Request for Proposals
Philadelphia Urban
Food and Fitness Alliance:
SOW and Grow Initiative
(Philadelphia County)
Issued: January 11, 2010
Issuing Office:
The Philadelphia Foundation serving on
behalf of PUFFA
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR
Philadelphia Urban Food and Fitness Alliance: Sow and Grow Initiative
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Letter from PUFFA
Section 1: History of PUFFA Page 5
Section 2: Scope of Work Page 6
Section 3: Goals and Objectives Page 9
Section 4: Funds Available Page 13
Section 5: Conditions of Award Page 14
Section 6: Information Required from the Applicant Page 17
Appendix A: Sample Resources
Appendix B: Project Summary
Attachments
Attachment 1: Organizational Summary Template
Attachment 2: Budget Template
Please note that electronic versions of all required forms can be found at
https://www.philafound.org/ForNonprofits/NonprofitFormsandApplications/tabid/374/Default.aspx
PUFFA Request for Proposals
Issued: January 11, 2010
January 11, 2010
Dear Applicant:
You are invited to submit a proposal to convene a community-based coalition, in one
region in Philadelphia County, to advocate for, support and provide comprehensive
policy and system change interventions, including environmental interventions that
address access to healthy affordable food and safe places for physical activity. Attached
is a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Philadelphia Urban Food and Fitness Alliance:
Sow and Grow Initiative (PUFFA). Funds are available for a 33 month period through the
Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania (HPC) serving as the grantee on
behalf of PUFFA. The W. K. Kellogg Foundation supports this work.
Proposals are invited to address two (2) of the three (3) goals outlined below.
All applicants must address:
Goal 1: Improve Philadelphia School Food Systems
Applicants must choose between Goal 2 or Goal 3.
Goal 2: Create Opportunities for Active Living in the Natural and Built
Environment
Goal 3: Create Healthy Community Food Systems
Note: One award will be made for Goal 1& 2 and one award for Goal 1 & 3. PUFFA will
fund no more than 2 awards.
Funding is available for two (2) community–based organizations to serve as a
Community Convener serving a targeted neighborhood. Community Conveners must
provide leadership and direction for an existing multi-sector collaborative, serving as the
grantee/fiscal agent. They will be responsible for leading their neighborhood
collaborative to serve as neighborhood activists to educate and advocate for policy and
system changes within their targeted region in Philadelphia County. The target regions
are West, South, Lower North, and/or Kensington/Bridesburg geographic areas.
This RFP is an open competition. Any qualified community-based organization is eligible
to apply. The Philadelphia Foundation has been contracted to serve as an independent
grants administrator serving on behalf of PUFFA for this Request for Proposal. The
Philadelphia Foundation will objectively score all proposals and make recommendations
to fund the top two (2) eligible applicants. HPC serving as the grantee on behalf of
PUFFA will announce awards no later than February 25, 2010. The contract period is
February 25, 2010 – October 31, 2012 (Approx 33 months).
All applicants must:
Attend a mandatory pre-proposal conference for all prospective applicants on
Friday, January 15, 2010 at 3:30 PM. The pre-proposal conference will be held
PUFFA Request for Proposals
Issued: January 11, 2010
at The Philadelphia Foundation located at 1234 Market Street, Suite 1800,
Philadelphia., PA 19107. No more than two people per agency may attend due
to space limitations. To register for the pre-proposal conference, please contact
Libby Walsh at lwalsh@philafound.org.
Submit electronically a complete proposal no later than 5:00 PM February 5,
2010. Late or incomplete proposals will not be accepted.
For information regarding this RFP, please visit
https://www.philafound.org/ForNonprofits/DiscretionaryGrantmaking/tabid/237/Defau
lt.aspx. To ensure that information is shared with all interested applicants and for
continuity, PUFFA will not respond to RFP questions unless asked at the pre-proposal
conference.
Sincerely, Sincerely,
Vanessa Briggs, MBA, RD, LDN Bia Vieria
Executive Director Vice President for Community Impact
Health Promotion Council of Southeastern PA The Philadelphia Foundation
* Electronic version of all proposal forms can be found at
https://www.philafound.org/ForNonprofits/NonprofitFormsandApplications/tabid/374/
Default.aspx. To respond to this RFP, only electronic submission will be accepted.
Submit all requested documents to puffaapplications@philafound.org.
PUFFA Request for Proposals
Issued: January 11, 2010
PLEASE READ ALL INFORMATION THOROUGHLY AND CAREFULLY
SECTION 1
HISTORY OF PUFFA
1-1 Background1
The W. K. Kellogg Foundation provided Philadelphia Urban Food and Fitness Alliance
(PUFFA) with an exciting opportunity to create a three year Community Action Plan – as
part of its new national Food and Community initiative – envisioning a nation that
creates healthy places where all children thrive. In partnership with the new W.K.
Kellogg Foundation Food & Community Program, PUFFA will address two of the root
causes that prevent children from thriving – 1) access to good food and 2) opportunities
for physical activity. PUFFA will transform Philadelphia’s food systems and the places
children live, learn and play.
From April 2007- October 2009, PUFFA was one of nine communities across the country
to receive a planning grant and then successfully receive an award to implement its
Community Action Plan. During the planning period, a new community-driven
collaborative was formed, the PUFFA, to assess the living conditions and environments,
particularly as it relates to food access and physical activity in the natural/built
environments in four regions of the Philadelphia. The Coalition consists of over 40
multi-disciplinary partners including, community advocates/leaders, public health
experts, non-profits, academia, local and state governments, business planners, food
system and economic development experts. Below is a list of some partners:
o Building Healthier Communities
o Black Women in Sport Foundation
o Community Leaders/Advocates
o Fair Food*
o Health Promotion Council*
o Nu Sigma Youth Services*
o Penn State Cooperative Extension*
o Pennsylvania Horticulture Society*
o Philadelphia Department of Health
o Public Health Management Corporation*
o Region III Department of Health and Human Services
o The Common Market*
o The Food Trust*
o Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Center for Urban Health*
o University of Pennsylvania
o WHYY Public Broadcasting
o University Nutrition Initiative
o And host of other partners
*Core partners
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 5 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
PUFFA is seeking new partners to expand its Coalition and implement its Community
Action Plan. Core partners are not eligible to apply to this RFP. The Health Promotion
Council (HPC) will continue to serve as PUFFA’s Grantee/Administrator during the
implementation period, which runs from November 2009-October 2012. Recognizing
that Philadelphia is comprised of a diverse sector of community-based organizations
that could play a critical role in assisting PUFFA to implement its policy and
environmental change strategies, PUFFA is seeking two (2) Community Conveners in
target regions to implement its Community Action Plan.
In summary, PUFFA has joined a national movement to shape how we feed our children
and create safe places where they can be physically active. PUFFA will not fund
programs. It is seeking to fund policy and systemic change as a major driver for
achieving sustainable change in the neighborhoods where Philadelphia’s most
vulnerable children reside. For the purposes of this proposal a system is defined as a
group of interacting, interrelated or independent parts that form a complex and unified
whole. (W.K. Kellogg Foundation)
PUFFA seeks Community Conveners that embrace and understand the importance of
racial equity, community engagement, youth involvement and interdependence as
strategies to transform the systems that impact how fresh, healthy food arrives on the
table, and how places are built and maintained to support active living.
SECTION 2
SCOPE OF WORK
2-1 Purpose. This Request for Proposals (RFP) provides interested applicants with
information to submit proposals to advocate for implementation of improved
food access and built/natural policy and environmental change strategies in ONE
of the four regions identified below in Table 1 (West Philadelphia,
Bridesburg/Kensington/Richmond, Lower North and South Philadelphia).
Applicants must address at least three zip codes within the One targeted region.
Table 2-1. Zip code identification for eligible PUFFA communities
West Bridesburg/Kensington/Richmond Lower North South
Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia
19151 19125 19132 19146
19131 19134 19133 19147
19104 19124 19121 19145
19139 19137 19122 19148
19143 19130 19112
19123
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 6 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
Proposals are invited for support two (2) of the three (3) goals:
Goal 1: Improve Philadelphia School Food Systems (All applicants must address
this goal)
Goal 2: Create Opportunities for Active Living in the Natural and Built
Environment
Goal 3: Create Healthy Community Food Systems
Through this RFP process, two (2) Community Conveners will be selected to partner with
PUFFA (1st applicant will address Goal 1 & 2 and 2nd applicant will address Goal 1 & 3).
The Community Convener must provide leadership and direction for an existing multi-
sector collaborative and serve as the grantee/lead organization fiscally responsibly for
the grant. They will be responsible for leading their neighborhood collaborative to serve
as grassroots neighborhood activists to educate and advocate for policy and system
changes within their targeted region in Philadelphia County. The five main leadership
responsibilities include:
1. Provide overall direction and leadership for an existing neighborhood
collaborative. They will ensure that selected goals and objectives are met and all
activities conducted by the neighborhood collaborative will support PUFFA’s
overall advocacy and education efforts. Such activities include:
convening/facilitating regular monthly meetings, participating in project team,
working group and oversight group meetings; identifying new partners to join
their neighborhood collaborative as needed, engaging youth in their
collaborative and ensuring they create grassroots activists among their
neighborhood collaborative membership.
2. Serve as the liaison between PUFFA Project Team and the Collaborative. PUFFA
project team consists of: Project Staff- HPC Project Director and institutional
content experts: The Food Trust and Fair Food (school food service), PA
Horticultural Society (built/natural land use), Common Market Philadelphia
(community food system), Penn State Cooperative Extension (Project
Coordinator), Nu Sigma Youth Services (youth leadership), and WHYY (media).
Work with the PUFFA Project Team to coordinate communications, evaluation
activities, meetings, and trainings for their neighborhood collaborative.
3. Coordinate, identify and participate with selected grassroots neighborhood
activists in mandatory trainings during the first quarter of the grant. Training
topics include leadership, political advocacy, data collection, food and fitness
systems, and policies and practices to improve food and fitness access, etc.
Participation in training will build the necessary skills to advocate for policy and
system change. PUFFA’s institutional content experts will provide technical
assistance for the Community Convener, assisting them to meet to their goals.
Upon completion of the trainings the Community Conveners will provide
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 7 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
guidance for their neighborhood activists to meet with local officials and policy
makers armed with statistics, talking points, media branding, and briefing papers
to help educate and advocate. Community Conveners will provide support to
embark on grassroots advocacy efforts by building the capacity of residents to
take on leadership activities that support advocating for a range of policy and
system change issues to support the above goals.
4. Educate and advocate to local officials and policy makers in partnership with
PUFFA. For example in addressing Goal 1 all applicants will partner with PUFFA in
their efforts to address the issues of changing food procurement strategies of
schools and other institutions, which require administrative changes by the
school system. If applicants select Goal 2, they will partner with PUFFA on the
impact that zoning has on the built environment. Additionally grassroots
neighborhood activists will also educate local city council members, facilities
administrators on the importance of establishing shared-use agreements
between community-based organizations and facilities that provide opportunity
for active play. Lastly if applicants select Goal 3 they will working with the
“Common Market” or other food enterprise ventures in the neighborhoods
whereby we can help to create new distribution systems such as community
kitchens, schools and other places where people live but fresh and healthy food
is not available. Community Conveners must have the ability to garner additional
financing such as low-interest loans to support these ventures in creating new
systems and building infrastructure.
5. Engage youth to actively participate in neighborhood collaborative. If applicants
select Goal 2 during the first quarter they will work with Nu Sigma Youth
Services, PUFFA evaluators, PA Horticultural Society (PHS) and selected
neighborhood youth to expand PUFFA’s Youth Working Group. They will partner
with PHS to identify the parks, playgrounds, and vacant lots to target for
revitalization beginning in the Spring. Community Conveners with PHS in
apprenticeship gardening initiatives as an opportunity to train youth about
zoning issues. All applicants will work with Nu Sigma Youth Services and PUFFA’s
Youth Working Group to identity neighborhood youth: 1) to support and
implement PUFFA’s communication and marketing plan i.e. website, film
documentary with WHYY, developing and disseminating marketing print
materials and 2) to participate in the PUFFA’s Oversight Working Group.
1-3 Problem Statement.
Though Philadelphia currently is the 6th largest city in the US, Philadelphia’s population
declined from 1.5 million in 2000 to 1.4 million in 2008, a 4.6% decline over the 8-year
period. At 24%, Philadelphia has the third highest poverty rate among large US cities.
Despite 93 colleges in the area, only 12% of Philadelphians over age 25 have Bachelors
degrees—the lowest among the top 10 cities. Data from the Public Health Management
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 8 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
Corporation’s (PHMC) 2008 Household Health Survey (HHS08) indicate that 29% of adult
and 28.4% of children in Philadelphia are obese; 89.8% of adults and 85.6% of children
eat fewer than the recommended 5 fruits and vegetables daily; 27.6% rate the fresh
produce in their community as fair or poor; and 47.2% of adults had take out food at
least once in the past week (35.3% of children had fast food 2 or more times weekly). In
Philadelphia 55% of adults are physically active at least 3 times per week and 45% of
children/youth exercise 5 times or less weekly.
PUFFA Sow and Grow will target two neighborhoods during the three years of
implementation: West, Lower North, South, or Bridesburg/Kensington Philadelphia.
PUFFA selected these regions for their diversity, health disparities, and readiness for,
and feasibility to, change. These four areas contain a population of approximately
410,000 persons. Among these 410,000 people, 52.7% of live at or below 200% poverty
and nearly 92% of families with children live below the 200% poverty level.
Approximately 36% of adults did not graduate from high school and 37% of residents
are under age 24. Fifty-five percent of families are headed by a single parent/caregiver,
and of these families, 82% are headed by women. Overall, 32.8% of residents in PUFFA’s
neighborhoods are White, 50.4% Black, 11.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.8% are Asian.
Public Health Management Corporation’s (PHMC) 2008 Household Health Survey
(HHS08) data show high levels of health disparities in these four communities. Among
adults in the targeted neighborhoods, 10.8% report having a heart condition, 12.8%
diabetes, 35.9% high blood pressure, 35.6%, overweight, and 29.6% obesity. Among
children/youth in the target communities, 27.7% have asthma, 18.2% are overweight,
and 26.3% are obese. 80.3% of children in these neighborhoods eat fewer than 5
servings of fruits/ vegetables daily, and 41.6% are physically active 5 or fewer days
weekly. Fair or poor quality of groceries in the neighborhood was reported by 27.6% of
residents. The major reasons for inactivity among residents are health
problems/physical limitations (41.5%), lack of time (25.5%) and dislike of exercise
(9.4%). 17.5% of Philadelphians in the target communities reported having had to skip a
meal because there wasn’t enough money in the budget.
SECTION 3
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
3-1 PUFFA Goals. PUFFA has worked hard to understand what Philadelphia needs to do
to raise our children and our community to greater achievement. Too often, children
and families lack access to good, affordable food and safe, accessible spaces to play and
be active. This RFP will put PUFFA’s Community Action Plan in motion to address such
inequities. Community Conveners must respond to two (2) of the three (3) goals areas
listed below. All proposals must address Goal Area 1: Improve Philadelphia School
Food Systems and its objectives. Based on the Community Conveners area of
expertise, ability to advocate and policy experience, collective content knowledge and
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 9 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
capacity of its neighborhood coalition, they must either select Goal 2: Create
Opportunities for Active Living in the Natural and Built Environment OR Goal 3 Create
Healthy Community Food Systems.
PUFFA is committed to supporting flexible and innovative evidence-based approaches
that successfully serve disparately impacted communities of color and their vulnerable
children and families. A vulnerable child is defined as living in unsafe neighborhoods,
segregated communities, unhealthy living conditions, single parent-headed households
and/or merely by the color of their skin. Therefore Community Conveners must
demonstrate their capacity and experience in culturally and linguistically tailoring their
approaches to achieve their selected goals within the areas where vulnerable people
reside. PUFFA seeks proposals that will work to create opportunities by means of new
policies, systems, laws and regulations, organizational practices and relationships in the
following goal areas:
Goal Area 1: Improve the Food System in Philadelphia Schools. Objective-to improve
access to healthy food available to children by (a) increasing the number of children
eating breakfast and lunch in Philadelphia schools, and (b) improving the nutritional
quality of food served at breakfast and lunch. PUFFA’s ultimate aim is to ensure that all
children in Philadelphia schools have a fresh wholesome breakfast and lunch. To bring
this about, Community Conveners through its coalition members (grassroots
neighborhood activist) will advocate for changes in local, state and federal school
nutrition-feeding programs, school district-wide procurement policies, and lunch and
breakfast practices at individual schools. Grassroots neighborhood activist will advocate
ensuring that all schools within their region have an “in classroom” breakfast program,
which ensures that all children eligible for free or reduced meals actually eat it. As
PUFFA expands its Collaborative to include two (2) Community Conveners and its
grassroots neighborhood activists they will both focus on working to improve the school
food service and in-classroom breakfast participation by working with school principals
and administration, parents and students. Community Conveners will partner with The
Food Trust and Fair Food to merge farm to school priorities with the in-class breakfast
program advocacy in the school district. These goals and objectives must:
Enhance procurement of locally sourced foods by schools and other institutions;
Ensure quality of school nutrition standards;
Promote leadership for school wellness;
Create parent volunteer networks
Applicants must address Goal Area 2 OR Goal Area 3
Goal Area 2: Create Opportunities for Active Living in the Natural and Built
Environment. Objective-(a) increasing the availability of aesthetically pleasant space for
children, youth, and adults in order to reduce sedentary lifestyles by increasing the
number and quality of available space and through active physical involvement in
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 10 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
neighborhood revitalization efforts and (b) establishing shared-use agreements between
community based organizations and facilities that provide opportunity for active play.
Community Conveners will work with PUFFA's Project Director and will oversee their
grassroots neighborhood activists maximize community access to indoor and outdoor
athletic space by seeking joint use agreements with schools, universities, community-
based organizations with large open spaces such as faith-based institutions and private
gyms. Applicants will budget for a paid (a) youth mentorship programs in community
gardening and landscaping. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) will serve as a
resource for Technical Assistance, Educational and Capacity building workshops and
trainings, and limited gardening supplies and services to interested organizations. In
addition PHS will provide linkages with existing neighborhood parks, community gardens
and vacant lot stabilization efforts in selected communities, where appropriate. PHS
will also support interested participating organizations with the opportunity to link with
existing city wide networks of green champions and advocates, thus expanding the
membership and strengthening the impact and effectiveness of this advocacy
movement.
These goals and objectives must:
Increase access and/or use by community resident of public school facilities for
physical activity and play during non-school hours;
Enhance demand among students, parents and community residents for safe
places for physical activity and play, i.e. land beatification (community gardens
and landscape); and
Build capacity for leadership, civic engagement, and policy advocacy among
youth, parents, community residents, and organizational partners.
Educate and advocate policy makers in partnership with PUFFA. If applicant selects Goal
2, they will partner with PUFFA on the impact that zoning has on the built environment.
Additionally grassroots neighborhood activists will also educate local city council
members, facilities administrators on the importance of establishing shared-use
agreements between community-based organizations and facilities that provide
opportunity for active play.
Engage youth to actively participate in neighborhood collaborative. If applicants select
Goal 2 during the first quarter they will work with Nu Sigma Youth Services, PUFFA
evaluators, and selected neighborhood youth to identify the parks, playgrounds, and
vacant lots to target for revitalization beginning in the Spring. Provide support for youth
to work with PA Horticultural Society in apprenticeship gardening initiatives as an
opportunity to train youth about zoning issues.
Goal Area 3: Create a Healthy Community Food System.
Objective-improving access to healthy and diverse foods in Philadelphia neighborhoods,
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 11 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
bringing about a major systems change by developing a model local food system that
eliminates income and place barriers to accessing fresh, affordable local produce.
Community Conveners will use a three-pronged strategy.
1. Increase the purchasing power of families with children by maximizing
enrollment and benefit levels in SNAP and WIC, while advocating for policy
changes to increase acceptance of EBT cards among vendors selling farm-fresh
produce,
2. Support the expansion of a wide variety of food outlets serving affordable local
produce by linking them to the Common Market. Community Conveners will
partner with The Common Market*, a local food distributor to accomplish
PUFFA’s local food access goals and strategies including: identifying and serving
new micro food outlets within their community, as well as setting up buying
clubs in schools and faith-based sites.
3. Seek to support neighborhood economic development around food, such as
enhancing the food-processing infrastructure through community kitchens
These goals and objectives must:
Enhance agricultural production for sale within communities;
Increase the flow of food grown in adjacent communities, e.g. urban-rural
linkage development;
Increase access and affordability of healthful food through community-kitchens;
Enhance supply chain and food processing infrastructure for entrepreneurial and
employment opportunities.
Educate and advocate policy makers in partnership with PUFFA. Lastly if applicants
select Goal 3 they will working with the “Common Market” or other food enterprise
ventures in the neighborhoods whereby we can help to create new distribution systems
such as community kitchens, schools and other places where people live but fresh and
healthy food is not available. This will require additional financing such as low-interest
loans to support these ventures in creating new systems and building infrastructure.
* The Common Market is a local foods distribution business founded to improve
community food access and make a positive impact on rural farm viability. As a partner
in PUFFA, Common Market can provide a diverse selection of fresh produce to
communities at affordable prices. Delivery can be arranged, given that minimum orders
are met, and buyers can also pick up smaller orders at the Common Market warehouse.
The Common Market will provide technical assistance to the Community Conveners and
will have a dedicated staff person supporting the design of food delivery systems
appropriate to the food ordering methods and size of orders of each community.
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 12 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
SECTION 4
FUNDS AVAILABLE
4-1 Funding Amount and Period
Available Funds Per Year for Each Community Convener
Communit Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
y February 25, November 1, November 1, 2011 Total Funding
Conveners 2010 to 2010 to to
October 31, 2010 October 31, 2011 October 31, 2012
Convener $55,000 $55,000 $50,000 $160,000
#1
Convener $55,000 $55,000 $50,000 $160,000
#2
4-2 Conditions of Funds. The following outlines the conditions of the use of funds:
Funds will cover:
1. Essential Personnel-Must have at least .50FTE Project Manager or
Coordinator, including salary. Also fringe (if applicable). Salary rate and
yearly increases and fringe benefits should be reasonable in comparison to
the marketplace
2. Contractual Services- Payments related to subcontractors and consultants
who will provide services for the Community Convener, preferably partners
within their neighborhood collaborative.
3. Office Expenses- Directly attributable expenses for photocopies, postage,
telephone, charges for utilities, and general office supplies.
4. Technology - Equipment to be purchased that is required by the Community
Convener to carry out the project: i.e., laptop, cameras, computer hardware,
software licensing. (Must have prior approval before purchasing)
5. Program and Meeting Expenses- Project-related expenses for meeting
activities, catering services, supplies, incentives for community participation
and youth i.e. tokens, food etc.
6. Travel- Project related travel expenses, W. K. Kellogg Food and Community
in Arizona including airfare, mileage reimbursement, parking, & taxis for 2
people to attend a Networking Meeting. Local travel within Philadelphia to
and from PUFFA related meetings at a maximum mileage rate of .50/mile not
to exceed $300.00.
7. Direct and Indirect Expenses- Expenses related to office space, security,
utilities, and administrative support, such as accounting, receptionist and
management.
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 13 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
8. Funds for youth-Expenses for youth to participate in PUFFA’s working Group
meetings, travel (tokens) and Goal area #2.
Funds will not cover
1. Purchase or improvement land, or to purchase, construct, or make
permanent improvements to any building.
2. Support services that are reimbursable under any other program.
3. Direct and grassroots lobbying activities
4. Incurring Costs: PUFFA is not liable for any cost incurred by applicants
prior to issuance of a contract. Examples of costs not covered include, but
are not limited to, payment for grant writing services, travel costs to
preparatory trainings.
SECTION 5
CONDITIONS OF AWARD
5.1 Eligibility Conditions. The following conditions must be met in order for an
applicant to be eligible for funding. Meeting these prerequisites does not ensure
funding.
a. Applicant must have experience convening an existing coalition for at least 2
years addressing one or more of the following areas, youth
development/organizing, food insecurity, sustainable food agricultural,
community design, community and/or economic development, racial justice,
environment/land use, and/or health services
b. Applicant must currently provide services within their selected targeted
Philadelphia region; must be headquartered in Philadelphia.
c. If you are a Core Partner as noted on page 4 you are not eligible to respond
to this RFP.
d. Applicant must attend a mandatory pre-proposal orientation scheduled for
Friday, January 15, 2010 at 3:30PM. To register for the pre-proposal
conference, please contact Libby Walsh at lwalsh@philafound.org.
e. Applicant must electronically submit proposal to
puffaapplications@philafound.org no later than 5:00 PM on Friday,
February 5, 2010. Late or incomplete proposals will not be accepted under
any circumstances.
5.2 Requirements for Applicants. Applicant must demonstrate current ability to
adhere to all contractual requirements, including the following:
a. Capacity of Community Convener
i. Readiness to successfully make and sustain changes
ii. Adequate and competent staff and operational items (space, equipment,
phones, computers, management infrastructure, etc)
iii. Other sources of funds in-kind and/or cash to leverage PUFFA’s work
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 14 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
iv. Expertise and support in convening/facilitating existing multi-sector
groups in their respective neighborhoods
v. Knowledge in advocacy/policy work and food system, built/natural
environments, economic development and/or youth engagement
vi. Relationships and linkages with key decision makers and policy makers
vii. Demonstrated ability to convene a neighborhood collaborative made up
of grassroots CBOs, community residents, leaders, block captains, youth,
faith-based leaders, committee men/women, parents, City Council
members, school representation, etc. Must provide a list of active
coalition members, i.e. attendance records including names of members
and organizations
viii. Ability to engage youth and connections to expand collaborative if
applicable
b. Fiscal
i. Ability to meet deliverables on a reimbursement basis. Applicant must be
able to provide services for a minimum of six weeks prior to receiving
reimbursement for deliverables
ii. Submit invoices to HPC on a monthly basis, by the 10th of the month
following the month the deliverables were provided
iii. Submit fiscal reports and support documentation as requested
c. Participation
i. Participate in monthly project team meetings and quarterly Oversight
Group meetings.
ii. Serve a cross functional role bridging the gap between their diverse
neighborhood collaborative and content institutional experts with the
expertise of Working Groups. Must participate every other month in
selected Working Group meetings
iii. Participate and select grassroots neighborhood activists to participate
in mandatory trainings. Work with PUFFA’s content experts who will
provide on-site Technical Assistance
iv. Must host at a neighborhood collaborative meetings every other month
v. Identify community members (adults and youth) from your
neighborhood collaborative to participate in the quarterly Oversight
Group meetings and every other month Working Groups i.e. 1)
Communication, 2) Sustainability, 3) Youth and 4) Community Advocacy
Youth. These working groups will provide support to the Community
Convener’s neighborhood collaboratives and will provide an
opportunity for cross learning to unfold among the two selected
neighborhood regions. The Working Groups and Community
Conveners will be a part of the larger PUFFA Coalition.
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 15 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
vi. Select Youth from geographic regions to participate in neighborhood
scans, youth apprenticeship trainings and communication/marketing
activities
vii. Participate in National Food and Community Networking meetings as
requested
d. Personnel
i. Conduct criminal background checks for all staff and child abuse
clearance checks for staff working directly with youth
ii. Establish and provide proof of non-discrimination policy and client
confidentiality policy when requested
iii. Provide an organizational chart
e. Reporting & Evaluation
i. Community Conveners will work with the PUFFA Evaluators, Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital’s Center for Urban Health and Public
Health Management Corporation to collect required data for the cross-
site evaluation including partnership information such as the role of the
coalitions members in the partnership, tracking of policy and systems
changes, and tracking of resources that are procured as a result of the
coalition and its members.
ii. Community Conveners will meet at least monthly with the Evaluators to
monitor the evaluation process and will assist with required reports.
iii. Community Conveners will maintain necessary records and complete
tracking forms as directed by the Evaluators.
iv. Participate in presentations concerning evaluation activities
f. Technological Capabilities
i. Have the necessary computer equipment and technological capacity to
submit electronic reports, receive and respond to e-mail, and utilize
web-based software programs.
g. Miscellaneous
i. Obtain prior approval from HPC for news media, newly developed
public education materials (brochures, flyers, posters, etc.)
ii. Use of the PUFFA Food and Community logo and acknowledge in
writing that services and educational and promotional materials are
supported by HPC and funded by W. K. Kellogg Foundation
iii. Provide proof on liability insurance with minimum coverage of 1 million
when requested.
iv. Agree to the PUFFA Coalition Conflict Resolution Agreement and
decision making process
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 16 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
SECTION 6
INFORMATION REQUIRED FROM THE APPLICANT
To be considered, the proposal must respond to all relevant parts listed. Please note
required page limits and available points for each section. Use the section heading
(number and title) used in RFP to identify each narrative section of the proposal.
Sections Section Title Page Limit Points Available
1 Organizational Summary Form 2 pages No points
2 Executive Summary 1 page No Points
3 Statement of Need .5 page 10 points
4 Organizational Capacity 1 page 20 points
5 Proposed Project 3.5 pages 35 points
6 Evaluation Plan 1 page 10 points
7 Staff Biographies and Responsibilities .5 page 10 points
Attachments Organizational Summary No Page No Points
Template Limit
5013(c) Letter of Determination
3 years of most recent Audits or
990 financials
Organizational Chart
Budget/Budget Narrative No Page 15 points
Letters of Commitment from Limit
coalitions members and
subcontractor (if applicable)
6-1 Organizational Summary (2 pages Template, not scored)
6-2 Executive Summary (Limit 1 page, not scored)
Provide a brief description of the proposed project and how your neighborhood
coalition will contribute to the goals of the PUFFA Sow and Grow Initiative.
Briefly state the selected goals how the agency proposes to address and
geographic region where the deliverables will be provided
Describe the applicant organization existing neighborhood coalition
6-3 Statement of Need (Limit .5 page, 10 points)
Describe the target population(s) within the geographic area
Describe the specific geographic region (zip codes) where the deliverables will be
provided . You must work in at least three of the Zip codes specified in the Table
2-1.
Describe the diversity of the neighborhood by which policy and systems will be
changed
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 17 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
6-4 Organizational Capacity (Limit 1 page, 20 points)
Provide a summary of organizational mission and vision
State how proposed policy efforts fits within organization’s mission and its other
existing programs
Describe type of services you currently provide or have provided for the target
population and how you conduct these services
Discuss organizational geographic reach and experience in geographic area
Describe your experience in education and advocacy efforts. What were the
results of those efforts
Describe your organization’s experience working with other multi-sectors and
disciplines to improve the health and well-being of the target population
Highlight any innovative partnerships or collaborations the coalition
implemented that relate specifically to food access and/or increased physical
activity opportunities reaching racial and ethnic populations within your
geographic area
6-5 Proposed Project (Limit 3.5 pages 35 points)
Describe the Coalition your agency will convene and its members
Clearly identify any additional Philadelphia-based partners or subcontractors
that will help you implement your proposed work and describe in detail the role
of any partner or subcontractor. (Note: Where a partner or subcontractor is
identified, a letter of commitment to the project is required)
Describe which goals you will address
Discuss your strategic approach and method to fulfilling the PUFFA’s Goals. Be
specific. How do you plan to raise awareness and conduct local advocacy efforts
Explain the rationale for this approach (why you believe this approach will
achieve the desired results) and identify any evidence that supports the value of
using the proposed approach.
Describe the specific evidence-based practices, which document program
effectiveness that will be applied.
Describe your outreach methodology to engage youth. Why will this
methodology be effective?
Discuss any anticipated start-up issues and/or key barriers to working with your
Coalition in meeting the goals and objectives. Be specific
Describe how your agency will address these start-up issues and/or barriers so
that specific strategies you propose can be successfully implemented and the
goals achieved
Describe how you will work to provide culturally and linguistically competent
deliverables. If applicable
6-5.1 Coalition Development and Maintenance: please describe the coalition’s:
Effectiveness of leveraging resources (e.g. relationships, resources, materials
etc.)
Efforts to ensure sustainability within the community
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 18 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
Ability to build and maintain relationships with business leaders, local
volunteers, and legislators to actively participate in coalition activities
Capacity to identify and respond to community needs
6-6 Evaluation Plan: (Limit 1 page, 10 points)
Provide an overview of the methods and who will collect and report all required
evaluation information
A description of how evaluation results will be utilized to monitor program
progress, as well as develop strategies and activities
6-7 Staff biographies and responsibilities: (Limit .5 pages, 10 points)
Provide a brief description of all direct service and key management staff’s experience,
responsibilities, proposed FTE to be funded through these funds, and total FTE on
project. Include any paid partner or subcontractor staff, as well. Please do not submit
resumes. Please only provide descriptions for direct service and key management staff
(e.g. Project Manager or Coordinator, Administrative support).
Attachments-Support Documentation (No page Limit; 15 points)
Budget Requirements: (Use budget template forms provided in Attachments)
The following budgets pieces are required to be submitted with the proposal:
a. 33-month budget summary for the period February 25, 2010 – October 31,
2012
i. The overall budget summary should accurately reflect the costs of
carrying out the project for the entire 33-month period.
ii. Year 1 9-month budget for the period February 25, 2010 –
October 31,2010
iii. Year 2 12-month budget for the period November 1, 2010-
Ocotber 31, 2011
iv. Year 3 12 month budget for the period of November 1, 2011-
October 31, 2012
Budget Narrative:
Provide a brief budget justification and description of the rationale for items included in
the budget-by-budget category. List funded personnel by position/title, hourly rate, and
the number of hours allocated to the project. If a staff person cannot be identified at
this time, please show that position To Be Announced or TBA. Provide a list of
consultants/subcontractors (if applicable) by name and title, the hourly rate, and
number of hours allocated to the project. If the consultants are not known at this time,
please indicate with To Be Announced or TBA. Describe office expenses on a prorated
basis. Other budget categories refer to section 4-2.
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 19 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
Letters of Commitment - Provide letters of commitment for any sub-contractors.
Additionally, signed letters of commitment will be required from coalition members.
3 years of most recent independent financial audits
Copy of Tax Exempt Status
Other Important Information
Proposals. To be considered, applicants must submit a complete response to this
RFP. Document requirements are:
a. Use 8 1/2 “ by 11” paper.
b. Use at least 1” margins. Please note that only PUFFA-prepared forms may have
margins smaller than one (1) inch margins.
c. Text should be no smaller than 11 point.
d. Text may be single-spaced.
e. Number each page consecutively of Sections 2-7.
f. Identify applicant name on each page in the header.
For this RFP, the proposal must remain valid for at least 120 days. This will allow HPC to
use documentation submitted by successful applicants to develop individual
subcontracts. Moreover, if PUFFA is successful in securing additional funds it may
identity additional Community Conveners.
Proposal Review and Notification Process. All material submitted becomes the
property of PUFFA and will not be returned to the applicant. Proposals submitted to the
Philadelphia Foundation on behalf of PUFFA will be reviewed and evaluated by the
Philadelphia Foundation Staff. The staff will score the proposals and select the top two
proposals for funding. Applicants will be scored based on the number of points
available to them as described in the scoring rubric above in section 6. Selections are
based on the quality and responsiveness of the proposals (according to the criteria
outlined in this RFP).
Final notification of the outcome of the review process is expected to occur no later
than February 25, 2010. The Philadelphia Foundation will e-mail and send a letter to
each applicant organization indicating the funding decision related to their proposal.
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 20 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
Appendix A
Sample Resources
1. “Local Policy Database” housed by the California based Strategic Alliance and the
Prevention Institute: http://preventioninstitute.org/sa/policies/index.php
2. Database of state level policies to address obesity maintained by the National
Council of State Legislators: http://www.ncsl.org/Default.aspx?TabId=14511
3. The National Good Food Network is bringing together people from all parts of the
rapidly emerging good food system – producers, buyers, distributors, advocates,
investors and funders – to create a community dedicated to scaling up good food
sourcing and access. http://www.ngfn.org/
4. MMWWR, Mortality & Morbidity Weekly Report, Recommended Community
Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States, July 24, 2009
/ Vol. 58 / No. RR-7; www.cdc.gov/mmwr
5. School food focus http://www.schoolfoodfocus.org/
6. Story, Mary, Hamm, Michael W. and Wallinga, David(2009) 'Food Systems and
Public Health: Linkages to Achieve Healthier Diets and Healthier Communities',
Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 4: 3, 219 — 224
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 21 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
Appendix B
PUFFA Project Summary
PUFFA envisions a food system where every child in school has a nutritious breakfast
and lunch made with locally produced food when possible and where there no longer
are income and place barriers to accessing fresh, affordable local produce. PUFFA’s Sow
and Grow Initiative is an ambitious effort to change policies and organizational practices
in order to construct a local food system that forms the foundation for growing
neighborhood economies in ways that are environmentally sustainable; support public
health; and provide job, learning, and entrepreneurial opportunities for adult and youth
residents. PUFFA’s Sow and Grow will target two-four neighborhoods during
implementation to demonstrate a ground up model of economic development in a City
faced with declining population and budgets.
We aim to create a grassroots movement of physical activity-oriented activism to bring
this about. In our vision, school gyms and playgrounds are alive with sports events and
active recreation; university and private athletic facilities are open to the community;
and neighborhood parks and playgrounds are clean, safe places for play. But the path to
bringing about this vision is itself the goal. In perhaps the greatest inversion of
community development theories, youth will be at the forefront of change and will be
its greatest beneficiary. PUFFA will develop and implement paid youth gardening and
landscaping system changes and youth themselves will clean, reclaim, and revitalize
parks, playgrounds, and vacant lots, transforming them into urban farms, food and
flower gardens, universal playgrounds, sports fields. By learning, doing, eating and
playing, we will train the leaders of tomorrow.
Our plan centers on developing a grassroots learning community devoted to
understanding how to bring about systems change through grassroots lobbying,
continual learning, and ever-increasing effectiveness. The grassroots neighborhood
activists will be empowered with training on political advocacy, data collection, food and
fitness systems, and policies and practices to improve food and fitness access. These
activists will meet with local officials armed with statistics, talking points, media
branding, and briefing papers to help broker joint use agreements, farm to school
programs, and most of all, votes. We imagine that the neighborhood activists will
identify new elements of complexity during this process, and the group will share
experiences and adapt to new information for continual success.
PUFFA understands that community cannot do it alone. PUFFA includes over 40 partners
from throughout Philadelphia with expertise in fields as wide-ranged as food systems,
land-use planning, economic development. We hope to that with support from the W.
K. Kellogg Foundation to develop the learning community of grassroots activists,
communications activities to support advocacy, and training programs to support youth-
led economic revitalization.
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 22 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
Attachment A
Organizational Summary
Philadelphia Foundation 1234 Market Street Suite 1800 Philadelphia, PA 19107
Tel: 215.563.6417 Fax: 215.563.6882
www.philafound.org
ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARY SHEET
This form is for Philadelphia-based organizations only. If you are located outside of the
Philadelphia County, you are not eligible to apply.
ORGANIZATION NAME:
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR:
CONTACT PERSON for TITLE:
Grant & Legal Issues
ADDRESS:
CITY: STATE: ZIP:
PHONE NUMBER: FAX NUMBER:
E-MAIL ADDRESS: WEBSITE:
YEAR FOUNDED: FISCAL YEAR END:
ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET:
ORGANIZATIONAL MISSION STATEMENT:
ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION:
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING:
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 23 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
IRS EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (EIN)
FISCAL SPONSOR ORGANIZATION:
CONTACT PERSON: TITLE
EMAIL ADDRESS:
ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP:
PHONE NUMBER: FAX NUMBER:
TAX STATUS: Incorporated, Exemption Pending 501(c)(4) Social Welfare Org
501(c)(3) Public Charity
If your organization has a Fiscal Sponsor, we require (1) a completed Organizational
Summary Sheet from your Fiscal Sponsor as the legal entity receiving the grant and (2) a
copy of the agreement between your organization and your Fiscal Sponsor.
IRS EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (EIN)
INTO WHICH OF THESE ISSUE AREAS DO YOU PLACE YOUR ORGANIZATION’S WORK?
Please prioritize top two by indicating 1 and 2.
CIVIC PARTICIPATION PRISON REFORM AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES PROGRESSIVE AND COMMUNITY-BASED ARTS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRESSIVE MEDIA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC INTEREST LAW
ECONOMIC AND RACIAL JUSTICE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
ECONOMIC JUSTICE SPIRITUALITY
ECONOMIC JUSTICE/LIVING WAGE SUSTAINABLE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
EDUCATION VIOLENCE PREVENTION
ENVIRONMENT VIOLENCE PREVENTION/DEATH PENALTY REFORM
ENVIRONMENT/GLOBAL WARMING VIOLENCE PREVENTION/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
ENVIRONMENT/LAND, FOREST CONSERVATION VIOLENCE PREVENTION/GUN CONTROL
ENVIRONMENT/WATER, W ETLANDS CONSERVATION W OMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND ORGANIZING
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY):
HEALTH SERVICES/HEALTH REFORM
HIV/AIDS
HUMAN RIGHTS
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 24 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010
W HAT ARE THE STRATEGIES EMPLOYED IN YOUR PROGRAM WORK?
Please prioritize top three by indicating 1, 2 and 3.
ARTS/ ORGANIZING EDUCATION POLICY/ PUBLIC REFORM
ADVOCACY ELECTORAL REFORM RELIGIOUS
COALITION W ORK GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING RESEARCH
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LEGAL SPIRITUAL/ HEALING
CULTURAL W ORK MEDIA TRAINING/ TECHNICAL ASST.
DIRECT SERVICES PHILANTHROPY OTHER:
W HO ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS? Please prioritize top three by indicating 1, 2 and 3.
AFRICAN HOMELESS STUDENTS
AFRICAN AMERICAN IMMIGRANT/ REFUGEE W OMEN
ASIAN/ PACIFIC ISLANDER LATINO/A W ORKERS
CARIBBEAN LOW-INCOME YOUTH
CHICANO/A MULTI-RACIAL OTHER:
CHILDREN (AGE 3-12) PEOPLE WITH AIDS/ HIV
FAITH COMMUNITY PEOPLE OF COLOR
GAY/ LESBIAN/ PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
BISEXUAL/TRANSGENDER
GENERAL POPULATION SENIORS
W HAT IS THE PROPOSED ONE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA ?
Must select ONE geographic area with a minimum of 3 zip codes within the one geographic region
WEST KENSINGTON/BRIDESBURG/ LOWER South Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA RICHMOND NORTH
19151 19125 19131 19145
19131 19134 19133 19146
19104 19124 19121 19147
19139 19137 19122 19148
19143 19130 19112
19123
PUFFA Request for Proposals Page 25 of 18
Issued: January 11, 2010