Program Goals
Elevate (ElevateNP.org) is seeking proposals from qualified professionals to develop a water affordability analysis and solutions implementation plan for one or more municipalities in suburban Cook County, Illinois, USA. Elevate plans to provide assistance to 10 municipalities through water affordability analyses, helping municipalities understand their unique challenges to residential water affordability, and identify short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to make water more affordable. Selected consultants will provide separate analyses for up to three municipalities. Elevate will seek out the participation of targeted municipalities and assist in pairing municipalities with consultants based on identified needs and consultant expertise.
Scope of Work
Water affordability analyses should include, at minimum, the following three components:
- Task 1: Quantitative and qualitative data collection
- Task 2: Data analysis to provide an understanding of affordability challenges in the municipality
- Task 3: Recommendations development in a Water Affordability Action Plan
The specific scope will vary for each municipality based on past work to address water affordability challenges, data availability, municipal capacity to support data collection, and so on. Elevate reserves the right to review work and request refinements prior to the completion of each task.
Selection Process
All properly submitted proposals will be reviewed by an Evaluation Committee. Responses will be evaluated on the thoroughness and relevance of the content provided as well as the consultant’s qualifications and capabilities to carry out the scope of work. For information on the evaluation criteria, see the Request for Proposals.
Timeline
Proposals are due by 5:00 PM CDT on September 30, 2024. Notices of Award will be sent on October 7, 2024, and the Proposed Start of Contract is October 21, 2024. All work must be completed and presented to municipalities by July 2025.
