Request for Proposals
Participatory-oriented Evaluation
Introduction:
This is a Request for Proposals for a project level, computer volunteer program evaluation.

Background:
CompuCorps Mentoring /Les Mentors de CompuCorps is a federally incorporated charitable non profit located in Ottawa. We were founded in January 2000 and are based on a technical assistance provider model to nonprofits developed in San Francisco. We currently provide a computer volunteer program as well as a low cost in-house computer consulting service for Canadian charities.

Our Mission:
We provide community charities with technology that can change lives for those who are disadvantaged throughout Canada and we develop innovative means for talented computer professionals to volunteer and to assist charities to become a defining force within our network society.

Our Purpose:
To promote the efficiency and effectiveness of registered charitable organisations in Canada by the provision of technical volunteers, low cost computer services and software, technical support and training.

Our Computer Volunteer Program:
CompuCorps recruits volunteer computer specialists, and manages them on short term computer or internet related projects for Canadian charities. Our volunteers, (now over 300), act as 'mentors' for charitable groups who need direct, low cost technical assistance in implementing and handling their computer needs. We have completed about 35 projects to date. Our projects are in the web design, networking, data base, training and office systems areas. We have provided services to both very small and very large charities and we attempt to complete all requests from charities that we receive. We are contacted mainly through referrals from other client charities.

Overall Evaluation and Assessment Process:
CompuCorps Mentoring would like this process to be a participatory evaluation including our staff, clients, volunteers and other stakeholders. (We would like to include some of our charitable clients as stakeholders who would assist us to develop a more complete understanding of our overall program, it's problems and accomplishments while also identifying program issues.)

Timing:
We would expect the evaluation process to run from February 2007 until about July 2007 however this can be modified based upon the time line presented by the contractor and as mutually agreed.

Scope:
There are three components of this project level evaluation:
  • Participatory evaluation with our staff and stakeholders for our program.
  • Survey methodology, design and interviewing.
  • Analysis and write up of the findings and outcomes in a final report.

Participatory project-level evaluation

Primary Purposes:
    To measure client satisfaction

    To measure outcomes/impact
The primary goal of this project-level evaluation is to improve and strengthen the program. We are evaluating the program in the middle of this three year project.

Our identified stakeholders include: our funder, CompuCorps Mentoring staff and contractors and advisors, computer volunteers and client charity management.

In this phase of project maturity, an effective outcome evaluation process is critical to:
  • demonstrating the effects of our project;
  • helping to answer questions about what works, for whom, and in what circumstances, and how to improve program delivery and services;
  • developing appropriate indicators to be used for outcome measurement.

Surveying:
  • To develop and implement a bulletproof survey methodology and process.
  • To lead in the development and in the review of the survey questions developed by our staff and contractors. To review and verify that reliable and valid sources of data is being used to evaluate our computer volunteering program.
  • To setup and conduct 20 onsite interviews in Ottawa and Kingston (maybe 2 - 4) with Executive Directors and/or managers at our clients - the charities involved with our program.
  • To conduct one group session and 25 telephone interviews for computer volunteers who have been involved with our program.
(Depending on your methodology we would also consider other interview numbers/mixes)

Analysis:
To analyze and write up findings, conclusions, and lessons learned in a final report to include:
  • Survey responses and response statistics,
  • Improvement in process of the volunteer computer project, and
  • Improvement in the processes of CompuCorps Mentoring.
The final report or an executive summary with associated graphs and tables would likely also be placed on our website by our staff so any digital files would have to be provided.

Elements of the proposal for this RFP:
Prospective consultants should include the following in their proposal:
  • Background of the organization or of the consultant including areas of specialization and relevant past projects.
    (This should include examples of previous evaluations done in charitable sector or in the business or government sector, ideally dealing with volunteers and computers or internet sites)
  • Overview of the proposed methodology for the overall participatory assessment and how you would fully include the staff or stakeholders in the complete evaluation process, question development, surveying and analysis and final report.
  • Overview of how the surveying would be carried out.
  • The proposed timelines for the project.
  • Your budget including all fees and expenses to carry out this project.
Deadline for Proposal:
Please send in proposal to: Thank you for your interest.
We could be available to meet or discuss with interested consultants for more information as required. Our telephone number is: 613-234-8988.

We will try to respond to all applications
Thank you.