Racial Impact Assessment - Request for Proposals Announcement
Date:
As part of the Permanent Commission’s commitment to examining and mitigating racial disparities in Maine, we are excited to announce a request for proposals (RFP) to design a comprehensive Racial Impact Assessment (RIA) model. The RIA program will create a formal process for the Permanent Commission to assess equity considerations in current Executive agency programs and policies. This includes, but is not limited to, implementation of federal goals as set out in the Justice40 Initiative.
Despite strides made towards racial equity, marginalized communities in Maine continue to experience systemic barriers to essential government programs. These disparities can manifest in various ways, including in access to education, healthcare, employment opportunities, housing, and more. It is critical to develop a comprehensive and systematic approach to assessing and eliminating disparities that may exist in government programs and policies.
The purpose of the RIA initiative is to evaluate current government programs and policies through a racial equity lens to identify strengths, gaps, and areas for improvement. We invite researchers, evaluators, and experts in program evaluation to submit proposals for the design of a RIA model. The model should be specifically tailored to examine disparities in access and outcomes for racial, Indigenous, and tribal populations in state-level government programs across various domains such as education, healthcare, employment, housing, and social services.
Interested individuals, teams, or organizations are invited to submit their proposals by July 26. Proposals should include a detailed methodology, timeline, budget, team composition, and relevant experience. A panel will evaluate the proposals based on criteria such as expertise, methodological rigor, centering of impacted people, potential for impact, and alignment with the goals of promoting equity and inclusivity.
Click here to view the RFP (RFP number 202306135). The closing date for submissions is July 26, 2023.