SGC23158_RFI.pdf

Office of Planning and Research Request For Information

RFI Solicitation #SGC23158

EXHIBIT A

SCOPE OF WORK

A. BACKGROUND

The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) is an office of the Executive Branch which serves as the State’s comprehensive planning agency, with statutory responsibilities for formulating long-range goals for land-use, environmental impact, climate change, policies, plans, and guidelines. The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is a cabinet-level council under the umbrella of OPR that coordinates multiple programs related to the intersection of climate, land-use, technical assistance, and housing. The California Volunteers (CV) is the state office under the umbrella of OPR that is tasked with engaging Californians in service, volunteering, and civic action to tackle the State’s most pressing challenges while mobilizing all Californians to volunteer and serve in their communities. The Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) is an office under OPR that is tasked with taking on the critical role of managing priority public education and community engagement efforts and providing ongoing support to community-based organizations.

SGC’s Community Resilience Centers (CRC) program will fund planning, development, construction, and upgrades of neighborhood-level Community Resilience Centers to provide shelter and resources during climate and other emergencies, such as extreme heat events and poor air quality days. The program will also fund ongoing year-round community services and programs, such as food distribution and workforce development training, that build overall community resilience. SGC will prioritize community-serving locations across the state, such as schools, libraries, community centers, health clinics, and places of worship. Implementation Grant awards will each range from $1mn to 10mn.The program is currently in its first round of funding, with Implementation Grants awarded in April 2024.

The Community Resilience Centers Program’s Implementation Grants will fund new construction and upgrades of facilities to serve as Community Resilience Centers, Campus Amenities that support the use of the facility, and services and programs that build overall community resilience. The Implementation Grants will be reviewed by a third-party independent program Evaluator who will develop a statewide program evaluation framework and work with grantees to identify indicators for tracking and monitoring the impact of the projects.

B. PURPOSE

This Request for Information (RFI) seeks to gather public input on the priority considerations for an evaluation framework that will provide specific, measurable outcomes achieved by the program; offer lessons learned and potential recommendations for program improvement;

and serve priority communities statewide and at the neighborhood-scale.

C. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

No minimum qualifications

RFI Solicitation #SGC23158

D. WEBINAR

SGC will also host one listening session on June 11, 2024 2PM – 4PM where participants will be able to provide verbal feedback to this RFI.

Webinar (Optional Attendance) Webinar Date: 06/11/2024 Webinar Time: 2PM-4PM PST Webinar Registration Link:

https://opr-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAsd- CopzgoHNHMlrNBDel3B4k2IjfNHC2f

E. KEY ACTION DATES

KEY DATES TABLE

ITEM DATE TIME

RFI Released May 20, 2024 - Listening Session June 11, 2024 2:00 PM PST Deadline to Submit RFI June 28, 2024 11:59:00 PM PST

F. SUBMISSION

Responses to this RFI solicitation must be submitted to Contracts@opr.ca.gov, with the CRC@sgc.ca.gov mailbox CC’ed. Please include in the subject line, “SGC23158 CRC Implementation Grant RFI”.

This RFI is only for information and planning purposes and should not be construed as an obligation on the part of SGC. Comments received may be used to inform the evaluation process for CRC Implementation Grant projects. Respondents are asked to address the questions listed below. Respondents do not need to address every question and should focus on those where they have views or relevant expertise. Respondents may provide detailed responses and examples.

All comments received, including attachments and other supporting materials, are part of the public record and subject to public disclosure. Respondents should only submit information that they wish to make publicly available and should not enclose any information considered confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure. In responding to this RFI, DO NOT include any information that might be considered proprietary, trade secrets and/or confidential.

RFI DISCLAIMER

https://opr-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAsd-CopzgoHNHMlrNBDel3B4k2IjfNHC2f https://opr-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAsd-CopzgoHNHMlrNBDel3B4k2IjfNHC2f mailto:Contracts@opr.ca.gov mailto:CRC@sgc.ca.gov

RFI Solicitation #SGC23158

The purpose of this RFI solicitation is to seek information, suggestions, and best practices for the technical resources needed for evaluation services for the project “CRC Implementation Grants”. This RFI will not result in the award of a contract agreement. It may however result in a list of the necessary deliverables that will then be suggested for SGC to consider in developing the scope of future evaluation processes.

Completion of this RFI shall be performed at no cost to the State. The intent of this RFI is solely for information and planning purposes. A contract will not be awarded as a result of this RFI.

For further information:

Visit: https://sgc.ca.gov/programs/community-resilience-centers/

Email: CRC@sgc.ca.gov

G. CRC IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS: OVERVIEW & PROGRAM

EVALUATION CONSIDERATIONS

Overview: CRC Implementation Grants will provide funding for implementation of Capital Projects, as well as Community Resilience Services and Programs. Capital Projects include (1) CRC Facility Construction and Retrofits in addition to (2) Campus Amenities. The first include activities such as direct construction, retrofits, and upgrades, while the latter includes construction or improvements to amenities located at the CRC Facility that strengthen the local community’s resilience to climate and other disasters, such as installing rain gardens or planting shade trees. The Implementation Grant also funds (3) Community Resilience Services and Programs, which are services and programs that operate out of the CRC Facility that build community resilience and encourage year-round use of the CRC Facility.

At a high level, CRC Implementation Grants have the following objectives:

• Offer multi-benefit physical community-serving spaces, resilient to current and future climate hazards.

• Provide integrated delivery of essential services and programming to local communities during and following disasters, emergencies, and disruption events, including resources and assistance for folks experiencing and navigating post-disaster recovery, as well as year-round to address ongoing community needs and build community cohesion.

• Integrate physical infrastructure projects with social infrastructure, through community driven partnerships and programming to increase climate resilience, expand economic opportunities, and reduce health, environmental, and social inequities across California.

• Leverage and build a skilled, diversified, and trained workforce and promote local workforce development and training opportunities, with a focus on preparing community members for healthy, safe, and sustaining high-quality career pathway jobs in a future net zero carbon economy that are resilient to current and future climate change impacts.

• Build, strengthen, and sustain local leadership and grassroots engagement in civic and community development, and climate resilience awareness and activities.

https://sgc.ca.gov/programs/community-resilience-centers/

RFI Solicitation #SGC23158

Program Evaluation Considerations:

CRC Implementation Grantees must each work with a third-party independent program Evaluator to provide project-related data. In partnership with SGC staff, the Evaluator will develop a statewide program evaluation framework and work with grantees to identify indicators for tracking and monitoring for their project.

The evaluation will establish and analyze the specific, measurable outcomes achieved by the program. The results of this evaluation will provide lessons learned and potential recommendations for overall program improvement, offering insights for future CRC funding rounds, as well as related climate resilience and community resilience funding opportunities.

Given CRC program design and objectives, the Evaluator will also closely assess ability to serve priority communities statewide and at the neighborhood-scale.

The program evaluation will consider, at minimum:

Impact on Climate Resilience – Grantees will need to work with the Evaluator to collect and report on data that will allow them to assess how the CRC Project, space, and resources strengthen local resilience to climate change impacts. This will include a wide range of applicable climate change impacts, including drought, floods, extreme heat, sea level rise, and wildfires. Evaluation will assess the efficacy of the CRC Project, space, and resources at preparing for, responding to, and recovering from climate impacts, through both the Capital Projects included (such as structure hardening, energy backup systems, or transit vehicles used to bring people to the CRC during disasters), as well as the Community Resilience Services and Projects (such as food and water distribution during and after a climate disaster).

Impact on Community Resilience – Grantees will need to work with the Evaluator to collect data that will allow them to assess how the CRC Project, space, and resources impact local community resilience. This may include, but is not limited to, information on:

social cohesion, health impacts, economic opportunities, and civic engagement and participation.

Metrics will be collected on the use of the Community Resilience Center to assess the program’s impact on both climate resilience and community resilience. Grantees will need to provide CRC Facility usage information. This may include but is not limited to: how many people visit the CRC Facility and their county of residence, purpose for attending, and resources utilized. Usage data will examine the impact of the CRC Facility year-round, as well as during disruptions and disasters such as drought, earthquakes, extreme temperatures, flooding, sea level rise, and wildfires.

Further details about the CRC Program can be found in the Round 1 Grant Guidelines.

https://sgc.ca.gov/grant-programs/crc/docs/20231214-CRC_Round_1_Guidelines_Revised.pdf

RFI Solicitation #SGC23158

H. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: KEY QUESTIONS

This Request for Information (RFI) seeks to gather public input on the priority considerations for an evaluation framework that will provide specific, measurable outcomes achieved by the program, offer lessons learned and potential recommendations for program improvement, and serve priority communities statewide. Respondents do not need to address every question and should focus on those where they have views or relevant expertise.

Please limit responses to the questions in each section to 500 words.

1. What core components must a program evaluation framework for the CRC Implementation Grant Program include and why?

a. How can a framework be flexible and enable local communities to self-determine goals and indicators to measure local resilience?

b. What existing data/information gaps might pose a barrier to comprehensively evaluating the impact of a CRC?

2. CRC Implementation Grants will provide funding for implementing (1) CRC Facility

Construction and Retrofits in addition to (2) Campus Amenities and (3) Community Resilience Services and Programs. What key indicators and metrics should be used to assess the success and impact of these proposal types? (This could include standard or differing indicators/metrics for each project type as well as community).

a. How can a framework be flexible to account for the different types of Implementation Grant proposals?

b. What are best practices for evaluation frameworks for programs that support capital projects?

c. What are best practices around evaluation frameworks for programs that support services and programs?

d. Are there limitations/challenges to tracking programs that support both capital projects and programs?

3. To achieve the CRC Implementation Grant Program Objectives, each CRC proposal must include at least four (4) of the strategies listed below. What key indicators and metrics could be used to assess each strategy’s progress in achieving climate resilience and/or community resilience?

a. Energy Resilience - Build or enhance the CRC’s capacity to prepare for and withstand energy-related disruptions, improve overall energy efficiency, and provide energy access and resources to local community during emergency activations and year-round.

b. Water Resilience - Build or enhance the CRC’s capacity to prepare for and withstand water-related disruptions, improve overall water efficiency, and provide water access to local community during emergency activations and year-round.

c. Air Quality and Public Health - Build or enhance the CRC’s capacity to provide clean air during emergency activations and year-round; equip local communities with resources, information, and trainings on public health and extreme weather conditions, including extreme heat; and support social cohesion and community resilience.

RFI Solicitation #SGC23158

d. Nature-Based Solutions and Food Security - Build or enhance the CRC’s capacity to provide food during emergency activations and year-round; develop or strengthen nature-based solutions to mitigate climate impacts; and provide resources, information, and trainings for local community members on nature-based solutions and healthy foods.

e. Emergency Preparedness and Critical Communication - Build or enhance the CRC’s capacity to prepare for and withstand emergency activations; develop and strengthen local critical communications infrastructure and networks; and provide local community with resources, information, and trainings for emergencies and critical communications.

f. Mobility and Access - Build or enhance the CRC’s capacity to serve local community members, particularly priority populations, effectively and adequately during emergency activations and year-round; develop or strengthen accessible transportation options to the CRC Facility; and enhance mobility options for local communities.

g. Workforce Development, Education, and Training - Build or enhance the CRC’s capacity to provide local workforce development trainings; develop and provide workforce opportunities and support relevant to local community members’ strengths, priorities, and needs; and equip local communities with increased access to leadership and advocacy, civic engagement, jobs and careers, and other economic opportunities.

4. All CRCs must meet the required functions below. What metrics or indicators will measure the success of these functions?

a. Open and accessible to the public and offer Community Resilience Services and Programs year-round to community members;

b. Able to be activated seven (7) days per week for heat waves and other climate emergencies that do not require overnight sheltering; and

c. Able to be activated for overnight-shelter 24/7 during larger-scale climate emergencies OR able to coordinate transport of community members to an identified nearby evacuation shelter.

5. What are important considerations for collaborating with diverse grantees in the development of the evaluation framework?

a. What are best practices for an evaluator working with a community partner?

(e.g., communication expectations, timeline development, feedback practices)?

b. What types of activities, methods, or tools should be included in the evaluation process to support grantee capacity?

c. What local dynamics and capacity challenges may present a barrier here? What resources or structure might help alleviate these challenges?

6. The CRC model calls for robust, meaningful, and culturally appropriate community engagement throughout all phases of the project. What are metrics or indicators to measure the impact and strength of a project’s community engagement and/or local community governance?

7. What are potential challenges for sustaining the long term operations of a CRC?

8. What types of expertise, competencies, and skills are essential in an evaluator for this program? What types of criteria should SGC consider in selecting a third-party evaluator?

RFI Solicitation #SGC23158

9. What types of activities should a third-party evaluator consider for this scope of work?

10. If available, please email an example of previous agreements or contracts for evaluation that could inform this framework to CRC@sgc.ca.gov. (Please include in the email subject line, “CRC Implementation Grant RFI”.)