1. Introduction

Florida Certified Organic Growers & Consumers, Inc. (“FOG”) is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting organic, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture. We work directly with farmers to provide technical assistance, education, and resources that strengthen organic and sustainable farming practices and build stronger local food systems. As part of this mission, we make sure to assist all producers including the Latino farmer community across Florida and southeast region. FOG invites qualified consultants, firms, and contractors to support the Southeast Transition to Organic Partnership Program (“SE TOPP”).

2. About the Program

3. Purpose of this RFP

• Bilingual Latino Farmers Outreach Coordination – Consultants with demonstrated experience in agriculture, organic transition, and community engagement to serve Latino farmers and farmworkers. Responsibilities may include outreach, translation, Spanish language stakeholder support, and relationship building across underserved agricultural communities.

• Communications, Media, & Video Production – Support Individuals or teams capable of producing high quality videos, educational media, online content, and digital storytelling materials for SE TOPP. This includes video editing, scripting, filming, graphic design, animation, and translating complex organic agriculture topics into accessible formats for diverse audiences.

• Content Review for USDA/NOP Compliance – Specialists who can review educational materials, outreach products, training modules, and publications to ensure alignment with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards and confirm that resources meet federal communications and regulatory requirements before public release.

• Workforce Development Curriculum – Build-out Contractors with experience developing and uploading curriculum into online training platforms for SE TOPP’s workforce training initiatives. Work may include editing curriculum materials, designing learning modules, optimizing content for online learning, and organizing deliverables within SE TOPP’s learning management systems.

• Program Evaluation & Reporting – Support Professionals skilled in data collection, mixed methods evaluation, performance measurement, and USDA aligned reporting to support SE TOPP in closing out project outcomes, impact documentation, and federal reporting requirements.

• Administrative Coordination & Partner Support- Contractors who can provide project coordination, scheduling, documentation management, and partner communication support across SE TOPP’s multi-state coalition.

Additional RFPs may be issued for other specialized tasks that contribute to effective program delivery and close-out, including event facilitation, translation services, graphic design, organic system planning assistance, and community engagement roles.

This RFP establishes the framework for selecting qualified entities across these categories and ensures SE TOPP can secure the expertise needed to complete program deliverables through 2026.

4. Contract Period & Budget

5. Proposal Requirements

All submitted proposals must include a comprehensive budget and a detailed narrative that addresses the following components:

• Executive Summary – Provide a concise overview of your proposal, outlining your understanding of the project needs and the services you intend to deliver.

• Company Overview and Team Qualifications – Include a description of your organization, the length of time you have been in business, and relevant experience that demonstrates your capacity to perform the services outlined in this RFP. Identify all team members who will be assigned to this project, including each individual’s name, title/role, and a brief summary of their background and relevant expertise. Please include full contact information for the primary point of contact.

• Communication and Project Management – Approach Describe your project management methodology, including how you will plan, track, and report on project status. Outline your internal communication processes, frequency of updates, and your approach to ensuring timely delivery of all project components.

• Proposed Timeline and Milestones – Provide a detailed project timeline that outlines major phases, estimated duration for each task, and key deliverables. A realistic and achievable timeline is essential and will be incorporated into the contractual agreement.

• Budget and Cost Breakdown – Submit a clear, itemized budget that summarizes the proposed costs for all services and deliverables. Include your pricing structure, hourly rates (if applicable), and any anticipated expenses.

• References – Provide at least two professional references who can speak to your ability to fulfill the services outlined in this RFP. Include each reference’s contact information and a brief description of the work you previously performed for them.

• Terms and Conditions – Include any contract terms, conditions, or requirements your organization typically employs when entering into service agreements.

• Relevant Past Performance – Describe previous projects similar in scope, size, or subject matter. Highlight experience that demonstrates your qualifications, particularly in agriculture, community engagement, communications, curriculum development, or USDA funded program work.

6. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Responsiveness to RFP – Requirements The proposal clearly addresses all components listed in this RFP and demonstrates an understanding of the scope and objectives.

• Clarity, Organization, and Quality of Proposal – The submission is well organized, logically structured, and professionally presented, with all required information included.

• Relevant Experience and Qualifications – The applicant demonstrates successful completion of similar projects and possesses the necessary skills, expertise, and organizational capacity to complete this work.

• Sector Knowledge – Familiarity with the food and agriculture sector is required, with preference given to applicants who understand organic agriculture, USDA/NOP requirements, and producer engagement.

• Team Capacity and Expertise – The applicant demonstrates that the proposed team—both in size and expertise—is well suited to meet project needs.

• Cost Effectiveness – The proposed budget is reasonable, aligned with the project scope, and represents good value for the program.

7. Submission Instructions

Submit proposals to setopp@foginfo.org no later than the submission deadline set forth in this RFP.

8. Terms & Conditions

FOG may accept, reject, or negotiate proposals; all materials become FOG property. FOG’s acceptance of a proposal or failure to act on a proposal does not create any contractual rights. FOG will be contractually bound only if and when a written contract between the parties is executed by their appropriately authorized officials.