Request for proposals - equity plan

Portland Community College has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional services to develop a comprehensive Equity Plan, located in Multnomah County, Oregon. The primary objective is to engage a qualified firm to assess the college's current diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives, organizational capacity, and strategic goals. The selected contractor will work directly with executive leadership and the District Leaders of Diversity Council to create an actionable plan that promotes a more welcoming, inclusive, and socially just institutional environment. Key deliverables include a detailed Equity Plan that cultivates a culture of belonging and establishes a planning review cycle for long-term accountability. The RFP requires comprehensive proposal submissions that will be evaluated based on criteria including the firm's understanding of the project, proposed methodology, team qualifications, and experience with similar equity planning initiatives. The proposal was posted on July 12, 2021, with responses due by August 3, 2021, and the anticipated contract award date is September 24, 2021, with all work to be completed by August 2022.

The RFP demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in its procurement process, specifically encouraging proposals from minority-owned, women-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises. The college aims to achieve race and gender contracting equity while providing opportunities for small businesses to participate in the solicitation. While specific budget ranges were not explicitly detailed in the provided documentation, the comprehensive nature of the Equity Plan development suggests a substantial professional services contract. The procurement appears to be open to a wide range of consulting firms with expertise in institutional equity planning, organizational assessment, and strategic diversity initiatives. The college's emphasis on creating an inclusive planning process indicates a preference for contractors with demonstrated experience in developing comprehensive equity strategies across educational institutions.