RFI: Heat Preparedness Fellowship Funding

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking external funding partners for a three-year Heat Preparedness Fellowship position. The fellowship, running from July 2025 through June 2028, aims to advance coordinated heat preparedness and resiliency across state and local government agencies, municipalities, and community organizations. Key objectives include coordinating heat preparedness actions through the ResilientMass Action Team, convening an inter-agency Heat Preparedness Task Force, providing cross-agency technical assistance, and developing a long-term statewide heat adaptation strategy. The selected fellow will work to implement the Commonwealth's ResilientMass Plan, focusing on increasing state capacity and action on heat preparedness. The RFI includes a specific timeline: an informational session is scheduled for February 18, 2025, at 11:00 AM, with questions due by February 21, 2025, and final responses required by March 7, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Respondents must demonstrate organizational alignment with fellowship objectives, specify potential funding levels and duration, and provide information about current membership on Commonwealth statewide contracts.

The RFI does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The EOEEA is seeking $500,000 in total external funding to support the fellowship position, which will cover the fellow's salary and benefits, operational costs including travel for community engagement, and professional development opportunities. It is important to note that this RFI is purely an information-gathering exercise and does not obligate the Commonwealth to issue a subsequent solicitation or contract. Potential funding partners are expected to provide detailed information about their ability to support the fellowship, including potential funding levels, duration of support, and any specific requirements or deliverables associated with their funding commitment. The fellowship will be hosted within the EOEEA and will work closely with the ResilientMass Action Team to coordinate heat preparedness efforts across various state agencies and community organizations. While the RFI does not specify a single incumbent vendor, it seeks collaborative partners interested in supporting the Commonwealth's climate resilience objectives.