Description
The City of Portland is seeking qualified community-based organizations to provide Community Violence Intervention (CVI) and related support services aligned with the City's Ceasefire Program and the Gun Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS). The selected contractors will deliver coordinated violence intervention services, including intensive case management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and workforce programming. The contractors will operate as part of a coordinated ecosystem and will be guided by the City to ensure alignment with the broader violence reduction strategy. The key services include:
• Intensive Case Management (ICM) with relationship-based engagement and street-level outreach
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and workforce programming to support behavioral change
• Coordination with Technical Assistance (TA) providers to strengthen implementation, compliance, sustainability, and outreach
The City may make multiple awards, and the initial term of the contract will be 1 year with the option to extend.
Some of the key expectations from the contractors include:
• Partnering and collaborating closely with the City of Portland Ceasefire program
• Participating in coordinated strategy meetings, shooting reviews, and call-ins as required
• Sharing relevant information in a timely and appropriate manner to support violence reduction efforts
• Collaborating with system partners, including law enforcement, hospitals, schools, workforce providers, and other community-based organizations
The evaluation criteria for the proposals will include responsiveness, responsibility, and mandatory criteria, as well as the proposer's capabilities, project approach, and pricing.
Some of the key performance expectations from the contractors include:
• Sustained participant engagement
• Reduced firearm-related involvement
• Increased successful referrals and confirmed participation in employment, education, behavioral health, and substance use treatment services
• Demonstrated improvements in impulse control, emotional regulation, cognitive restructuring, and conflict resolution among participants engaged in CBT programming
The City will provide funding for the selected contractors, with maximum awards ranging from $125K to $1.8M, depending on the service category.
The budget requirements for the contractors include:
• 80% for personnel
• 10% for operations
• 10% for administrative costs
The City is seeking contractors who can provide high-quality services, demonstrate a strong understanding of the Ceasefire program and the GVRS, and have experience working with high-risk individuals and communities.
Some of the key benefits of this opportunity include:
• The chance to work with a coordinated ecosystem of community-based organizations and City agencies to reduce gun violence
• The opportunity to provide intensive case management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and workforce programming to high-risk individuals
• The potential to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and communities affected by gun violence
However, there are also some challenges and considerations that contractors should be aware of, including:
• The need to work with high-risk individuals and communities, which can be challenging and require specialized skills and training
• The importance of maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive information
• The need to collaborate closely with multiple stakeholders, including law enforcement, hospitals, schools, and other community-based organizations
Overall, this opportunity is a great chance for community-based organizations to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and communities affected by gun violence, while also providing high-quality services and demonstrating their capabilities and expertise.