RFP - Training Program Consultant at Massachusetts Law Reform Institute in Boston, Massachusetts

Job Description:

Legal Aid Advocate Training Program:

Framework, Implementation, and Sustainability

A. SUMMARY

The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute ("MLRI") is requesting proposals for a consultant who has experience developing training programs for legal and non-legal advocates. The consultant will support MLRI in developing, and implementing, a skills-based training program for legal and non-legal advocates.

At this time, MLRI is working with Program Directors and Litigation/Advocacy Directors across the state's legal aid community to develop and conduct a Needs Assessment regarding advocate training. The consultant will assist with building the framework for MLRI's Advocate Training Program, including:

Instructional Technology: Assistance identifying instructional tools/methods available

Website/Mobile Platform(s): Assistance identifying online and mobile platforms

Funding Models: Assistance developing a sustainable funding model

Staffing Models: Assistance identifying staff and resources necessary for the program

Data Collection: Assistance developing a data collection system

Program Evaluation: Assistance developing a program evaluation system

B. ABOUT MLRI

MLRI provides statewide advocacy and leadership in advancing laws, policies, and practices that secure economic, racial, and social justice for low-income people and communities. MLRI's goals are to (1) address public and institutional policies and procedures that either contribute to, or perpetuate, the cycle of poverty; (2) ensure that low-income and underserved populations across the state are provided the same legal protections, rights and liberties enjoyed by all members of society; and (3) provide local legal services providers and community-based advocacy organizations that serve low-income people with the substantive expertise, technical assistance, and support they need to best serve their clients. MLRI furthers its mission through impact litigation, policy advocacy, coalition building, community lawyering, and public information.

In addition, MLRI serves as the poverty law support center for the Massachusetts civil legal aid delivery system and advocacy community. Our advocates provide expertise and support to local legal aid programs, social services, health care and human service providers, and community organizations that serve low-income people throughout the state. MLRI is considered one of the nation's premier statewide poverty law and policy centers. For fifty years, it has been responsible for groundbreaking policies and innovative strategies that have advanced the rights of low-income people in Massachusetts.

In our capacity as the Massachusetts legal aid delivery system's poverty law support center, MLRI provides trainings, substantive legal expertise, and technical assistance to local legal services programs, as well as many providers and community-based organizations that serve low-income people throughout Massachusetts. We build the capacity of our legal aid partners to respond to client needs, and empower our community partners with knowledge about legal rights and remedies so that they may build power to effectuate change.

As the number and needs of low-income individuals in Massachusetts continues to grow, legal aid services and support are needed more than ever. It is critical that legal aid and community partners have the legal skills expertise, substantive issue-based knowledge, support and technical assistance to be responsive to the evolving needs of low-income people throughout the Commonwealth.

C. PROGRAM'S PURPOSE & OBJECTIVES

The purpose of MLRI's Advocate Training Program is to provide local legal services providers and community-based advocacy organizations with the tools and support they need to best serve their clients. At this time, MLRI anticipates that the training program will initially focus on advocacy skills, and later expand to substantive law and supervision skills. The selected consultant will assist MLRI in developing an Advocacy Training Program that

1. Provides trainings for legal and non-legal advocates in advocacy skills, substantive law, and supervision skills.
2. Conducts trainings in a variety of formats to best meet advocates' needs, including synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities.
3. Identifies (and retains) a diverse, interdisciplinary training faculty with varied social identities that reflect the state's advocate, stakeholder, and client communities.
4. Creates space for, and encourages, community and networking opportunities for legal and non-legal advocates.
5. Ensures that the program is flexible (can easily adapt to changes in the law), accessible (limits barriers to access), and sustainable.

D. PROPOSAL CONTENT

Responder Description

Please provide the following information:

1. Responder's full legal name
2. Responder's head office mailing address (for billing)
3. Responder's website address
4. Name, telephone number, email address of Responder's designate contact person
5. Responder's expertise
6. Responder's key staff members

Project Understanding

Please provide a description of your understanding of the project.

Proposed Services

Please provide a description of your capabilities and how you will meet the project's objectives, including your experience and capabilities developing an advocacy training program. Please provide examples of work products, if available.

Specific Requirements

Please ensure that your proposal addresses each of the following requirements:

1. Launch: Training Program launch (estimated Fall 2025) is efficient and on time.
2. Instructional Technology: Assistance identifying instructional tools/methods available to conduct trainings in a variety of settings (remote, including synchronous and asynchronous learning; hybrid; and in-person).
3. Website/Mobile Platform(s): Assistance identifying online and mobile platforms that ensure trainings/resources are easy to locate and navigate, minimizes paths necessary to access material, and can be used across a variety of devices.
4. Funding Models: Assistance developing a funding model that both reduces barriers to training access and ensures that the training program is sustainable.
5. Staffing Models: Assistance identifying the staff and resources necessary to implement and sustain training program.
6. Data Collection: Assistance developing a system to continuously gather data and track program outcomes.
7. Program Evaluation: Assistance developing a system to evaluate whether the program is meeting program goals (including why goals are or are not being met).

E. PROPOSAL ASSESSMENT AND TIMELINE

Proposal Assessment Process and Criteria

All proposals will be evaluated by MLRI. Notwithstanding any other provision in the RFP, MLRI reserves the right to accept the proposal that it deems in its sole discretion most advantageous and the right to reject any or all proposals without giving any notice or reasons.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

MLRI may consider any criteria it desires, including, without limitation, those listed below (not necessarily in order of importance):

Demonstrated understanding of the project objectives and requirements

Professional qualifications, reputation, and experience

Ability to address technical, functional, and business requirements

Cost of project

Quality of proposal

Timelines and Milestone Dates

RFP Issue Date: November 6, 2024

Questions Due: November 14, 2024

Responses Emailed: November 18, 2024

RFP Due Date: November 27, 2024

Notice of Decision: December 16, 2024

Potential Contract Amount: $20,000 - $25,000

Contract Start Date: January 2025

Contract Duration: Four to six months as of start date

Contacts

Please send completed proposals and all inquiries/questions regarding this RFP via email to:

Ashley Nyce

Director of Training

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

40 Court Street, Suite 700

Boston, MA 02108

anyce@mlri.org

Please provide all submissions as PDF attachments.

recblid blaom3l3cchx0hi3t5u48peae9e09w

Apply Now