​

Issued by: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alabama State Association, on behalf of its six member agencies

Lead agency / point of contact: Meghan Parks, CEO & President, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tennessee Valley (mparks@bbbstv.org)

Funding source: Innovate Alabama Talent Network Designation Award

Engagement length: Approximately six (6) months from contract execution (complete by Feb 28th, 2027)

Proposal due date: September 20, 2026 

Anticipated start date: September 30, 2026

Budget range: $20,000 to $35,000

​

1. Background

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alabama is a statewide network of six independently operated Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies serving youth across Alabama through one-to-one and group mentoring:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tennessee Valley (Huntsville)

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Gulf Coast (Mobile)

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Alabama

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Shoals

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Alabama

​

The State Association was recently awarded a Talent Network Designation by Innovate Alabama and is using it to fund a statewide expansion of Big Futures, its workforce and career readiness programming for youth, with a focus on building a stronger pipeline into STEM and technology careers across all six member agencies. The final product must directly connect clearly to STEM and technology talent development, innovation, and entrepreneurship, aligning with Innovate Alabama’s Talent Development initiative. General career readiness activities not tied to STEM, tech, and innovation are supported through other funding sources and fall outside this engagement. 

The State Association requests proposals from an outside consultant to conduct the research and analysis needed to guide that expansion, in partnership with the newly forming Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alabama (BBBS AL) Youth Council.

​

2. Purpose of This RFP

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alabama is seeking a qualified consultant to research, assess, and develop a statewide strategy for scaling Big Futures programming, with a focus on the STEM and technology talent pipeline, across all six member agencies. The consultant will study where each agency stands today, examine how comparable programming is being done well elsewhere, and deliver a clear, practical roadmap for statewide expansion, developed in partnership with the BBBS Alabama Youth Council so that youth voice shapes deliverables.

​

3. Scope of Work

The areas of work below describe what the consultant is expected to accomplish. Consultants should propose their own approach, methodology, and sequencing for completing them within the roughly six month engagement window.

​

Agency Assessment

The consultant will conduct a structured discovery process across all six agencies and summarize findings in an Agency Assessment Summary, including:

• Stakeholder interviews with agency executive directors and program staff to document existing workforce development and career readiness programming

• An inventory of current Big Futures implementation status, related programming (e.g., Beyond School Walls), and any locally developed career-connected activities at each agency

• An assessment of each agency’s current capacity, readiness, and interest in expanding STEM and tech focused workforce development programming

• Identification of gaps, disparities, and opportunities across the six agencies

• Documentation of existing employer partnerships, CTE connections, and STEM and tech sector relationships already in place at each agency

• Identification of high-potential new industry, government, and nonprofit partnerships local to each agency that will support Big Future expansion.

 

Landscape Review

The consultant will research how Big Futures and comparable workforce and talent pipeline programming are being implemented elsewhere, and summarize findings in a Landscape Review Summary. This review does not need to be exhaustive; it should be targeted and directly useful to the resulting strategy. The State Association will provide the consultant with an overview of Big Futures programming and connections to other local agencies known to be doing this work well, as a starting point.

• Review of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America's national Big Futures framework and available implementation data

• Identification of high performing BBBS agencies (in Alabama or nationally) with strong STEM and tech talent pipeline programming, and the practices that make them effective

• Identification of potential collaborating organizations that could support and strengthen the statewide expansion

• Develop a compilation of research and evidence establishing Big Futures as an evidence-based, research-informed approach to workforce and career readiness programming, for use in future grant and funding applications

• ​

Statewide Expansion Strategy & Recommendations

Drawing on the agency assessment and landscape review, the consultant will produce a Statewide Expansion Strategy, delivered in draft and final versions and presented to member agencies and the Youth Council upon completion. The strategy should include:

• A phased roadmap for statewide expansion, with agency-specific recommendations that account for differing capacity and readiness

• A framework for aligning Big Futures programming and terminology across the six agencies

• Guidance on building and formalizing STEM/tech employer partnerships to support the pipeline

• Recommended simple metrics for tracking progress and outcomes across agencies

• A prioritized list of public and private funding opportunities that could sustain and grow the work after this engagement

​

Youth Voice & Alabama Youth Council Collaboration

The consultant will partner closely with the BBBS Alabama Youth Council, a statewide group of young leaders founded and led by its own co-presidents, throughout this engagement. This collaboration is an important part of the project and includes:

• Incorporating youth voice into the creation of all deliverables under this engagement, so that the agency assessment, landscape review, and statewide strategy reflect the perspective of the young people they are meant to serve

• Supporting the Youth Council's exploration of STEM, technology, and innovation career pathways, as a complement to the Council's own leadership and programming

• Engaging with the Council in a facilitation and support role. The Council will continue to be led by its own co-presidents, and the consultant will help amplify and integrate its voice

​

4. Engagement Logistics

• Location: This engagement is remote. Travel to member agencies should be expected to support the agency assessment and research, and should be accounted for in the proposed cost.

• Access to information: The consultant will have access to Big Futures program staff across the member agencies for interviews, and to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America resources on Big Futures programming. The State Association will help facilitate introductions to relevant staff throughout the engagement.

• Payment structure: Negotiable, to be finalized with the selected consultant.

• Future opportunities: Depending on future funding, there may be opportunities for additional work implementing elements of the resulting strategy.

​

5. Qualifications Sought

• Demonstrated experience in workforce development and STEM/tech talent pipeline strategy, ideally with youth-serving or nonprofit organizations

• Experience conducting organizational assessments and translating findings into practical strategy

• Experience engaging youth or youth advisory bodies in shaping strategic work

• Strong written communication skills and ability to produce clear documents for boards and funders

• Ability to work across multiple independent agencies and stakeholders in a coordinated, diplomatic way

​

6. Proposal Requirements

Interested consultants should submit a proposal that includes:

• A brief statement of relevant qualifications and experience, including references

• A proposed approach and methodology for each area of the scope of work, including how youth voice will be incorporated into deliverables

• A proposed timeline within the six month engagement window

• A total project cost within the stated budget range, with a breakdown by deliverable or work area, and stated hourly or daily rate

• Confirmation of availability to begin by the anticipated start date

 

7. Submission Instructions

Proposals should be submitted electronically to Meghan Parks, CEO & President, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tennessee Valley, at mparks@bbbstv.org, no later than September 20, 2026. Questions about this RFP may be directed to the same contact.

​

​

8. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Relevant experience and demonstrated ability to deliver similar work

• Quality and clarity of the proposed approach and methodology

• Demonstrated ability to engage youth voice in strategic work

• Reasonableness of proposed timeline and cost

​

9. Engagement Terms

• The selected consultant will be engaged as an independent contractor, not an employee of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alabama or any member agency.

• All work products and materials developed under this engagement will become the property of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alabama upon completion and payment.

• A formal Scope of Work and independent contractor agreement will be executed with the selected consultant prior to the start of work.