Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a Tribal Outreach and Engagement Partner
The PNWER RIA is Seeking Consultant(s) to Assist with Tribal Outreach and Engagement within the PNWER five state region - Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska
Introduction
The Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) was selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau to establish a Regional Infrastructure Accelerator (RIA) demonstration program for the Pacific Northwest. www.rianorthwest.org
The PNWER RIA has focused its efforts the past year in three specific areas: Seaport Emission Reduction, Grade Separation, and the creation of a Center of Excellence. The past year, the PNWER RIA has had significant progress in the above areas, and success with the conclusion of the Spokane Valley Pines Road Grade Separation project. Over the next 12 months, the PNWER RIA is expanding its efforts with Tribal engagement and outreach to better engage with U.S. DOT’s Justice40 Initiative. Following Justice40 Initiative principles, the PNWER RIA aims to increase economic and environmental justice for disadvantaged and underserved communities.
Building off the success of the past year, the PNWER RIA is expanding focus for the next round of funding to specifically include all five PNWER states in three programmatic areas: Zero Emission Refueling Facilities for Commercial Traffic, High Performance Rail, and the Center of Excellence.
Zero Emission Refueling Facilities for Commercial Traffic: Accelerating adoption of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Vehicles (MHD ZEVs) by supporting development of MHD ZEV refueling infrastructure and, where appropriate, identifying innovative financing options for acquisition of ZEV commercial vehicles.
High Performance Rail: Improving performance and safety of existing rail systems for freight and passenger service by identifying necessary rail improvement projects along corridors, and bundling them together for competitive grants or federal financing options.
Center of Excellence: The vision for the PNWER RIA is to continue developing as a Center of Excellence to assist communities throughout the five-state PNW area to understand US DOT credit programs and other federal agency opportunities to accelerate high-priority P3 transportation infrastructure projects.
Written Qualifications for Future Project Partners Requested
Tribal Engagement and Outreach Partner
PNWER seeks a qualified partner to provide technical assistance to the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator for Tribal relations, communication, and outreach regarding PNWER RIA’s three focus areas. The partner will work with PNWER staff and other consultants to convene meetings, establish contacts, provide outreach to potential Tribal partners, and provide recommendations for successful relationship building between Tribal communities and the PNWER RIA program.
The partner should have well established Tribal contacts and relationships that can be leveraged for ongoing outreach to leaders within the PNWER’s five state region of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. The partner will work with PNWER to design workshops, solicit regional input from Tribal partners, facilitate meetings with key Tribal personnel as well as provide their own relevant expertise to PNWER RIA’s ongoing Tribal engagement efforts.
We are interested in applicants who can describe their experience working with the following: Tribal communities within the PNWER region; Tribal leadership organizations; Tribal economic development associations; Tribal infrastructure partners; local and regional utility providers; local and state government; Federal DOT and DOE; large businesses and business associations; other special interest organizations; subject matter experts; and Tribal advocacy groups that focus on health, safety, and the economy.
Tribal engagement and outreach partners should be able to provide knowledge of Tribal law, Tribal economic development, inter- and intra- Tribal relations, and an understanding of how tribes within the PNWER region interface with relevant state, local, and federal governments. They will be asked to collect relevant best practices, recommendations, and input on Tribal relations for the PNWER team. Gathering this information may include one-on-one conversations or interviews with relevant Tribal leaders or Tribal organizations within PNWER’s five-state jurisdiction.
Qualifications Submission Information:
Introductory letter describing your relevant experience and overview of qualifications interfacing with the groups listed above. Provide past related project examples, and outcomes that could be leveraged. (3 pages max, standard format 8.5x11 with 1 inch margins)
Resumes or extended Curriculum Vitaes (no page limit)
Hourly rate
A minimum of 3 references from past projects (1 page max)
Deadline
The initial round of submissions have been accepted and reviewed as of April 21, 2023. Please check the PNWER or PNWER RIA website for future Requests for Qualifications (RFQs).
Partners with specific expertise and experience working with Tribal communities in Alaska, Idaho, and/or Montana will receive additional consideration.
Proposals will only be accepted by email. Please send questions and submissions to Betz Mayer, RIA Assistant Director at betz.mayer@pnwer.org.
PNWER is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law.
