Thrive - ELA Program Grant

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment's Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP) is seeking multiple vendors to provide comprehensive integration programming under the Thrive English Language Acquisition (ELA) Program for Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)-eligible individuals and families. The procurement aims to support refugees through a multifaceted approach including connecting individuals to community resources, promoting economic empowerment, building social networks, facilitating learning and independence, supporting health and wellness, and promoting healthy development for children and youth. Proposed services must align with specific model values: family-focused, strengths-based, research-informed, data-driven, client-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally and linguistically fluent. The Request for Applications (RFA) requires applicants to demonstrate financial stability, grant management experience, ability to serve diverse populations, and capability to track data and outcomes. The RFA was posted on April 21, 2025, with applications due by May 24, 2025, covering the Federal Fiscal Year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) with potential renewal through FFY2030.

Eligible applicants are public or private nonprofit/for-profit organizations operating in Colorado with at least two years of experience serving newcomer populations. The procurement targets high-arrival areas including Northeast Aurora, Northeast and Southeast Denver, West Aurora, Pikes Peak Region, North Metro Denver, Greeley, Jefferson County, and Grand Junction, with a focus on serving refugees, Afghan and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees, and emphasizing equitable service delivery across diverse demographics. Priority will be given to new arrivals, recently arrived individuals with integration needs, refugees receiving cash assistance, unemployed refugees, and those seeking to retain or achieve economic independence. Award values are expected to range from $20,000 to $1,500,000, with funding sourced from federal Refugee Support Services through the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The program will be administered on a cost reimbursement basis, requiring detailed documentation including organizational budgets, financial statements, governance information, and robust data collection and evaluation capabilities.