Town closes RFP for comprehensive needs assessment; 11 proposals to be scored

Veronica (committee chair) told members the town closed the request for proposals (RFP) for a comprehensive community needs assessment and that 11 vendors applied.

“Most of us participated in the RAFTELUS study,” Veronica said when introducing why a full needs assessment is needed; she added that the last comprehensive assessment she found dated to February 2008. The new assessment will include surveys, benchmarking, data analysis and comparisons with similar communities.

Staff said the solicitation closed with 11 applicants—significantly higher than recent similar procurements. The town’s procurement software (NeoGov) will be used to score submissions. Veronica asked for volunteers to serve on a small evaluation committee; she suggested a panel of roughly five to seven reviewers consisting of CHS members, CRC members and a few external stakeholders to review and rate proposals using a predefined rubric.

Veronica said she will distribute the applicant packet to committee members “either tomorrow or first thing next week.” The evaluation will be performed in compliance with procurement rules, and results will guide contractor selection and project scope. Committee members discussed timing and the need to assemble stakeholders who can judge technical proposals and later assist with community engagement during the needs-assessment process.

The committee emphasized that the needs assessment will be survey-based with benchmarking and data analysis, and that the evaluation rubric is designed to reduce subjectivity in scoring. Staff encouraged interested committee members to email Veronica or Lexi to be added to the reviewer pool.