Overview
Big Bend Cares seeks proposals from qualified consultants or consulting teams to conduct a feasibility study and strategic implementation analysis to inform the deployment of funding received through the Day 1 Families Fund.
The Day 1 Families Fund supports innovative solutions to family homelessness, with an emphasis on providing housing together with supportive services such as employment assistance, skills training, and social services to enable families to transition to and remain in permanent housing.
Big Bend Cares intends to maximize the impact of this investment by developing a program model that is evidence-based, sustainable, and responsive to community needs. The selected consultant will provide actionable guidance through the development of 1–2 implementable program scenarios, enabling Big Bend Cares’ leadership and Board of Directors to make informed decisions regarding the deployment of Day 1 Families Fund resources.
Organizational Background
Big Bend Cares is a community-based nonprofit organization providing healthcare, housing, and supportive services to individuals and families in North Florida. Big Bend Cares believes that housing stability is a critical driver of health and long-term family wellbeing, and that effective solutions to family homelessness must integrate housing with healthcare, employment supports, and other essential services. The organization currently administers several housing programs including:
- HOPWA-funded housing assistance
- Ryan White SPNS SURE housing interventions
- Continuum of Care housing support programs
These programs currently support dozens of households annually through case management, rental assistance, and housing stabilization services. Building on this foundation, Big Bend Cares seeks to explore how the Day 1 Families Fund can expand its ability to stabilize families experiencing homelessness.
Our Mission
To advance community wellness for all by providing comprehensive care and promoting sexual health.
Purpose of the Feasibility Study
The purpose of this engagement is to provide independent strategic guidance to help Big Bend Cares determine the most effective and sustainable approach for deploying Day 1 Families Fund resources. The study should help answer key questions including:
- What are the most pressing family homelessness gaps in the region?
- What program models for utilization of Day 1 Families Funding would deliver the greatest long-term impact?
- What partnerships or consortium models could strengthen implementation?
- Can the program be designed to remain sustainable beyond the grant period and if so how and to what extent?
Scope of Work
As part of the feasibility analysis, the consultant will develop one to two fully implementable program scenarios for deploying the Day 1 Families Fund resources. Each scenario should be grounded in the findings of the community needs assessment and organizational capacity review and should present a clear and actionable pathway for implementation.
Scenarios may include, but are not limited to:
- A Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) or rapid rehousing model focused on immediate housing stabilization for families.
- A partnership-based model leveraging existing housing developers, workforce development agencies, or behavioral health providers.
- A housing development or acquisition strategy, including potential rehabilitation of housing units.
- A hybrid model combining housing assistance with wraparound services such as behavioral health, employment supports, and benefits navigation.
Each scenario should include:
Program Design
- Target population and eligibility criteria
- Service model and supportive services structure
- Partnership requirements
Operational Structure
- Staffing model and organizational capacity needs
- Roles for external partners or consortium members
Financial Analysis
- Estimated program costs
- Recommended allocation of Day 1 Families Fund resources
- Opportunities for braided or matching funding
Impact and Outcomes
- Expected number of families served
- Anticipated housing stability outcomes
- Recommended evaluation metrics
Sustainability Considerations
- Pathways to sustain the program beyond the initial funding period
- Potential public or philanthropic funding sources
Deliverables
The selected consultant will provide the following deliverables:
- Community Needs and Landscape Analysis – Assessment of family homelessness in the region, including service gaps, existing housing initiatives, and opportunities for collaboration with community partners.
- Organizational Capacity Assessment – Evaluation of Big Bend Cares’ current housing programs, staffing structure, operational capacity, and opportunities to leverage existing infrastructure.
- Financial and Sustainability Analysis – Assessment of potential program costs, opportunities for braided or matching funding, and strategies to sustain successful models beyond the initial grant period.
- Implementation Scenarios Report – Presentation of one to two fully developed program models for deploying Day 1 Families Fund resources. Each scenario should include operational structure, staffing considerations, partnership requirements, estimated costs, anticipated impact, and sustainability considerations.
- Final Strategic Recommendations and Presentation – A final report synthesizing findings and providing recommended next steps, along with a presentation of findings and implementation scenarios to Big Bend Cares leadership and relevant Board committees.
Timeline
The anticipated timeline for this engagement is as follows:
- ITN Issued: April 1, 2026
- Questions from Respondents Due: April 10, 2026
- Responses to Questions Posted: April 15, 2026
- Proposals Due: May 1, 2026
- Initial Evaluation of Proposals: May 5 – 12, 2026
- Negotiation Phase: June 1 – 5, 2026
- Consultant Selection & Contract Finalization: June 8 – 12, 2026
- Project Kickoff: June 15, 2026
- Feasibility Study Period: June – August 2026
- Final Report & Presentation: Late August – Early September
Qualifications
Preferred qualifications include:
- Experience designing housing or homelessness interventions
- Expertise in Continuum of Care systems and housing policy
- Experience with philanthropic or innovation grant implementation
- Familiarity with health and housing integration
- Demonstrated success conducting community feasibility studies
Proposal Requirements
Proposals should include:
- Organizational overview
- Relevant project experience
- Proposed methodology
- Project timeline
- Budget proposal
- Key personnel
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
- Relevant experience and expertise
- Quality of proposed methodology
- Understanding of housing and homelessness systems
- Ability to engage community stakeholders
- Cost effectiveness
Proposal Delivery and Due Date
Proposals are due on or before 5:00PM EST on May 1, 2026. Delivery of proposals should be made electronically to atynan@bigbendcares.org with “BBC Feasibility Study Response” in the subject line, PDF preferred. If you have large file size items, please provide a file sharing link with instructions for accessing the proposal materials.
Big Bend Cares is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
People of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals and people living with HIV are strongly encouraged to apply.
