Request for Proposals for System Navigation/Community Health Worker (Promotores) Program

The City of South San Francisco invites proposals from qualified local non-profits and community based organizations to support and implement the City's System Navigation/Community Health Worker Program, known as the Promotores Program. The program aims to provide culturally competent outreach, education, and system navigation services to South San Francisco residents. The selected organization will be responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising Promotores who will engage with the community, conducting culturally relevant outreach and education on key community health and social service issues, partnering with local stakeholders to enhance service delivery, assisting vulnerable community members with social safety net system navigation, and providing data and progress reports on program implementation.

Interested non-profits and community based organizations must submit a proposal detailing their organizational capability, including experience in providing similar services, past successful programs, and at least three references. Additionally, respondents must identify at least one manager who will supervise the Promotores and be accountable for the program, include resumes or qualifications of key personnel, and provide their most recent audited financial statements to demonstrate fiscal responsibility. Applicants must confirm their acceptance of the City’s professional services contract, which is included in the attachments. Proposals will be evaluated based on demonstrated experience, the strength of the proposed program approach, qualifications of key personnel, financial stability, leverage of non-City funding to provide the Promotores services, price proposal, and willingness to accept the agreement terms. For questions, please submit them through ProcureNow no later than March 14, 2025. Proposals must be submitted electronically via ProcureNow no later than March 26, 2025 at 5:00PM. Late submissions will not be considered.

The South San Francisco Promotores Program was established to address the unique cultural and linguistic barriers that many residents face when accessing housing, health, and social services. The intention of the program is to expand system navigation support for people of color and other historically disenfranchised community members and build trust between community members and the City. Promotores, or community health workers, play a vital role in bridging these gaps by prov iding trusted peer-to-peer education and support. The program has been instrumental in increasing awareness about critical health and social issues, improving access to resources, and fostering community engagement. However, to ensure its continued success, the program requires strong leadership, structured management, and a sustainable workforce. The right organization will understand the importance of cultural competency, community trust, and strategic partnerships in making a lasting impact. The program also requires bilingual staff to serve South San Francisco’s diverse community.

Running the Promotores Program presents several challenges, including finding and retaining competent staff, ensuring proper training and professional development, and maintaining effective management oversight. Many Promotores come from the communities they serve, which is a strength but also requires investment in training to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge. Additionally, high turnover rates can impact program continuity, making staff retention strategies critical. A successful proposal will demonstrate a clear approach to recruitment, ongoing training, and staff retention, as well as an efficient management structure to oversee operations. The organization that excels in these areas will not only meet the program’s objectives but will also strengthen the overall health and well-being of South San Francisco’s diverse communities.

From January to September 2024, the SSF Promotores Program supported 225 new clients and 80 returning clients. The majority of clients spoke Spanish (~89%), followed by English (~10%) and Tagalog (

See the attachments section for a copy of the "SSF Promotores Program Work Plan," which was developed in 2022.