Current Request for Funding Opportunity

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Administration and Support of the Nashville Community Advisory Board (CAB) and Youth Action Board (YAB) for People with Lived Experience

Release Date: July 13, 2026

Proposal Due Date: July 31, 2026

Issuing Department: Office of Homeless Services (OHS)

OVERVIEW

The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, through the Office of Homeless Services (OHS), is seeking proposals from qualified nonprofit organizations to provide administrative, financial, and coordination support for the Nashville/Davidson County Continuum of Care’s (CoC) Consumer Advisory Board (CAB), also known as the Lived Experience Cohort, and Youth Action Board (YAB). These advisory boards are composed of individuals with lived experience of homelessness and play a critical role in informing Continuum of Care (CoC) policies, programming, priorities, and strategic planning. The selected vendor will help to ensure meaningful participation by administering stipends, coordinating operations, and supporting onboarding, recruitment, and reporting functions.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Request for Proposals is to select an organization that will support and compensate individuals with lived experience of homelessness to participate in the Continuum of Care’s CAB and YAB. The CAB and YAB function as advisory bodies by providing insights and recommendations to the Homelessness Planning Council (HPC) and the CoC.

The Continuum of Care and the Office of Homeless Services recognize that people with lived experience offer unique perspectives and expertise on the realities of housing instability and navigating Nashville’s homeless response system. The insight of people with lived experience can help our Continuum of Care improve how programs are designed, how policies are developed, and how services are delivered. Because of this, the CoC and the Collaborative Applicant aim to restore compensation and meaningful engagement of people with lived experience by way of the CAB and YAB to inform CoC policies, programs, and strategies.

BACKGROUND

The Nashville/Davidson County Continuum of Care

The Continuum of Care (CoC) is Nashville’s planning body responsible for coordinating the funding and delivery of housing and services for people experiencing homelessness. The mission of the Continuum of Care is to create a collaborative, inclusive, community-based process and approach to planning and managing effective homeless assistance resources and programs (by which Federal, State and local funding resources will be used to fund all homelessness assistance needs) to end homelessness in our community, consistent with 24 CFR Part 578, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations that guide the CoC program.

The Nashville-Davidson County Continuum of Care is made up of a General Membership of community partners and individuals dedicated to ending homelessness in Nashville. The Homelessness Planning Council is the governance board for the Nashville-Davidson County Continuum of Care, responsible for guiding CoC operations, strategic planning, and policies.

Issuing Agency

The Office of Homeless Services’ mission is to lead Nashville’s efforts to end homelessness through innovation, community collaboration, and compassion. OHS works closely with government agencies, nonprofit providers, healthcare partners, and other community partners to strengthen the local homelessness response system and improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.

In addition to coordinating programs and funding, OHS plays several key leadership roles within the local system. The department serves as the lead agency for the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Coordinated Entry, supporting consistent data collection and fair access to housing and services. OHS also provides staff and resources to the Homelessness Planning Council, the governing body of the local Continuum of Care, and in November 2023 was designated by CoC membership as the community’s Collaborative Applicant, responsible for coordinating and submitting the region’s federal CoC funding applications to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Through these roles, OHS helps align public resources, provider efforts, and community partnerships to prevent and end homelessness in Nashville and Davidson County.

Consumer Advisory Board and Youth Action Board

The Consumer Advisory Board (CAB), also known as the Lived Experience Cohort, is a group of people with lived experience of homelessness who advise and inform the Nashville-Davidson County Continuum of Care. The CAB strives to ensure that local efforts to end homelessness and support unhoused residents are centered around the needs, desires, and unique perspectives of those who have experienced homelessness in Nashville-Davidson County. The Youth Action Board (YAB) is the CAB’s counterpart for individuals aged 18 to 24 who have experienced homelessness as children, teens, or young adults.

The CAB and YAB were originally established as committees of the Homelessness Planning Council. This structure proposed challenges when the Office of Homeless Services assumed the role of the Collaborative Applicant, as the Metro Charter does not allow any type of compensation related to service on a Metro board or a committee thereof. In February 2026, the CoC voted to move the CAB and YAB under the purview of the General Membership. At this juncture, the Office of Homeless Services is seeking a non-profit organization to serve as the fiscal agent to compensate individuals experiencing homelessness with funds from the Continuum of Care Planning Grant.

ANTICIPATED CONTRACT TERM

The anticipated term length for this contract is one year. Opportunities for contract renewal will be dependent on funding availability and vendor performance.

SCOPE OF WORK

The selected contractor will handle day-to-day administration for the CAB and YAB, including managing stipends, supporting members, and managing timesheets. The goal is to keep board operations running smoothly, with clear processes, timely payments, and alignment with Continuum of Care priorities.

1. Compensation and Financial Administration

· Develop a compensation plan in collaboration with CAB and YAB members, aligned with Metro and CoC policies

· Process stipends and reimbursements in a timely and accurate manner

· Review and approve CAB and YAB timesheets, attendance records, and meeting minutes to verify payments align with participation and contributions

· Maintain financial records and payment tracking systems

· Provide regular payout summaries and financial reports to the Office of Homeless Services for grant reporting

· Ensure compliance with all applicable tax regulations and grant requirements

· Provide clear guidance and support to members regarding payment processes

· Resolve payment issues promptly and provide adequate documentation to the Office of Homeless Services

· Provide documents and reports as needed to Metro, in compliance with Metro grant policies and procedures

· Undertake annual monitoring activities executed by the Office of Homeless Services

2. CAB and YAB Support and Alignment

· Participate in meetings with CAB and YAB regarding governance, policies, and support needs

· Coordinate with national lived experience organizations, including the National Alliance to End Homelessness, to align efforts with best practices, as needed

· Communicate with CAB and YAB chairs on a regular basis to identify support needs and promote alignment with the Continuum of Care

· Coordinate with the Office of Homeless Services to address CAB and YAB needs and concerns

3. Membership and Orientation

· Support the General Membership, CAB, and YAB in creating fair processes for selecting new members

· Develop onboarding materials, including welcome packets, program overviews, and policies

· Coordinate and facilitate orientation sessions, including training on roles, responsibilities, and the Continuum of Care, as needed

· Ensure members understand participation expectations and compensation processes

DELIVERABLES

The selected vendor will provide, at minimum:

· Compensation plan and payment procedures

· Payment tracking system and financial reports

· Onboarding materials

· Monthly reports summarizing grant activities

· Regular communication with the Office of Homeless Services, CAB, and YAB

· Monthly reports summarizing activities, outputs, challenges, and progress

· Plans for evaluation efforts and continuous improvement processes

SECTION 6 – GRANT APPLICATION & PROPOSAL

Applicants must submit the following information and materials:

· Organizational Overview

• Mission and history
• Experience facilitating community engagement processes
• Experience managing grants

· Relevant Experience

• What experience does your organization have facilitating community engagement efforts and/or advisory boards?
• Describe your experience managing stipends, participant payments, or grant-funded compensation.
• Describe your experience managing grant funds, including processes of reporting, monitoring, and compliance.

· Work Plan

• Describe your overall approach to carrying out the proposed services, including your project timeline, key phases, and major milestones.
• What is your approach to orienting CAB and YAB members to the processes of payment, and how will you ensure members are prepared for participation?
• How will you approve activities of CAB and YAB members that are allowable for compensation?
• Describe your process for administering stipends and reimbursements, including how participation will be tracked.
• How will you support ongoing member engagement, including any training or troubleshooting.
• How will you coordinate with the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) and incorporate CAB and YAB input into planning and decision-making?
• Describe your approach to documentation and reporting, including how meetings and recommendations will be recorded and the types and frequency of reports provided.

· Staffing Plan

• Who are the key staff assigned to this project, and what are their roles and responsibilities?
• What relevant experience do proposed staff have in facilitating community engagement, managing grants, and providing stipends and reimbursement?
• How is your organization structured to support this project, and where will this project sit within that structure?

· Budget Proposal & Narrative

• Provide a detailed budget for the proposed services.
• Describe how costs were determined and how they support the proposed approach.
• What are the anticipated staffing costs associated with this project?
• What administrative costs are included, and what do they cover?
• What is the proposed stipend structure for CAB and/or YAB members?
• What costs are associated with meetings and logistics, if any (e.g., space, materials, transportation, technology)?

ELIGIBILITY

The following organizations/entities are eligible to apply as operators under this RFP:

· 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) designation of exemption from federal taxation from the Internal Revenue Service as provided by 26 U.S.C.A..

· Incorporation as a non-profit with active registration identification number provided by the Secretary of State as a Charitable Organization or proof of such exemption as allowed. This form must accompany the proposal in order for the proposal to be valid. Failure to submit this form will disqualify the proposal.

· Organizations that are current members of the Nashville CoC are not eligible to apply for this solicitation due to the conflict of interest that such an arrangement would raise.

· Respondents must have no actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest within the homelessness response system. Entities that receive CoC funding, participate in funding or ranking decisions, or hold governance roles within the CoC will not be eligible.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Criteria Points:

• Quality of work plan and approach 35
• Budget and cost effectiveness 25
• Relevant experience 25
• Organizational capacity 15

TERMS

• OHS reserves the right to reject any or all proposals
• Organizations that do not meet the above eligibility criteria will not be scored.
• OHS may request additional information or clarification from proposers
• Contract award is contingent upon funding availability
• The selected vendor must comply with all local, state, and federal requirements
• The contractor must keep all records, meeting materials, and related documents from this work in line with Metro requirements and applicable laws, and make them available if requested

TIMELINE

The anticipated procurement schedule is as follows:

• ACTION ITEM Proposed Date
• RFP Release 7/13/2026
• Inquiry Submission Deadline 7/17/2026
• Community Information Session (This session will also include responses toinquiry submitted.) 7/17/2026
• Responses to Questions Issued 7/20/2026
• Proposal Submission Deadline 7/31/2026
• Vendor Selection 8/3/2026
• Contract Start Date 9/1/2026

*Metro reserves the right to adjust the schedule as necessary.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS & DEADLINE

Proposals must be submitted electronically to [email protected]

Proposals must be received by: 5:00 PM CST on July 31, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.

POINT OF CONTACT

Angela Williams

Contract Administrator

Office of Homeless Services

EMAIL: [email protected]

PHONE: 615-880-2349

Request For Funding Proposal (RFP)

Nashville Homelessness Planning Council Strategic Planning Consultant

Release Date: 7/13/2026

Proposal Due Date: 7/20/2026

Issuing Department: Office of Homeless Services

Background and Overview

The Homelessness Planning Council (HPC) is the Continuum of Care (CoC) governing body responsible for planning, coordinating, and evaluating Nashville and Davidson County’s homelessness response efforts. The HPC is currently operating under a 2023–2026 Strategic Plan, which established priorities and system goals for Nashville’s homelessness response, and concludes on June 30, 2026.

To prepare for the next phase of development, the HPC is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to assist with:

• Facilitating weekly in-person local planning sessions to evaluate progress and outcomes of the 2023–2026 Strategic Plan
• Finalizing the HPC’s SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis.
• Leading development of a new Strategic Plan to guide the community’s homeless response system for 2027–2030
• Launching a community campaign with adoption targeted for December 2026 and implementation beginning January 2027.

The planning process will involve broad community and system partner engagement, including participation from:

• HPC Board
• Continuum of Care General Membership
• Standing Committees and Task Forces
• Providers and partner agencies
• People with lived experience of homelessness
• Funders and system partners
• Philanthropic leaders
• Community members

The resulting Strategic Plan will guide Nashville’s homelessness response system beginning January 2027.

Additionally, HPC is seeking a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved Technical Assistance Provider to support alignment with federal priorities and emerging funding opportunities. This provider will collaborate with the strategic planning consultant and conduct a system gaps analysis of local housing interventions, including recommendations for retooling housing and service models to strengthen the community’s competitiveness in future HUD Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO).

Applicants may submit qualifications for either or both roles.

Purpose of the Engagement

The consultant will design and facilitate a planning process that results in a clear, actionable, and measurable Strategic Plan for 2027-2030.

This process should:

• Develop a shared community mission and collective vision supported by aligned goals and objectives
• Assess and review the goals and objectives outlined in the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, including progress and outcomes
• Incorporate HUD CoC best practices, person centered approaches, and analysis of local system data
• Align strategic priorities with available funding, system performance expectations, and system capacity
• Produce a clear, actionable, and measurable 2027–2030 Strategic Plan to guide the community’s homelessness response

Scope of Services

HPC is seeking proposals from experienced strategic planning consulting firms and/ or HUD approved Technical Assistance providers with demonstrated experience supporting large communities with devising and implementing a Strategic Plan.

Engagement Prep work should include:

1. Review of existing CoC plan and current local strategies.
2. Review/research strategic plans for communities of similar size and demand.
3. Identify dates and times for Community Engagement meetings.
4. Be prepared to make recommendations and implementation of policy.

Project Phases (July 2026 through January 2027)

Phase 1 Engagement – Project Launch, Review of Existing Plan, and Local Data (July 2026)

The consultant will begin the planning process by reviewing the current Strategic Plan and evaluating system performance to date.

Phase 1 Activities

The consultant will:

• Meet with HPC leadership and staff to confirm project goals, scope, and planning process
• Coordinate regular meetings with the designated Strategic Planning Task Force
• Review the 2023–2026 Strategic Plan, CoC performance data, and prior progress reports
• Review relevant local, state and federal housing and homelessness strategies.
• Design a community engagement process that fosters broad participation and community buy-in
• Design and conduct surveys, focus groups, and interviews with providers, individuals with lived experience, funders, and other system partners, and analyze the findings to inform the planning process

Participants in the engagement process may include:

• Homelessness service providers
• People with lived experience of homelessness
• System partners and public agencies
• Funders and philanthropic organizations

The consultant will support debriefing of the HPC Strategic Planning Retreat that took place on February 27, 2026.

Phase 1 Project Deliverables

• Draft a shared community mission, and vision statement
• Summary assessment of the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan
• Initial findings and planning recommendations

Phase 2 — Framework for the 2027–2030 Strategic Plan

(July–August 2026)

The consultant will synthesize findings from the evaluation and stakeholder engagement process into a proposed framework for the next strategic plan.

Phase 2 Activities

The consultant will:

• Analyze evaluation findings and stakeholder feedback
• Develop a proposed strategic framework outlining:
  • Core system priorities
  • Person-centered commitments
  • Performance and accountability structures
  • Cross-system coordination approaches

• Present the framework to:
  • CoC General Membership
  • HPC
  • All CoC Committee Chairs
• Incorporate feedback into a preliminary outline for the 2027–2030 Strategic Plan

Phase 2 Project Deliverables

• Strategic Framework document
• Draft outline for the 2027–2030 Strategic Plan

Phase 3 — Drafting the 2027–2030 Strategic Plan (July–September 2026)

The consultant will develop the full draft Strategic Plan based on the approved framework.

The consultant will:

• Develop multiple drafts of the 2027–2030 Strategic Plan, including:
  • Vision and guiding principles
  • Goals, strategies, and performance measures
  • Person-Centered lived experience integration
  • Alignment with HUD CoC requirements
  • CoC and local funding priorities.
  • Develop a reporting and performance tracking tool
  • Facilitate feedback cycles with HPC, CoC General Membership, and All Chairs

Phase 3 Project Deliverables

• Working drafts of Strategic Plan (July–August 2026)
• Near final Strategic Plan draft (September 2026)
• Strategic Plan reporting and performance tracking tool

Phase 4 — Finalization & Adoption (October-December 2026)

The consultant will finalize the Strategic Plan and support formal adoption.

Phase 4 Activities

• Finalize the 2027–2030 Strategic Plan
• Test and modify the reporting tool and accountability channel
• Support presentations to:
• HPC in December 2026
• CoC General Membership in December 2026
• Provide an executive summary and implementation timeline starting January 2027

Phase 4 Project Deliverables

• Final Strategic Plan
• Implementation timeline
• Executive summary
• Presentation materials for adoption

Phase 5 — Implementation Support (Jan 2027)

The consultant will assist with the transition from planning to implementation.

Phase 5 Activities

The consultant will:

• Develop 30, 60, and 90 day implementation guides
• Create a digital dashboard for monitoring progress
• Prepare public-facing materials
• Provide recommendations on reporting timelines and processes for ongoing review of the strategic plan.

Phase 5 Project Deliverables

• Implementation guide
• Digital performance dashboard
• Implementation guidance brief

Expected Qualifications

Consultant firm should demonstrate:

• Knowledge of and experience with HUD Continuum of Care planning and policy
• Strategic planning for homelessness and/or housing systems
• Experience integrating person-centered approaches
• Expertise in data analysis and performance-based planning
• Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder planning processes
• Experience with large urban homelessness response systems

Prospective vendors must be registered in iSupplier to submit a bid and must be approved as a Metro vendor before the purchase of any services. For more information, visit the How To Do Business With Metro webpage.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Scoring matrix:

Total Possible Points: 100