RFP - Strategic Planning & Energy Justice Consultant

Overview

Patterns of inequity cut across every aspect of the energy ecosystem – from environmental harms to energy insecurity, to energy burden, and to the lack of access to clean economy programs, infrastructure, and jobs. CELI believes that demanding energy justice from a clean energy economy is as important as reaching climate ambition targets of 1.5°C. Through CELI’s signature Fellowship, Alumni and Membership Program, and flagship partnership on the EDICT Internship Program, CELI brings together many players in the clean energy ecosystem to take collective action towards our values. CELI has a pivotal role to play at this moment to expand access to clean energy education, leadership development and the community of practice crucial to achieving a transition to a clean energy economy at the necessary speed and scale.

Founded in 2013, CELI has increasingly moved from being a heavily focused “professional-development” organization to a “change-making” organization. CELI’s leadership and Board is in agreement that in order to deliver on its mission and vision, CELI must further define equity strategies in relation to climate justice, environmental justice, economic justice, and racial justice. CELI seeks a strategic planning partner to support the development of four concise communications documents for the purpose of mobilizing key stakeholders around a theory of change built on principles of energy justice.

About CELI

With programs operating in Washington, D.C., California's Bay Area, Chicago, New York, and a National cohort, the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to developing a new kind of energy leadership. CELI’s mission is to create a multiracial, diverse and inclusive community of change-makers working across sectors and disciplines to drive an equitable, decarbonized, and resilient energy ecosystem.

CELI equips emerging leaders with the skills and expertise to lead the transition to a clean energy economy. Over the last eight years, CELI has trained over 800 professionals from 450+ organizations through its flagship Fellowship program and an additional 6,000+ students and professionals through its clean energy education and community programming.

Scope of Work

CELI is looking to engage the right consulting partner by December 15, 2021, and complete the below deliverables no later than May 2022. The ceiling budget for this project is $25,000.

Deliverables:

  • Theory of Change (2-4 pages), Articulation of Equity Strategies, Equity Statement, and 1-3 Slides for Pitch Deck

    • How CELI’s work contributes to and relates to climate justice, environmental justice, racial justice and economic justice

    • High-level outline of strategies for equity work / impact 

    • Language on "CELI's past, present and future" - how to be transparent about where we are coming from and where we are going

  • Stakeholder Input Process

    • Facilitate up to 4 meetings with organizational stakeholders including CELI alumni and current CELI partners with the purpose of presenting a theory of change to receive feedback and comments.

    • Facilitate up to 4 meetings with new potential organizational partners with the purpose of discussing equity strategies to begin to work together and/or deepen partnerships.

Award Process & Timeline

CELI would welcome a concise proposal from you, submitted via email to rfp@cleanenergyleaders.org by 5pm PST on December 3, 2021.

Proposed timeline for bidder and project follows:

  • Application period open from November 1 - December 3, 2021.

  • Information session open to all bidders on Wednesday, November 17 (9AM PT // 12PM ET). Please RSVP in advance for an information session here.

  • Applications due by 5pm PST on December 3, 2021.

  • Applications reviewed December 6 - 8, 2021.

  • Follow-up calls scheduled December 8 - 10.

  • Bidder notified December 10.

  • Work kicks off in January 2022, and concludes by no later than the end of May 2022.

Proposal Guidelines

Your response to this RFP would include the following components: 

  1. Your understanding of CELI’s ask, and your approach to this project;

  2. Your experience in strategic planning, change management, and energy justice issues, and/or related JEDI work, with change-making organizations; 

  3. Your capacity and ability to deliver quality work on a short timeline; 

  4. A budget; 

  5. Short bios of the team that would be working on the project;

  6. Anything else you think would be helpful to understand your qualifications, including relevant client examples;

  7. Contact information for 2 - 3 references that CELI can contact to verify your quality of work.

Q&A

Information session open to all bidders on Wednesday, November 17 (9AM PT // 12PM ET). Please RSVP in advance for an information session here. You can ask questions at the informational meeting or submit any questions in advance via email to rfp@cleanenergyleaders.org by 5pm PST on December 2 [the day before proposals are due]. 

Accommodations

CELI will try to accommodate special needs as requested in order to facilitate an inclusive application process. Please let CELI know any specific accommodations that are needed by November 16, 2021, by emailing rfp@cleanenergyleaders.org.

CELI’s Supplier Policy

Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are critical to CELI’s Mission. We strongly encourage companies and organizations that are owned and led by People of Color to respond to this RFP, as well as independent consultants that identify as leaders of color and those who identify as LGBTQ+. CELI does not discriminate based upon race/ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a veteran, status as an individual with a disability, and any other characteristics. 

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