Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Language Access Pilot Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, aims to ensure equitable access to city services and civic engagement for all residents, regardless of their language or communication abilities. The firm selected under this RFP will perform a range of services to support the successful delivery of: - A comprehensive assessment report, detailing the language and communication access needs and any service gaps in the City. - A detailed data and evaluation plan for the City to utilize in implementing the Language Access Pilot Program, with progress report templates for relevant City staff and stakeholders to complete at regular intervals. - Evaluation report on City policies regarding language and communication access, detailing guidelines to implement and institutionalize best practices Specific services to be provided by the vendor selected under this RFP include: 1. Conduct a needs assessment to evaluate the current language and communication needs of residents in the City. a. The needs assessment should include detailed information regarding the language and communication needs of the City’s residents. The needs assessment will support the City in identifying the languages and communication needs for City services, including but not limited to, document translation and interpretation. b. Services for conducting a quality needs assessment include: i. Identify and engage with key stakeholders, including community organizations, residents, city employees, and service providers. ii. Conduct focus groups, surveys, and interviews to gather qualitative and quantitative data on language and communication needs. iii. Analyze demographic data to understand the linguistic and communication diversity of the City. iv. Review and analyze existing language and communication access services in the City and identify service gaps and/or accessibility barriers that may exist for City residents. 2. Following the completion of the needs assessment, the comprehensive report should include recommendations for addressing the needs and service gaps identified.
