Request for Proposals (RFP):

Salesforce Development Team

Release Date: December 12, 2024

Overview and Q&A Session: January 10, 2025 1:00 PM ET

Deadline for Questions: January 9, 2025 by 12 PM ET

Deadline for Submission: January 27, 2025 by 5:00 PM ET

 
 

Project Summary and Outcome Goals

Baltimore’s Promise is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of Baltimore City’s youth by focusing on equity and data-driven collaboration. We prioritize creating equitable opportunities for Black, Latinx, and other intersectional youth aged 14-24, particularly those historically impacted by systemic discrimination. Through initiatives like the Summer Funding Collaborative and CareerBound, we provide summer programming, job training, and wrap-around services that foster long-term youth success.

As we expand our reach, data collection, and program delivery, our enterprise Salesforce ecosystem is a key tool in supporting these initiatives. It helps us to monitor youth participation, manage program applications, and track completed training. Our goal is to partner with a Salesforce development team that shares our commitment to equity and can help us maintain and enhance this system to better serve Baltimore’s youth.

Description of Services to be Provided

We are seeking a partner to provide the following services, all of which must align with equity-based practices, emphasizing collaboration, data security, and accessibility:

  • Ongoing maintenance of our Salesforce instance, including data, metadata, and apex code management.

  • Data backup solutions using third-party systems to ensure data safety and recovery.

  • Regular security updates to ensure appropriate access control and privacy, especially for sensitive youth data.

  • Enhancements to our customer portals to improve user experience and accessibility for diverse stakeholders.

  • Troubleshooting of system issues with an emphasis on timely and effective resolution.

  • Support for our program staff and leadership as they expand and enhance current initiatives, including:

    • Gathering and documenting system requirements with input from diverse internal and external stakeholders.

    • Identifying and developing both standard and custom components necessary to support Baltimore’s Promise’s programs.

    • Providing training for internal staff on Salesforce features, ensuring inclusive and equitable knowledge transfer.

Ongoing project management should also include:

  • Regular communication with our team.

  • Timely completion of tasks.

  • Flexibility to address larger development projects as needed, with equitable and transparent processes for decision-making.

Performance Metrics and Active Contract Management Plan

We will assess partner performance through a data-driven and equity-centered lens. Key metrics will include:

  • Number of monthly meetings attended and active collaboration with Baltimore’s Promise team.

  • Percentage of tickets closed within one month of opening, with an emphasis on equitable service delivery.

Demonstration of inclusive project management and communication practices that prioritize the needs of all program stakeholders.

Submission Requirements and Checklist

  • Proposals will be reviewed by our Data Team and community stakeholders, and scored based on the criteria below. Each submission must include:

    • Cover letter summarizing your team’s experience and alignment with Baltimore’s Promise’s mission and equity goals.

    • Pricing proposal with clear breakdowns.

    • Organizational capacity and experience narrative, highlighting expertise in Salesforce, particularly in nonprofit environments.

    • Team approach narrative with a focus on your team’s equitable approach to project management and system enhancement.

    • References from at least two past clients we can connect with.

Evaluation Criteria

  • Organizational Capacity and Experience (40 points)

    • Demonstrated experience working with nonprofits, especially those serving historically marginalized communities.

    • Experience managing nonprofit data through nonprofit success pack (NPSP) and other related modules

    • Strong references that highlight the team’s experience in integrating Salesforce with external systems, such as Formstack and Google Sheets

    • Knowledge of dashboard building within and without Salesforce using analytic technologies like Power BI**

    • Experience in implementing Marketing Cloud solutions** 

    • Evidence of work aligning with equity-focused outcomes**

    **denote non-negotiables 

    Approach (40 points)

    • Detailed description of how the team handles ongoing system maintenance and larger enhancements.

    • An equity-based approach to project management, including communication, prioritization, and timely response.

    • Clear explanation and written documents of data protection practices, with a focus on safeguarding sensitive youth data and upholding privacy standards.

    Pricing (10 points)

    • Reasonable, transparent pricing structure aligned with the equitable use of resources.

    • Clear outline of what services are included, with flexibility for larger development tasks.

Questions about the RFP

A Salesforce Developer Team Info Session will be held on Jan. 10, 2025, at 1 p.m.. Applicants may submit written questions for the session via email to operations@baltimorespromise.org with the subject heading “Salesforce Developer Team RFP” by Thursday, Jan. 9, at noon.

Please register for the information session by clicking here.

A recording of the info session and a Q&A document will be made available on the Baltimore’s Promise website starting Monday, Jan. 13.

 
 

Important Dates

  • Release RFP (12/12)

  • Q&A Session (1/10)

  • Close RFP (1/27)

  • Stakeholder Review Process 

  • Consensus Meeting to get to final three candidates (1/30-2/3)

  • Demo from final three candidates (2/10)

  • Follow Up Interviews (TBD, if needed) 

  • Final consensus meeting with Community (TBD)

  • Final decision issued (Late February)