News

RFP for Strategic Planning Consultants

July 25, 2025

Request for Proposal (“RFP”) Nonprofit Strategic Planning Consultants RFP Release Date: July 25, 2025

Response Closing Date: Monday, August 25, 2025, 5:00pm PST

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLACRC) is seeking proposals from qualified consultants with experience in developing nonprofit strategic plans for clients similar in size to NLACRC. NLACRC seeks consultants who demonstrate a strong overall understanding of the structure and purpose of nonprofit organizations, have strong facilitation skills, and have proven experience with nonprofit strategic planning. In addition, consultants should have knowledge of the current status of the Regional Center system along with state and federal guidelines and funding requirements. An emphasis and experience in engagement with person-centered practices is highly preferred.
INTENT AND GENERAL INFORMATION NLACRC invites proposals for the facilitation and development of the agency’s three-year strategic plan, including goals, objectives, and benchmarks to evaluate success. The consultant will assist with the process designed to create a shared, clear vision, roadmap, and strategic alignment across organizational stakeholders, consistent with the vision and mission of the organization.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION NLACRC is one of 21 private, non-profit organizations under contract with the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) to coordinate and provide community-based services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. NLACRC supports more than 38,000 individuals with developmental disabilities or at risk of developing developmental disabilities, and their families, through the efforts of over 850 staff in eight (8) different departments, and three (3) locations. We have been supporting consumers and their families in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, and Antelope Valleys for over 50 years.
SCOPE OF SERVICES & DELIVERABLES Successful applicants will submit a proposal designed to address the following:
- Project Management and Facilitation.
- Design and execution of a strategic planning process that meets the criteria outlined in this RFP.
- Development of a three-year strategic plan that includes a budget for implementation.
- Development and execution of a support structure for plan implementation.

The proposal should also include the following:

A project plan that demonstrates a clear understanding of the work to be performed, estimated hours, and other information relevant to the project. This should include high-level phases and/or sequence of the proposed strategic planning process, including progress updates to the strategic planning team and leadership staff.
A summary of how the consultant plans to engage various stakeholders in the strategic planning process.
Qualifications of all consulting staff who will be assisting with the project, including education, position within the consulting firm, years and type of experience.
Proposed Project Timeline and Cost projections.
How the applicant will get to know NLACRC and collaborate with and engage a strategic planning team, leadership staff, and committee/Board members.
The consultant’s general approach to internal and external assessments including plans to use/collect quantitative and qualitative data, preferably including SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-limited) goals.
Proposed assessment through gap or SWOT analysis of the organization to evaluate opportunities and goals.
Proposed plan for interviews, surveys, and focus group poling to receive partner and community input.
Follow-up with NLACRC leadership to gauge the progress of the implementation at 3 and 6-month points after plan delivery.
Communication strategies.

5. REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS All proposals submitted to NLACRC must adhere to the following requirements:

COVER LETTER: Provide a cover letter indicating your interest in serving NLACRC. The letter should briefly outline the consulting firm’s understanding of the work and general information regarding the Consultant firm and individuals involved. The letter should clearly identify the local address of the consulting firm performing the work, the telephone number, and the name of the authorized representative.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Include a table of contents that identifies the material by section, page number, and a reference to the information to be contained in the proposal.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Include a description of your Consultant firm, including size of firm, location, number, and nature of the professional staff to be assigned to this contract, with a brief resume for the Lead Consultant and any other key person listed.
QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE: Describe the firm’s qualifications specific to the requirements outlined in Section 3. Minimum Qualifications. Describe the firm’s pertinent strategic planning experience and recent experience with similar engagements to which the proposal relates. Describe one or two cases where the consultant firm provided significant cost reduction and management gains to organizations.
APPROACH AND METHODS: Describe the methods for identifying target user groups and a description of the marketing materials and the strategy for presenting. Please define the approach describing how your Consultant firm will carry out the above tasks. Please include the Consultant firm’s system of quality control to ensure the work meets a high-quality standard. Please include a timeline of critical path items.
COST PROPOSAL: Provide a detailed cost proposal, including any travel costs and other expenses.
REFERENCES: Provide at least three references from clients for whom the Consultant firm has performed services similar to those being requested in this RFP.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: In order to avoid a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest, the firm should not engage in any outside activities that are inconsistent, incompatible, or appear to conflict with your ability to exercise independent/objective judgment in the best interest of NLACRC. Please outline all conflicts of interest that may exist for your firm in relation to providing strategic planning services for NLACRC.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES: Describe additional relevant/unique services offered through your Consultant firm.

6. ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS The Consultant firm shall provide services set forth in the proposal and in accordance with the terms identified herein.

Consultant agrees to procure and maintain in full force and effect during the term of this Agreement a General Liability insurance policy. The minimum liability under such policy shall be no less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence and annual aggregate. The selected firm shall be required to furnish a Certificate of General Liability and Worker’s Compensation Insurance evidencing insurance coverage within five (5) days of receipt of Notice of Selection. Failure to maintain insurance coverage as required will be grounds for termination of the contract.
Consultant acknowledges that since Consultant is not an employee of NLACRC, Consultant has no right to receive workers’ compensation for any injury or death arising out of services to be performed by Consultant under this Agreement. Accordingly, Consultant agrees to hold NLACRC harmless and indemnify NLACRC from any and all claims arising out of any injury, disability, or death, which might be suffered by Consultant or any of the Consultant’s employees or agents. Consultant shall not subcontract any of the Services to be performed in accordance with this Agreement without the approval of NLACRC.
The contract will be negotiated between parties and drafted by NLACRC. In addition, the selected firm will be required to sign a Business Associate Agreement upon the execution of the contract. (Attachment samples B & C).

7. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS The following criteria are expected to be among those used in the selection process. They are presented as a guide for the Consultant firm in understanding NLACRC’s requirements and expectations for this project and are not necessarily all-inclusive or presented in order of importance.

Qualifications and relevant experience and expertise (35%)
Scope of Proposal (25%)
Proposed methodologies, systems, and processes to accomplish work and partner with NLACRC (25%)
Proposed costs and fees (15%)

8. CONDITIONS All firms must adhere to the following conditions:

All proposals in response to this RFP are to be the sole property of NLACRC. Firms are encouraged not to include in their proposals any information that is proprietary.
Any product, whether acceptable or unacceptable, developed under a contract awarded as a result of the RFP is to be the sole property of NLACRC.
NLACRC may amend the terms or cancel this RFP any time prior to the execution of a contract for these services if NLACRC deems it to be necessary, appropriate, or otherwise in the best interests of NLACRC. It is the Consultant firm’s responsibility to monitor NLACRC’s website for amendments. Failure to acknowledge receipt of amendments may result in a proposal not being considered.
All responses to the RFP must conform to instructions. Failure to comply with any requirement of this RFP may be considered an appropriate cause for rejection of a response.
The contract document will represent the entire agreement between the firm and NLACRC and will supersede all prior negotiations, representations, or agreements, alleged or made, between the parties. NLACRC shall assume no liability for payment of services under the terms of the contract until the successful Consultant firm is notified that the contract has been accepted and approved by NLACRC.
Firms are solely responsible for their own expenses in preparing a proposal and for subsequent negotiations with NLACRC, if any. If NLACRC elects to reject any proposals, NLACRC will not be liable to any firm for claims, whether for costs or damages incurred by the firm in preparing its proposal.

9. RIGHTS RESERVED TO NLACRC

This RFP does not commit NLACRC to award a contract, to pay any cost incurred in the preparation of a proposal, or to procure or contract for services.
NLACRC reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals received as a result of this request, negotiate with any qualified consultants, or to cancel in part or in its entirety this RFP if it is in the best interest of NLACRC to do so.
Proposals may not be evaluated if the current activities of the firm may give rise to an unresolved conflict of interest in connection with the project described in this RFP.
While cost is a consideration, NLACRC reserves the right to select a proposal in which NLACRC deems best meets the goals of this report regardless of cost, and that is in the best interest of NLACRC.
During the evaluation process, NLACRC reserves the right to request additional information or clarification from vendors.
NLACRC may also require the firm selected to participate in negotiations concerning contract price or the nature and extent of services to be provided.
NLACRC is not obligated to disclose the allotted budget of this RFP to any proposed firm.

10. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY NLACRC emphasizes that all respondents will receive full consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or sexual orientation in the solicitation, selection, and contracting of this RFP.

11. PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE This project schedule is tentative and may be subject to changes at the discretion of NLACRC. The preferred project schedule is as follows:

July 25, 2025……………………………………………………….RFP release date August 25, 2025; 5pm PST………………………………….RFP closing date August 26 – August 29, 2025………………………………RFP Committee Review September 8 – September 12, 2025…………………….Interviews with selected Consultants September 12, 2025……………………………………………Contract Awarded & Notifications September 15 – September 30, 2025………………….Contracting October 1, 2025………………………………………………….Commence Project

12. SUBMISSION, DEADLINE & QUESTIONS All proposals shall be submitted in electronic document (PDF) format to RFP@nlacrc.org. The email subject line should be clearly marked with the words “RFP Strategic Plan.”

NLACRC takes no responsibility for emails that are undeliverable or delayed and it is the responsibility of the applicants to get confirmation.

All proposals must be received by August 25, 2025; at 5 pm PST. Proposals received after that time will not be considered.

All proposals will be marked as received. There will be no public reading or viewing of the proposals.

13. SELECTION PROCESS A Selection Committee will review responses to the RFP that meet the outlined requirements and are received before the designated closing date and time. The Selection Committee may elect to interview with any, all, or none of the firms prior to selection to clarify their proposal. If so, the interviews will take place the week of September 8 – September 12, 2025. After the RFP process, all applicants will be notified in writing. Consultant firms who were not selected may request a debriefing with NLACRC, however, NLACRC, in its sole discretion may or may not provide such debriefing. NLACRC may advise the firm in a general manner, of the reason for the non-acceptance of their proposal. Only the firm’s proposal will be reviewed. NLACRC has no obligation to share firms’ scores or the details of any other Applicant’s proposal.

14. AWARD AND CONTRACT The RFP submissions will be reviewed by NLACRC’s RFP Selection Committee. NLACRC intends to award a contract with the selected firm. NLACRC shall provide written notice to all Applicants who were not selected by NLACRC.