Yesterday, DEEL announced the re-opening of the FEPP Opportunity and Access (O&A) Request for Investment (RFI) funding opportunity.
The O&A RFI was temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 on March 24, 2020. In a message yesterday to community-based organizations, school administrators, and community members, DEEL shared the following:
This period of extraordinary uncertainty has made it necessary to modify and adapt our work while still striving to provide services that are important to our students, families and communities. Thank you for your patience and dedication to this work. Through careful consideration, the Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) will lift the suspension and re-open the O&A RFI on Monday, May 11, 2020.
To be considered for funding, eligible applicants are invited to submit applications by 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 22, 2020. Successful applicants will be notified by Friday, August 21, 2020, for investments beginning as early as October 2020 with the possibility of annual renewal through the 2022-23 school year, conditional upon annual performance. Annual award size will be contingent upon services provided and students served.
The revised timeline for this funding opportunity is as follows:
| Event | Date/Time* |
| Request for Investment (RFI) application issued | Monday, May 11, 2020 |
| RFI Information Webinar (Prerecorded) | Monday, May 11, 2020 posted by 4pm |
| Technical Assistance Session 1 (Online) | Monday, May 18, 2020 2:30-4:00pm |
| Technical Assistance Session 2 (Online) | Monday, June 1, 2020 2:30-4:00pm |
| Last day to submit questions | Friday, June 12, 2020 |
| RFI Applications Due | Monday, June 22, 2020 by 3:00pm |
| Applications Reviewed and Rated | June 23 – July 10, 2020 |
| Interviews and Review Panel Deliberations | July 15 – July 24, 2020 |
| Notifications issued to applicants | Friday, August 21, 2020 |
*Dates and times are subject to change
Online information and technical assistance sessions will be available for viewing throughout the application period.
Starting Monday, May 11, eligible applicants can visit DEEL’s Funding Opportunities page to download updated materials, including the complete RFI Application, application submission template, and technical assistance resources.
Questions about the opportunity can be emailed to DEELFunding@seattle.gov and should include “Question_Opportunity and Access Investment-RFI Application” in the subject line.
All materials, announcements and questions submitted to DEEL will be posted on our website. DEEL will not provide individual notice of changes, and perspective applicants are responsible for regularly checking the web page for technical assistance information as well as any updates, clarifications, or amendments.
