Community Safety Services

Request for Proposals (RFP) for Community Safety Services on Lake Street Corridor, Minneapolis

Purpose of RFQ

The Lake Street Lift initiative is seeking qualifications from qualified vendors to provide community safety services along the Lake Street Corridor, to improve the safety, well-being, and quality of life for residents, business owners, workers, and visitors in the area. This RFQ aims to identify vendors that have experience in community-based safety services, including but not limited to: outreach, case management, post-incident support, and/or community wellness. Vendors will help enhance community safety, address crime, and reduce harm while fostering trust and engagement within the Lake Street community. 

The Lake Street Council administers this program. 

You are encouraged to fill out the request for proposals if you meet any of the following criteria:

• Your business or nonprofit provides community safety services in the Lake Street Lift eligible area (Nicollet Avenue S. and 30th Avenue S. with Lake Street address)

• Your business or nonprofit is interested in providing community safety services between now and June 30, 2025. Time is of the essence. 

This request of proposals process does not guarantee contracts through Lake Street Lift. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis. If you have questions, please email the Lake Street Council at business@lakestreetcouncil.org. 

Timeline and geographic restrictions

Services must be provided by June 30, 2025, and within the geography of Lake Street Lift, which is limited to Lake Street between Nicollet Avenue and 30th Avenue South. Time is of the essence. 

Total Funding Available

Up to $250,000 in funding will be available. It is anticipated that between one and five contractors will be selected. 

Scope of Services

Vendors selected through this RFP will be expected to provide one or more services that promote safety in a manner that aligns with the unmet needs of this community. Key services may include, but are not limited to:

• Case Management: Provide individual navigation and case management services to individuals who reside in or are frequent visitors to the Lake Street corridor.

• Community Wellness Supports: Provide programming to help people improve their mental health and well-being through community-based activities.

• Conflict Mediation and De-escalation: Work with local businesses, organizations, and residents to mediate disputes and provide de-escalation services to reduce the need for law enforcement intervention. 

• Community Outreach and Engagement: Engage businesses, property owners, residents, and other stakeholders to build relationships, listen to ideas and concerns, and increase awareness of available safety resources.

• Crisis Intervention: Provide support for individuals in crisis, including mental health & chemical dependency crises, by providing appropriate referrals to resources.

Vendor Qualifications

To be considered for this project, vendors must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Experience: Demonstrated experience in providing community safety, or related services.

• Capacity: Ability to manage the scope of services, including staffing, scheduling, and logistics.

• Cultural Competency: Demonstrated ability to work with diverse communities, particularly with marginalized or underserved populations.

• Collaboration: Experience in building partnerships with local law enforcement, government agencies, community organizations, and social service providers.

• Training and Certification: Staff trained in relevant topics (could include: conflict resolution, de-escalation techniques, and/or crisis intervention).

• Insurance: Proof of adequate liability insurance coverage.

Goals and Performance Measures

The selected vendor will be expected to meet the following goals and performance measures:

• Increase Community Perception of Safety: Ensure that community members feel safe in the Lake Street Corridor, with a focus on building trust with marginalized communities.

• Reduce Crime and Violence: Decrease incidents of violent crime, property crime, and disorderly conduct in the area.

• Enhance Community Engagement: Strengthen relationships between residents, businesses, law enforcement, and service providers.

• Increase quality of life and livability conditions

Potential Performance Measures

In their proposal, vendors should include information about evaluation methods they will use to measure the effectiveness of their program, which could include one or more of these potential performance measures:  

• Safety Incident Data: Reduction in the number of incidents of crime, violence, and public safety disturbances along the corridor.

• Community Satisfaction: Quantitative and qualitative community feedback to assess residents' and businesses’ satisfaction with the services provided.

• Number of Mediated Conflicts: Documented instances of successful conflict mediation and de-escalation, with metrics on the resolution of disputes without law enforcement intervention.

• Service Engagement Metrics: Number of individuals or businesses engaged in community safety outreach, including training, events, and direct interventions.

• Response Time and Availability: Timeliness of vendor response to urgent community safety concerns or incidents.

• Collaboration with Stakeholders: Evaluation of the effectiveness of the vendor’s collaboration with local law enforcement, social service providers, and community partners.

Vendors are encouraged to suggest additional performance measures that are outside the vendor’s capacity to evaluate, but which may be of interest to Lake Street Lift to evaluate through other means.  

Submission Requirements

Vendors are required to submit the following documentation as part of their qualification package, and should expect the proposal to be about 5 pages:

• Introduction: Brief introduction to the vendor’s company, services offered, and interest in the project.

• Experience and Qualifications: Detailed description of the vendor’s experience in providing community safety services, including relevant projects and references.

• Staffing Plan: Overview of the proposed team, including qualifications, roles, and experience of key staff members.

• Proposed Approach: A detailed narrative explaining how the vendor will meet the scope of services and performance goals outlined in this RFQ. Include an explanation of how you plan to collect data to track the effectiveness of services.

• Budget Estimate: A high-level budget outline detailing the expected costs of providing the services, including personnel, materials, and any other relevant expenses.

• References: Contact information for at least two references from previous clients or projects that demonstrate the vendor’s ability to perform similar work.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated experience and capacity to provide community safety services.

• Quality and clarity of the proposed approach to the scope of services.

• Ability to meet or exceed the goals and performance measures outlined in the RFQ.

• Cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed budget.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with community stakeholders.

• Cultural competence and understanding of community dynamics in the Lake Street Corridor.

Submission Deadline and Instructions

Qualifications must be submitted by February 1, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered. Vendors may submit questions regarding this RFP to business@lakestreetcouncil.org no later than January 27, 2025.

Additional Information

The Lake Street Lift initiative reserves the right to negotiate with selected vendors and to request additional information as needed. This RFP does not constitute an offer or a guarantee of funding.