Overview
The Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) was created to promote a sustainable and equitable recovery from the economic distress of COVID-19 by supporting new plans and strategies to diversify local economies and develop sustainable industries that create high-quality, broadly accessible jobs for all Californians.
To achieve this goal, the State of California awarded $5 million grants to thirteen designated regions to fund the development of region-specific economic development strategies that support the creation of quality jobs and equal access to those jobs.
In Los Angeles County, the California Community Foundation (CCF) and the Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles (LAEDC) serve as the region’s Fiscal Agent and Regional Convener, respectively, and are responsible for overseeing the $5 million grant awarded to the region.
As Fiscal Agent, CCF is responsible for financial oversight, ensuring compliance with all state rules and regulations, monitoring, reporting and auditing requirements. As Regional Convener, LAEDC is responsible for facilitating the creation of a High Road Transition Collaborative, convening around a singular vision for an equitable economic transition and producing 1.) a planning phase plan and 2.) a regional summary report.
The purpose of this page is to provide public notice of available contracting and grant opportunities under CERF. To learn more about the CERF effort in Los Angeles County, please visit the LAEDC CERF website: https://laedc.org/cerf/
CCF is currently seeking Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to support CERF. Specific information regarding the contracting opportunity, eligibility, and application instructions are available using the links below.
ER-CERF-01 Economic Research and Consultation Services – the Los Angeles HRTC is seeking a qualified consultant to develop a CERF Regional Index to profile the region’s economic development environment and provide an Economic Development Summary. Any proposed analysis would need to address economic conditions experienced by the various demographic groups residing in the region and demonstrate a plan as to how best to capture missing gaps as well as partners necessary to assist with outreach and survey efforts to the different ethnic groups.
View/Download RFP | Budget Template | Bidder’s Conference Recording Passcode: jv2aL++6
To apply: See “How to Apply” section below
ER-CERF-02 Economic Research and Consultation Services: Industry Clusters: Regional Benchmark and Accountability Data Tool – The Los Angeles HRTC is seeking a qualified consultant to develop a countywide Regional Benchmark and Accountability Data Tool with a dynamic geographic overlay of all nine subregions identified by the HRTC (Los Angeles County Service Planning Areas (SPA) 1 through SPA 8, with SPA 6 split into part 6-a and part 6-b). The data tool will be used by industry, education and community-based organizations (CBOs) in the HRTC to understand their constituent challenges, unmet needs and barriers to recovery, in order to draw conclusions, make predictions, and drive informed decision making. As part of the Industry Clusters analysis, an assessment of the impacts of climate change on targeted emerging industries, sectors, or clusters and how these impacts might hinder success of the proposed plans and transition strategies (e.g., damage to critical infrastructure, cost of pollution control, loss of productivity, loss of population) will be included.
View/Download RFP | Budget Template | Bidder’s Conference Recording Passcode: jv2aL++6
To apply: See “How to Apply” section below
ER-CERF-03 Economic Research and Consultation Services: CERF Research and Data SWOT, Partnerships and Gap Analysis – As a part of the CERF regional summary, the Los Angeles HRTC is seeking a qualified consultant to perform an in-depth analysis of regional Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (i.e., SWOT), especially as it relates to equitable economic resilience and growth of sustainable industry clusters. The CERF Research and Data SWOT, Partnerships and Gaps Analysis will draw from data and components covering the Los Angeles County region. The analysis should provide insight on all nine subregions identified by the HRTC (Los Angeles County Service Planning Areas (SPA) 1 through SPA 8, with SPA 6 split into part 6-a and part 6-b). Any proposed analysis would need to address economic conditions experienced by the various demographic groups residing in the region and demonstrate a plan as to how best to capture missing gaps as well as partners necessary to assist with outreach and survey efforts to the different ethnic groups.
View/Download RFP | Budget Template | Bidder’s Conference Recording Passcode: jv2aL++6
To apply: See “How to Apply” section below
All applicants, both private sector organizations and not‐for‐profit organizations, must not be suspended or debarred from receiving State funding. CCF will not award contracts to or consent to subcontractors with bidders, contractors, or affiliates that appear on any disqualified, suspended, or debarment list issued by any agency of the state government.
Eligible applicants must also comply with all Conflict‐of‐Interest requirements.
All proposals must be submitted electronically via email at CCF-CERF [@] calfund [.] org no later than the date and time outlined within each specific RFP opportunity. Please note that each date may be different. Applications will not be accepted via facsimile or paper submission.
For more information about this program, contracting, or grant opportunities, please contact CCF-CERF [@] calfund [.] org.
For RFP No. 2, are the targeted emerging industries already identified, or will the consultant have the ability to define them?
Answer: HRTC has come up with industries but would like to hear from experts to see if it aligns.
Where will the data tool ultimately live, and who will maintain it upon the completion of the project?
Answer: The data tool will be identified by the CERF Research Analyst, potentially, in collaboration with the chosen research vendor(s), and will live on a page within the dedicated CERF website, https://lacerf.org/. The CERF Research Analyst will maintain the data tool upon the completion of the CERF Program.
Do the proposed timelines for all three projects overlap over the same 8-week period of performance commencing no later than October 20?
Answer: Tentative. Depending on work needing to be completed. Can be negotiated as needed.
Is there a reason why these projects are taking place concurrently?
Answer: Due to the timeline of deliverables to the State.
What is the Q & A RFP submission deadline and the CCF response date?
Answer: Written Questions Deadline is August 25, 2023; 5 PM (PT) and the responses will be posted 5 business days afterwards, no later than September 1, 2023.
Will all Q & As and responses be published?
Answer: Yes, on the CCF website located here Community Economic Resilience Fund – California Community Foundation (calfund.org).
Is the data tool considered an asset that will have publicly funded asset ownership and distribution restrictions?
Answer: The data collected during the CERF Program, and the data tool will be an asset of the state of California but will be available to the public with distribution restrictions determined by the state of California.
Does the third RFP vendor collect data from the HRTC funded 90 organizations who are supposed to be the parties collecting community survey data?
Answer: The research vendor(s) will work directly with the HRTC, CBO’s, Affinity Hubs, process mapping vendor, and Steering Committee on all tasks and deliverables.
Will this vendor hire its own subcontractor to gather surveys?
Answer: If a vendor needs to hire its own subcontractor, as long as it follows CCF guidelines it should be okay.
Does that mean Aug 30 is the CCF Q & A response?
Answer: Written Questions Deadline is August 25, 2023; 5 PM (PT) and the responses will be posted 5 business days afterwards, no later than September 1, 2023.
Is the vendor doing the work of the CBO subregional micro-grantees were structured to do?
Answer: No. The research vendor(s) will work directly with the HRTC, CBO’s, Affinity Hubs, process mapping vendor, and Steering Committee on all tasks and deliverables.
At the proposal stage, should bidders provide all items detailed in Attachment 5 – CCF Contractor Check List, or should this be provided upon project award?
Answer: These items will need to be provided at contracting stage should you be selected/awarded. At this stage, we just need you to review and ensure you have and meet those items.
RE: The CERF Regional Index will be a composite of five regional CERF indices addressing the identified CERF values – Equity, Sustainability, Job Quality & Access, Economic Competitiveness, and Resilience. Does CERF have a specific set of indicators they feel are most relevant for each of the five regional CERF indices?
Answer: No, the CERF Program is open to ideas how each bidder visualizes approaching the scope of work. Each bidder’s interpretation of the project from the scope of work will be evaluated to determine the final consultant(s).
RE: Index development should include engagement with identified underserved communities and the largest employers (top 5) in each subregion; the goal of the survey is to understand their specific labor market opportunities, challenges, barriers, including reasons driving business formation in the region and any issues these businesses may be experiencing. Does CERF assist with the engagement (e.g. provide contact information) or is it solely the responsibility of the consultant?
Answer: The CERF Program will certainly assist with engaging the consultant(s) with the community. In some instances, the largest employers may already be involved with the CERF process through support, but in other instances, the CERF Team and members of the HRTC can assist the consultant(s) with engaging them with employers to gather relevant data.
If the applicant is unable to build a proposal and workplan that adheres to the 8-week period of estimated performance for the contract, should the applicant propose a workplan that extends beyond 8-weeks? If so, does the CERF process timeline impose time constraints that the applicant should be aware of as it relates to this work?
Answer: If the applicant’s workflow suggests that a more realistic timeline will extend beyond the 8-week period, feel free to suggest a longer workplan. If the CERF Team and state of California determine that the remaining deliverables (outside of what the chosen candidate must deliver) can be completed on time after analyzing the applicant’s proposal, the applicant’s proposal will be considered without decreasing their evaluation score.
On page 7 (of 22) the ER-CERF-01 RFP states: “During the eight-week research period, the chosen consultant may be required to attend stakeholder meetings to compile data and gather into a report for other stakeholder groups to disaggregate and use to make informed decisions.” Can the CCF elaborate on what data is expected to be compiled and aggregated and how it varies from the element of the CERF regional index that are referenced throughout the document?
Answer: If consultants are summoned to attend any stakeholder meetings, the HRTC stakeholders, Steering Committee, and/or Affinity Hub Leads may determine what data is to be collected. The consultants will be notified in a reasonable amount of time prior to any such meetings to prepare properly.
On page 5 (of 22), the ER-CERF-01 RFP states the consultant will need engagement with 45 employers in the county (top five x 9 subregions) over the proposed eight-weeks of contract performance. Does the CCF have a preferred method of engagement with employers?
Answer: There is no preferred method of engagement with employers.
What are the CCF’s expectations for methodological coherence across the three engagements (ER-CERF-01, ER-CERF-02, ER-CERF-03) regarding shared variables and metrics?
Answer: The chosen consultant will work with the dedicated CERF Research Analyst in developing and determining methodological coherence across all three engagements.
Given the proposed project timeline for economic research (ER-CERF-01), industry cluster work (ER-CERF-02), SWOT analysis (ER-CERF-03) and Gap Analysis (ER-CERF-03) is all concurrent over an 8-week period, are applicants correct to assume the economic research (ER-CERF-01), and industry cluster work (ER-CERF-02), will not inform the SWOT analysis and Gap analysis (ER-CERF-03)?
Answer: Yes, applicants should assume that the Economic Research & Industry Cluster work will not inform the SWOT and Gap Analysis.
Where can I submit written questions?
Please submit all written questions to CCF-CERF@calfund.org. Written questions will be accepted from August 16 to 25, 2023. Responses will be posted on this website in the FAQ section no later than September 1, 2023, 5 PM.
Does my organization need to have an active Sam.gov account?
No, applicants do not need to have an active SAM.gov account.