Grant Writing Services

The City of Wheat Ridge is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide grant strategy, funding identification, advocacy support, and full-service grant writing services for priority Capital Improvement Program (CIP) infrastructure projects. The City is interested in partnering with a firm that has demonstrated success securing state and federal transportation infrastructure funding and other competitive grant resources for local governments. 

Background

The City of Wheat Ridge (the “City”) Municipal Building is located in the northwest Denver metropolitan area, with municipal offices at 7500 W 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. The City’s area consists of about nine square miles of rolling land adjacent to the Interstate 70 transportation corridor between Denver and the Rocky Mountains.  The topography is somewhat unique, with a natural ridge traversing the City. The City is a suburban community of approximately 33,000 residents. Wheat Ridge is a home-rule municipality with an elected mayor and eight council members, and a Council- Manager form of government. Wheat Ridge recognizes the Best Value procurement model which allows the City to appoint suppliers that best meet the needs of the City, taking into consideration proposer qualifications, price, products, and service capabilities and other factors relevant to the City’s policies, programs, administrative resources, and budget.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 26-33
• Department: Capital Improvements
• Department Head: Kent Kisselman (Public Works Director)

Evaluation Criteria

• Scope of Services —

  The selected consultant shall provide services, as needed, that may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  1. Resource Roadmap Development 

  The consultant shall prepare a written strategic funding plan (“Resource Roadmap”) identifying the most promising grant and funding opportunities for the City’s priority infrastructure projects. 

  The Resource Roadmap should include: 

  • Identification of applicable state, federal, regional, and philanthropic funding opportunities  

  • Eligible uses of funds  

  • Typical award amounts and match requirements  

  • Application deadlines and schedules  

  • Competitiveness considerations and evaluation criteria  

  • Funding agency points of contact  

  • Threshold eligibility requirements  

  • Recommended action items and timelines  

  • Strategies for building stakeholder and political support  

  • Recommendations for organizing advocacy efforts  

  As part of this task, the consultant shall coordinate with City staff to evaluate: 

  • Project readiness  

  • Availability of matching funds  

  • Political and community support  

  • Previous grant application efforts  

  • Alignment with current funding priorities  

  The Resource Roadmap shall function as a dynamic planning document to guide future grant pursuits. 

  2. Full-Service Grant Writing and Funding Support 

  The consultant shall provide comprehensive grant development and submission services, including the following tasks as needed: 

  Funding Opportunity Summaries 

  Preparation of concise funding opportunity memoranda outlining: 

  • Eligibility requirements  

  • Eligible activities  

  • Funding limits and match requirements  

  • Narrative requirements  

  • Submission processes and deadlines  

  Project Scoping and Development 

  • Coordination meetings with City staff  

  • Refinement of project scopes to align with grant requirements  

  • Preparation of project briefing materials for stakeholders and advocacy efforts  

  Funder Coordination 

  • Coordination and communication with funding agency staff regarding project eligibility and application competitiveness  

  Grant Narrative Preparation 

  • Drafting and editing of complete grant applications  

  • Preparation of required narratives, forms, and supporting documentation  

  • Alignment with evaluation criteria and funding priorities  

  Budget Support 

  • Assistance developing project budgets and identifying matching fund strategies  

  Letters of Support 

  • Preparation of support letter templates  

  • Recommendations regarding key stakeholders and partner organizations  

  Supporting Documentation 

  • Assistance compiling required attachments, maps, cost estimates, schedules, resolutions, and other supporting materials  

  Application Submission 

  • Coordination and management of application submissions through applicable grant portals  

  • Verification that all required registrations and accounts are current and accessible  

  Advocacy Support 

  • Assistance coordinating political and stakeholder support efforts at the local, regional, state, and federal levels, as appropriate  

  Desired Qualifications 

  The City seeks firms with the following qualifications: 

  • Demonstrated experience securing competitive infrastructure and transportation grants  

  • Experience working with municipalities and public agencies  

  • Familiarity with Colorado and federal transportation funding programs  

  • Strong technical writing and project management capabilities  

  • Knowledge of grant administration requirements and funding agency processes  

  • Ability to coordinate effectively with public-sector staff and stakeholders  

  Proposal Requirements 

  Proposals should include, at a minimum: 

  1. Firm overview and qualifications  

  2. Relevant project experience and examples of successful grant awards  

  3. Proposed project approach and methodology  

  4. Description of project team and key personnel  

  5. Proposed fee structure and billing approach  

  6. References from similar public-sector clients  

  7. Proposed schedule and availability  

Submission Requirements

• Non-Discrimination Assurance Title VI Regulations at 49 CFR Part 21* (required) —

  Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination of the basis of race, color or national origin by any entity receiving Federal financial assistance.

  The City of Wheat Ridge is a recipient of Federal financial assistance and as such, it—as well as all of its responsible agents, contractors and consultants—is required by the United States Department of Transportation Title VI Regulations at 49 CFR Part 21 (the Regulations) to assure nondiscrimination. The City of Wheat Ridge assures that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin under any program or activity conducted by the City.

  All bidders are hereby notified that the City of Wheat Ridge will affirmatively ensure that disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to all invitations and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for an award.  This applies to all solicitations for bids for work or material subject to the Regulations, and for all proposals for negotiated agreements.

  By clicking "Please confirm" below, the bidder agrees as follows:

  1. The bidder shall comply with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
  2. The bidder assures the City of Wheat Ridge that disadvantaged business enterprises are afforded full opportunity to submit bids as sub-contractors or sub-consultants and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color or national origin in consideration for award.
  3. The bidder shall comply with all reasonable requests made in the course of an investigation of Title VI, the Regulations and this assurance by the Colorado Department of Transportation, the US Department of Transportation or the City of Wheat Ridge, as a sub-recipient of Federal financial assistance.
  4. The bidder agrees that the United States has a right to seek judicial enforcement with regard to any matter arising under Title VI, the Regulations and this assurance
• Non-Collusion Affidavit* (required) —

  The Contractor, of lawful age, being duly sworn, on oath says that (s)he is the agent authorized by the Bidder to submit the attached bid. Affidavit further states that the Bidder has not been a party of any collusion among Bidders in restraint of freedom of competition by agreement to bid at a fixed price or to refrain from bidding; or any Federal, State or Municipal official or employees as to quantity, quality, or price in the prospective Contract, or any other items of said prospective Contract; or in any discussions between bidders and any Federal, State or Municipal official concerning exchange of money or other thing of value for special consideration in the letting of a Contract.

• Contractor acknowledges they:* (required) —
  1. Have read the RFP documents thoroughly prior to submitting a proposal,
  2. Will fulfill the obligations in accordance to the scope of work or specifications, terms, and conditions,
  3. Are capable of performing quality work to achieve the City objectives, and
  4. Are submitting without collusion with any other individual or firm.

  By clicking "Please confirm" the contractor agrees to the above.

• Business Information (required) —

  Please upload a document including the following details:

  1. Principle in Charge Name and Contact Information
  2. Type of Business (sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, limited partnership)
  3. Authorized Signatory
• References (required) —

  Please include 3 references for similar projects; include contact information and the project goals

• Cost Proposal (required) —

  Upload a cost proposal.