HUMAN RIGHTS INVESTIGATION SERVICES

The City of Charlottesville Office of Human Rights is soliciting sealed proposals from qualified vendors to establish a term contract through competitive negotiation for professional human rights investigation services to supplement in-house staff.

The Office of Human Rights receives and attempts to resolve complaints of unlawful discrimination that are jurisdictional under the Charlottesville Human Rights Ordinance (Code of the City of Charlottesville, Chapter 2, Article XV). The Charlottesville Human Rights Ordinance protects individuals against unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, and private education. The Office of Human Rights investigates complaints that are not otherwise resolved through alternative dispute resolution for the purpose of rendering a determination of whether there is reasonable cause to believe a violation of the Charlottesville Human Rights Ordinance has occurred.

The Charlottesville Office of Human Rights and Human Rights Commission were established in 2013 to act as a strong advocate for justice and equal opportunity by providing citywide leadership and guidance in the area of civil rights. Per the Charlottesville Human Rights Ordinance, it is the policy of the City of Charlottesville to safeguard individuals within the City from unlawful discrimination; preserve the public safety, health, and general welfare for the City of Charlottesville; further the interest, rights, and privileges of individuals within the City; and protect citizens of the City against unfounded charges of unlawful discrimination.

A qualified investigation service provider has at least two years of professional investigation experience, has expertise in private sector human and civil rights investigation, and uses a trauma-informed and person-centered approach when working with parties to a complaint. A successful partnership with the Office of Human Rights relies on a commitment to regular and clear communication, as well as a spirit of collaborative problem solving.

The Office of Human Rights employs a full-time in-house investigator who handles the majority of cases received. The third-party investigation service is intended only to supplement the Office’s investigative capacity when caseloads are excessive. A provider can expect to handle between zero to five investigations per calendar year. The Office of Human Rights can provide meeting space for investigative interviews in Charlottesville. Language interpretation and translation services, including American Sign Language (ASL), can be provided for investigation-related activities by the Office of Human Rights upon request.