to receive a response to your request.

The City will not extend a deadline even if it has not responded to your question or request.

All other questions regarding the RFP must be submitted to ceo.contract@phila.gov

For technical assistance with the eContracts website: Email eContractPhilly@phila.gov or call 215-686-4914 mailto:ceo.contract@phila.gov mailto:eContractPhilly@phila.gov

How proposals will be scored

Section 5 of the RFP outlines the scoring criteria the city will use when scoring your

RFP.

The City will consider many factors, including cost, when evaluating proposals submitted to this RFP.

While cost is an important factor, it is not the sole, or necessarily the deciding factor.

Timeline

Fri. 17 July 2026

5:00 P.M. EST

Fri. 7 Aug. 2026, 5:00 PM EST

August 7, 2026

Proposals

Due

Mon. 24 Aug. 2026

August 24, 2026

Applicant

Interviews, Presentations

Tues. 1 Sep. 2026

September 1, 2026

Applicant

Selection

Thurs. 1 Oct. 2026

October 1, 2026

Contract

Execution

Thurs. 1 Oct. 2026

October 1, 2026

Commence-ment of Work

July 17, 2026

Answers

Posted on eContractPhilly

The above dates are estimates only. Notice of changes and due date for Applicant questions, or proposal due date will be posted as a notice/Addendum with the original RFP on eContract Philly and will become a part of the RFP.

https://philawx.phila.gov/econtract/ https://philawx.phila.gov/econtract/

Questions?

IMPORTANT: All questions asked here will be summarized, recorded and answered on eContracts Philly on Friday July 17th at 5:00 PM.

IMPORTANT: Additional questions can be asked through July 13th at 5:00 PM by email (ceo.contracts@phila.gov).

IMPORTANT: All answered questions will be posted on eContracts Philly on Friday

July 17th at 5:00 PM.

mailto:ceo.contracts@phila.gov