The Environmental Support Center (ESC) seeks proposals from consultants interested in designing and implementing a new climate change initiative.  This initiative will focus on clarifying and supporting the role of environmental justice organizations and the environmental justice constituency in the growing climate change and global warming debate.  This project will feed into the ongoing cross-program evaluation, a national/regional convening in December, and development of possible new programs for ESC.

Deadline for Submission of Proposals – September 15, 2008

Deadline for Selection of Consultant – October 6, 2008

Deadline for Completion of Surveys and Interviews – November 24, 2008

Deadline for first draft of Written Report – December 22, 2008

Deadline for submission of final Written Report – February 9, 2009

Budget for Consulting Fees and Expenses - $20,000

The Environmental Support Center (ESC) promotes the quality of the natural environment, human health and community sustainability by increasing the organizational effectiveness of grassroots organizations working on environmental issues and for environmental justice. 

The Environmental Support Center (ESC) was founded in 1990 to strengthen the effectiveness of local, state and regional grassroots environmental organizations.  Since 1990, ESC has assisted nearly 3,000 organizations throughout the United States.  ESC helps these vital environmental organizations become better managed, funded, and equipped by providing grants, subsidies, direct technical assistance, and computer equipment.  ESC focuses exclusively on the growing need to strengthen the organizational development and capacity of local, state and regional environmental groups that represent hundreds of thousands of environmentally informed and engaged activist groups.  ESC’s priority constituents are groups that represent low-income communities or communities of color, have small budgets, and make use of advocacy to advance their issues. 

 
Environmental justice occupies a unique niche in the nation’s grassroots environmental ethos.  Despite the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent efforts to change the definitions and shift away from the target communities of color and people with low incomes, environmental justice is very much about race and class.  Low-income communities and communities of color bear the brunt of environmental contamination.

The growing national focus on global warming is welcome and long overdue.  Finding solutions to this massive dilemma will require unprecedented teamwork, fertile imagination, and the power of every voice, from large activist organizations to small, all-volunteer environmental justice groups.  In other words, despite its challenges, global warming presents opportunities for new leadership and new alliances, if barriers to participation can be overcome. 

Funders, policymakers, the media, and environmental groups themselves must understand the complex relationships between the causes, symptoms, and solutions.  Solutions will have to address agriculture, water quality, toxics, health, land use, racial and economic disparities, and myriad other concerns.  ESC has worked with over 3,000 grassroots groups who grapple with these issues every day.  Our focus is to strengthen their capacity as they hone their skills and approaches to resolving the environmental challenges they confront.

Project:  This project, with the working title “Everybody’s Movement: Environmental Justice and Climate Change,” consists of three parts:

Compilation of a report based on interviews with stakeholders about the role of environmental justice in climate change solutions, policies, and alliances;

• Field analyses of the environmental justice perspective on climate change and global warming;

• Recommended “next steps” based on this information and additional research as needed.

This project will address four key summary points:

Where do today’s environmental justice leaders see their work in terms of global warming, energy independence, strategic partnerships, and legislative and regulatory decision-making?

• Where do they see their organizations in terms of their peers?
• What tools and information do grassroots groups need to better position themselves in the greater environmental and social justice contexts? 
• What tools and training would enable larger, more established environmental groups to more effectively engage with smaller environmental justice groups around climate-related issues?

ESC seeks a consultant to assemble “Everybody’s Movement: Environmental Justice and Climate Change,” the written report that will launch ESC’s initiative.  The consultant will conduct interviews with 25 to 35 leaders in the environmental justice and related fields.  Discussions would focus on three to four central themes such as:

• How they view climate change in a social justice framework, and vice versa;

• Exploring myths about who cares about global warming;
• Building inclusive coalitions, partnerships, and alliances; and
• Steps traditional climate change activists can take to expand the debate.

The final report will include interviews and statements from a range of activists, capacity builders, and resource providers.  ESC’s board of directors and current funders will also be solicited to help identify leaders who are especially eloquent or provocative.  The consultant’s written report will be distributed widely within the environmental community and to policy-makers and geared toward

•  Grassroots groups exploring how they can re-position themselves in the current political and environmental climate;

• Service providers and philanthropic supporters, who need to understand the potential role of the environmental justice movement in climate change as well as how existing environmental justice challenges, such as toxics and landfills, relate to global warming;
• Policymakers and media, who may be unaware of the strength and eloquence of local voices in their own backyards.

The Environmental Support Center will work with a consultant during a four-month period beginning no later than mid October 2008.  The lead ESC staff contact working with the selected consultant will be Vernice Miller-Travis, Executive Director.

Expected tasks and products of this project:

1. Develop a detailed work plan and timeline for the surveys, analyses, and draft written report;
2. Develop a survey instrument;
3. Conduct interviews with environmental justice leaders, allies, and other relevant persons;
4. Participate in periodic meetings with ESC staff;
5. Write draft and final summary report of surveys;
6. Help identify from those surveyed select invitees to participate in a nation/regional convening,
7. Participate in a climate justice convening hosted by ESC in December.

Duration and Scope of Work

This project is expected to take no more than four months.  It is important that the budget be no greater than $20,000 including travel to conduct face-to-face interviews. 

It is assumed that the contractor will work in their own premises with their own equipment.  ESC staff will provide background information, names of contact information for potential interviewees, and background materials to assist in the process.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Submission of a written proposal and cover letter should include a statement that will bind the respondent to the provision of the proposal if it is selected, and a statement that the bid will remain valid for 90 days from the date of submission.

The proposal should be a plan for the design and implementation of the climate justice survey, field analysis, and written report as described above.

The proposal should include an estimated budget for no more than $20,000, which reflects the costs of the aforementioned tasks and products described in this RFP.  It should include the fees, travel, lodging, and food costs for the contractor(s), and any other costs associated with this project.

A description of the qualifications of all individual(s) and/or organization(s) who will be involved in the project should be included.  It should summarize relevant project experience and include at least one writing sample.  References and resumes should be included for all persons involved.

Interested applicants should email their electronic submissions (preferred) to general@envsc.org; please include “Climate Justice RFP” in the subject heading no later than September 15, 2008. 

Applications that are unable to be submitted electronically may be mailed to:

1500 Massachusetts Ave., NW Suite 25
Washington, DC 20005-1808
Attention: Climate Justice RFPvmiller-travis@envsc.org

 
Submit three printed copies of the proposal and support materials to the address above no later than September 15, 2008.  Interviews will be scheduled shortly thereafter and a decision will be made by October 10, 2008.  ESC reserves the right to reject all submissions and reopen the RFP process.