Dane County Board of Supervisors Strategic Community Engagement

The Dane County Board of Supervisors is seeking a strategic community engagement vendor to conduct a comprehensive research project involving 12 focus groups throughout Dane County, Wisconsin. The primary objectives include gathering resident input on policy concerns and priorities using a racial and social equity lens, with specific requirements for focus group diversity, including dedicated sessions for Spanish and Hmong speaking residents. Additionally, two focus groups will be conducted in the Sheriff's Office West Precinct specifically addressing the body worn camera pilot project. The vendor must design and facilitate these focus groups, analyze results, and produce two final reports - one covering broader community priorities and another detailing the body worn camera project findings. Proposal evaluation will be based on a 100-point system: 15 points for staff qualifications, 25 points for statement of qualifications, 5 points for timeline, 35 points for project approach, and 20 points for cost. The RFP was released on January 3, 2024, with questions due by January 29, 2024, and final proposals required by February 15, 2024 at 2:00 pm, with project completion expected by July 2024.

Local vendors in Dane County receive a significant advantage, automatically gaining 5 additional points in the evaluation process, which emphasizes the county's commitment to supporting local businesses. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, the RFP strongly emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. The project will be executed through a phased approach with milestone-based payments, requiring vendors to provide biweekly communications throughout the engagement. Although a specific budget range is not disclosed, the comprehensive nature of the project suggests a substantial investment in community research and engagement. The selected vendor will be expected to align with the Dane County Board's "Engage Dane" initiative, demonstrating a commitment to improving community-government communication and understanding. Vendors must submit detailed proposals that comprehensively address staff qualifications, project methodology, implementation timeline, and cost structure to be considered for this strategic community engagement opportunity.