RFP for Project Administrator for micro-grant program
SPARK Micro-Grants
Barton County is accepting proposals for a Project Administrator to manage a micro-grant program for area businesses and non-profits. Funding for this program is related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provides Coronavirus Relief Fund payments from the State of Kansas, also known as Strengthening People And Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) funding.
SCOPE: The program is to provide reimbursement micro-grants for costs of business interruption caused by required closures and expenses in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, to Barton County businesses and non-profits. Micro-grant funding guidelines must be developed and reviewed by the County. The Project Administrator must collect sufficient information, documentation, and receipts to reasonably conclude that the grants are necessary to COVID-19 and also must satisfy the requirements of the CARES Act and other applicable law. They must incorporate efforts to address disproportionate impacts on racial minorities into their program. Additionally, business and non-profit applicants must self-report and certify that they have not and will not receive reimbursement from any other federal, state, or other entity supplanting funding.
BUDGET: The total estimated project budget is $263,402.60. Administrative fees for building the micro-grant program, facilitating the application process, determining eligible recipients, distributing the funding, reporting back to the County, and providing other pertinent functions are capped at 5%.
TIMELINE: The Project Administrator must have funding expended by November 30, 2020. Micro-grant reimbursements must be for expenses incurred from March 1, 2020, to date. Any unused funding and all micro-grant reporting must be returned to the County no later than December 15, 2020.
The proposal must include the following:
- Office location of personnel assigned to the grant program.
- History and capabilities of the organization.
- Scope of work to be performed and the timeframe.
- Acknowledgment of provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and all federal labor standards.
- Cost of services, not exceeding 5%. (i.e. 5% maximum in administrative fees: Total Budget $263,402.60 * .05 = $13,170.13 admin fees & $250,232.47 in micro-grants)
- Other pertinent information.
The successful vendor will be required to sign a form provided by the County’s insurance carrier that the vendor is an independent contractor and not an employee of Barton County. Bids shall be submitted to the County Clerk’s Office, 1400 Main Street, Room 202, Great Bend Kansas, 67530, in a sealed envelope marked “SPARK Micro-Grants” no later than 2:00 p.m., on August 11, 2020. It is anticipated that the Commission will review the bids on August 17, 2020, and award no later than August 24, 2020.
Proposals received after that date and time will be returned unopened. Barton County reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to award in the best interests of the County. Additional information may be obtained by calling Sue Cooper, Barton County Grant Coordinator, at (620) 793-1800.