Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Program

Agency:	City of Berkeley
State:	California
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services 541618 - Other Management Consulting Services 541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 611430 - Professional and Management Development Training 611710 - Educational Support Services
Posted Date:	Mar 21, 2024
Due Date:	Apr 16, 2024
Solicitation No:	24-11659-C
Bid Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

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Finance Department

General Services Division

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Specification No. #24-11659-C

FOR

Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Program

PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE OPENED AND READ PUBLICLY

Dear Proposer:

The City of Berkeley is soliciting written proposals from qualified firms or individuals to work with the City of

Berkeley to establish and implement a Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Program. As a Request for

Proposal (RFP) this is not an invitation to bid and although price is very important, other factors will be taken into

consideration.

The project scope, content of proposal, and vendor selection process are summarized in the RFP (attached).

Proposals must be received no later than 2:00 pm on ThursdayApril 16, 2024. Proposals are to be sent via

email with the “Specification No. #24-11659-C and “Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Program”

clearly indicated in the subject line of the email. Please submit one (1) PDF of the technical Proposal with the

filename saved as, “Proposal Vendor Name - #24-11659-C “Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention

Program” Corresponding pricing proposal shall be submitted as a separate document with the filename saved as,

“Pricing Vendor Name - - #24-11659-C “Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Program.”

Email Proposals to:

City of Berkeley

Finance Department/General Services Division

purchasing@berkeleyca.gov

Proposals will not be accepted after the date and time stated above. Incomplete proposal or proposals that do not

conform to the requirements specified herein will not be considered. Issuance of the RFP does not obligate the City

to award a contract, nor is the City liable for any costs incurred by the proposer in the preparation and submittal of

proposals for the subject work. The City retains the right to award all or parts of this contract to several bidders, to

not select any bidders, and/or to re-solicit proposals. The act of submitting a proposal is a declaration that the

proposer has read the RFP and understands all the requirements and conditions.

For questions concerning the anticipated work, or scope of the project, please contact Carianna “Cari”

Arredondo (Project Manager), Assistant to the City Manager, via email at carredondo@berkeleyca.gov no later

than Monday, April 9th, 2024. Answers to questions will not be provided by telephone or email. Answers to all

questions or any addenda will be posted on the City of Berkeley’s site at Bid & Proposal Opportunities | City of

Berkeley (berkeleyca.gov). It is the vendor’s responsibility to check this site. For general questions concerning the

submittal process, contact purchasing at 510-981-7320.

We look forward to receiving and reviewing your proposal.

Sincerely,

Darryl Sweet

General Services Manager

2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 Tel: 510.981.7320 TDD: 510.981.6903

E-mail: purchasing@berkeleyca.org Website: cityofberkeley.info/finance/

City of Berkeley

Specification No. #24-11659-C

Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Program

SUMMARY

Page 2 of 23

Released 3/20/2024

In response to the growing gun violence crisis, Berkeley has introduced the Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention

Program within its larger "Reimagining Public Safety" framework. Aiming for a comprehensive reduction in gun

violence incidents, this initiative blends community engagement, strategic collaboration between internal city

departments and external organizations, field experts, and methods based on empirical evidence.

With a $2M budget for a two-year pilot (Not to exceed $1M per fiscal year), the Gun Violence Intervention and

Prevention program aims to employ a four-pronged strategy that includes:

• Place-based interventions at critical areas with increased shootings,

• Direct engagement with individuals at risk via custom notifications,

• Street outreach, and

• Provision of robust social services.

The program, which is overseen by the City Manager’s Office, is seeking proposals for the design and implementation

of the custom notifications and street outreach components, as detailed below. It is crucial to understand that custom

notifications require collaboration with law enforcement, whereas street outreach involves a one-way communication

channel from the police to outreach workers.

Proposals may address either one or both components. While proposals may involve collaboration among multiple

Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), prospective bidders must identify a lead organization and may

include partner organizations in their submissions.

• Custom Notifications: Custom notifications in Berkeley are a collaborative strategy by law enforcement

and community-based organizations to mitigate gun violence and target high-risk individuals with

simultaneous "hard" and "soft" messaging. The "hard" message, delivered by police, outlines specific legal

consequences for future violent acts, emphasizing immediate legal risks. Concurrently, a "soft" message from

a community-based organization (CBO) conveys support and care, offering access to social services and

assistance. This approach combines clear warnings about the consequences of violence with offers of help,

aiming to deter violence through awareness of the repercussions and provision of alternatives. Custom

notifications leverage social network analysis (SNA) to identify those at risk and employ focused deterrence

to reduce gun violence, making it clear that violence is intolerable while also providing pathways to support

and change.

• Street Outreach: A critical aspect of their operation is the unidirectional flow of information from police

to outreach workers, keeping them informed about recent incidents without compromising their neutrality

and community trust. Street outreach, conducted by Violence Interrupters, is a public health strategy aimed

at curbing the spread of violence as a social contagion in communities. These workers, often with personal

experiences of incarceration or violence, use their credibility and understanding of street culture to mediate

conflicts and prevent violence escalation. They act as crucial connectors between individuals engaged in

violence and broader gun violence intervention programs, enhancing law enforcement efforts with their

community trust. Their role includes real-time violence identification and interruption, mentoring high-risk

individuals, facilitating workshops and peaceful demonstrations. This partnership allows them to effectively

prevent retaliation and support individuals at risk, by reinforcing community norms against violence and

fostering a safer environment.

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals from community-based organizations and service providers that have

the expertise and ability to quickly meet the City’s need to create a successful pilot program for the Gun Violence

Intervention and Prevention Program in the City of Berkeley. The selected applicant(s) will be required to comply

with all applicable requirements for such funds and will be required to report to the City regularly on the use of funds

and services beneficiaries.

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Specification No. #24-11659-C

Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Program

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Page 3 of 23

Released 3/20/2024

Applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review the report and recommendations, as outlined in Attachments 1 to 4.

The selected provider(s) must demonstrate a collaborative approach, involving a wide range of internal and external

organizations, community stakeholders and show expertise in gun violence intervention and prevention

programming; evidenced by a strong commitment to data-driven evaluation, ability to remain within budget limits,

foster effective cross-functional collaboration is crucial for the successful implementation and achieve a measurable

decrease in gun violence incidents. The City is looking for detailed proposals for its Gun Violence Intervention and

Prevention program, specifically focusing on designing and implementing street outreach and custom notification

initiatives in alignment with the criteria provided. The sections below serve as a detailed outline and guide for the

City’s expectations for submissions regarding the program narrative:

A. STRATEGIC PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Proposals must incorporate advanced strategies based on criminological and public health research and detail

methodologies and approaches for engaging the target population, including identification methods,

intervention strategies, and case-management coordination and follow-up.

• Comprehensive Strategy Development

 Intervention Methodology: Define a collaborative methodology for engaging in-risk

individuals, specifying criteria and tools used. Include intervention techniques, frequency,

duration, format, and risk assessment protocols.

• Custom Notifications: Given a subset of individuals identified by law enforcement

partners, design a methodology and/or framework for coordinating relevant stakeholders

to create unified custom notifications and delivery methods to the individual.

• Street Outreach: Describe a strategic plan for managing a team of street outreach

workers including day-to-day functions and special activities.

 Effectiveness Indicators: Provide measurable indicators and success metrics for each

component (street outreach and custom notifications), including crime rate reduction, improved

community trust, and other social impact metrics.

• Documentation and Reporting

 Operational Protocols: Outline clear protocols for escalating interventions and response to

emerging situations.

 Community Engagement Plan: Formulate a strategy for sustained engagement with diverse

community members and stakeholders. Identify relationships with field experts.

• Budget and Effectiveness Monitoring

 Budget Monitoring: Provide a detailed breakdown and justification for each budget item.

Describe the financial monitoring system, including checks and balances, audit schedules, and

reporting formats.

 Effectiveness Monitoring: Identify specific tools and methods for monitoring reductions in gun

violence, such as statistical analysis, community surveys, etc., and explain the process for making

program adjustments based on effectiveness data, including decision-making criteria and

implementation timelines.

• Data Management and Evaluation

 Data Collection Tools: Specify tools and software for data collection and analysis.

 Continuous Improvement Plan: Outline a plan for regular program review and refinement

based on data insights.

B. IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE MONITORING

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Specification No. #24-11659-C

Page 4 of 23

Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Program

Released 3/20/2024

Detailed implementation plans are required, including staffing qualifications, resource allocation, operational

timelines, and a scalable framework for program expansion. Proposals should address integrating innovative

and culturally sensitive practices, considering the diverse needs of the community.

• Implementation Planning

 Operational Framework: Outline the operational framework, staffing roles, qualifications, and

resource allocation for the program. Focus on the logistical aspects of implementing the proposed

strategies.

 Resource Allocation: Present a comprehensive budget with allocations for each program

element and justifications, focused on the direct support of proposed strategies.

• Collaboration and Community Engagement

 Collaboration Framework: Provide a detailed organizational chart showing each entity's

specific responsibilities and points of contact. Describe how the collaboration with various

entities will enhance the program's effectiveness.

 Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Detail specific engagement activities, their

frequency, and expected outcomes, along with strategies to sustain and deepen relationships with

stakeholders, including regular community meetings, feedback mechanisms, etc. Identify

continued partnership with local and national field experts and collaboration with city

departments.

C. OPERATIONAL TIMELINE & LOCATION

Applicants are expected to outline the expectations for the operational timeline and spatial needs of the

program, detailing the specific period post-contract award and providing timelines for each critical phase of

the program.

• Timeline Expectations: Outline a realistic and flexible timeline for the program's operational rollout,

including milestones and benchmarks for the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation phases

of the program.

• Location Considerations: While the City of Berkeley will not provide a location due to the fieldwork

nature of this program, we are open to exploring possible city space for operational needs, if necessary.

Applicants should detail their plan for location needs, how they intend to address fieldwork requirements,

and any potential city space utilization if applicable.

D. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY AND EXPERTISE

Applicants must demonstrate extensive experience and expertise in gun violence intervention and prevention,

showcasing a deep understanding of the dynamics of gun violence and the ability to implement effective

programs.

• Organizational Experience

 Case Study Details: Include data from past programs, specifying the number of individuals

reached, the reduction in violent incidents, and other relevant metrics.

 Insight Application: Describe how previous lessons will be applied in the Berkeley context,

with modifications or enhancements specific to local needs.

• Training and Development

 Curriculum Specifics: Provide a detailed training schedule, including topics covered and

qualifications of trainers.

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Specification No. #24-11659-C

Page 5 of 23

Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Program

Released 3/20/2024

 Training Evaluation: Outline methods for assessing the effectiveness of training, such as pre-

and post-assessment, staff feedback, and performance metrics.

This RFP is designed to facilitate the selection of a comprehensive, collaborative, and innovative approach to reduce

gun violence in our community through targeted, data-driven interventions and strategic collaborations.

III. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All proposals shall include the following information, organized as separate sections of the proposal. The proposal

should be concise and to the point.

1. Contractor Identification:

Provide the name of the firm, the firm's principal place of business (see section VII, F. – Local Vendor

Preference), the name and telephone number of the contact person and company tax identification number.

2. Client References:

Provide a minimum of 3 client references. References should be California cities or other large public sector

entities. Provide the designated person's name, title, organization, address, telephone number, and the project(s)

that were completed under that client’s direction.

3. Price Proposal:

The proposal must provide detailed pricing for all services, ensuring all program work does not surpass $1M (per

fiscal year) for the broader two-year $2M pilot program. Pricing shall be all inclusive unless indicated otherwise.

Pricing proposals shall be a separate document. The Proposal shall itemize all services, including hourly rates for

all professional, technical and support personnel, and all other charges related to completion of the work.

Evaluation of price proposals are subject to the local vendor business preference (see section VII.F.)

Please complete the Program Budget Template (See Attachment 4).

Note: The City of Berkeley intends to use this two-year pilot program as a foundation for developing a

comprehensive approach to gun violence intervention and prevention. The focus will be on employing effective

street outreach methods and custom notifications as principal strategies, as outlined in the attached report and

recommendations.

4. Contract Terminations:

If your organization has had a contract terminated in the last five (5) years, describe such incident.

Termination for default is defined as notice to stop performance due to the vendor’s non-performance or poor

performance and the issue of performance was either (a) not litigated due to inaction on the part of the vendor,

or (b) litigated and such litigation determined that the vendor was in default.

Submit full details of the terms for default including the other party’s name, address, and phone number. Present

the vendor’s position on the matter. The City will evaluate the facts and may, at its sole discretion, reject the

proposal on the grounds of the past experience.

If the firm has not experienced any such termination for default or early termination in the past five (5) years, so

indicate.

RFP Revised Nov2022

Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Program

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