Key Dates:

Release Date: October 25, 2022

Webinar Date: November 3, 2022 (Zoom registration via https://ucr.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYtcuuoqjIqGNfzUrEVaYY6LW7ORIgLupuZ)

Submission Deadline: November 21, 2022, 9am PT

Notification Date: December 2, 2022

Anticipated Start Date: January 3, 2023

Preliminary Policy Report: April 3, 2023

Anticipated Final Deliverables Deadline: September 29, 2023

Typical Funding Amount: $50,000 to $200,000

Background

As part of the investment by the California State Legislature into improving the data available on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities of California, the AAPI Data project at the University of California, Riverside received an allocation to support social science data and research on the needs of AA and NHPI communities in California. Drawing on this allocation, AAPI Data seeks proposals from academic and community-based researchers across California to expand the public policy research knowledge base for these communities. We intend to issue two requests for proposals in Fall 2022 connected with this goal. The first will be issued to entities and personnel affiliated with the University of California system, and we plan to issue a second RFP through the procurement process at UC Riverside that is open to any other entity conducting research in the state of California, including other colleges and universities, research centers, and community-based organizations.

This RFP is open to all University of California campuses interested or connected to social, economic, and health outcomes as they pertain to Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, or Pacific Islanders. It is also open to partnerships between UC-based researchers and community-based organizations that collaborate on a research project, with the UC entity as the lead applicant.

Research approaches can include quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods. Research questions must be formulated in a manner that is amenable to policy solutions or recommendations. The following topic areas have been identified as potential priority areas by AA and NHPI advocates across the state, but proposals covering topic areas not included below will also be evaluated:

• Anti-Asian and Anti-NHPI Hate and Racism
• Civic Engagement
• Economic and Workforce Development
• Education
• Gender-based violence
• Health
• Housing
• Immigrant and Refugee Rights
• Language Access 
• LGBTQ+ communities
• Mental Health
• Poverty
• Social service utilization
• Undocumented Immigrants

Each awardee will be responsible for delivering three products:

1. Preliminary policy brief due April 3, 2023 (approximately 8 pages)
2. The policy brief should cover Important policy questions being addressed, gaps in knowledge, how will the research fill those gaps, any early evidence from research, and why the research is important for the community
3. The goal is to provide AANHPI advocacy groups important guidance and evidence for advocacy positions
4. Final policy memo due by September 29, 2023  (approximately 8 pages)
   1. Above with findings and recommendations for policy (recommendations should be more substantial than call for additional data) even if suggestive.
5. Working paper due by September 29, 2023
   1. Academic research paper of at least 20 pages in length that will be hosted on the AAPI Data website and/or repositories at the University of California system, including at UC Riverside

Eligibility

Proposals are invited from all UC campuses. Proposers must show that they can provide a diversity of perspectives consistent with California’s diverse AA and NHPI populations.

Amount and Terms of Funding

It is expected that the funding for each area will be in the range of $50,000 - $200,000, and budgets should reflect these limits. 

Allowable expenses may include salaries and benefits, software, travel, entertainment, and miscellaneous supplies. Expenses for community advisors or partners will be allowed and encouraged. No overhead or capital equipment expenses will be allowed, per the award requirements set by the State of California.

Proposal and Rating Criteria

The RFP is competitive. Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Define the scope of the proposed research
2. Provide an outline of work plan to accomplish the scope of work
3. Show expertise and qualifications of the researchers undertaking this work
4. Demonstrate prior collaboration or partnership with community-based groups in past research that resulted in policy impacts, and/or provide a plan to how to include community-based input into the work plan.
5. Provide an outline for a policy briefing document that places the conducted research into the context of recommendations for policies and practices.

Application Instructions and Formatting

A proposal, exclusive of cover page, budgets, and supporting material, must be no longer than eight pages, single-spaced with one-inch borders, and no smaller than 11-point type. Proposals must indicate the principal investigator, all professional and research staff, and timelines and budgets for accomplishing the tasks outlined above. Proposals will be judged on the degree to which they meet the criteria listed above and the degree to which they propose innovative and interesting ways to address the policy research needs of AA and NHPI communities. References and bibliographies will not count toward the page limit.

Complete applications should include:

1. Application Cover Sheet 
2. Proposed Budget Sheet
3. Project Proposal
4. Budget justification
5. List of key participating staff with resumes or CVs

Proposals must be submitted no later than 9:00 am Pacific Time on Monday, November 21, 2022. Proposals should be submitted by email to AAPIdata@ucr.edu. Replies will be provided to each proposer, but the proposer is responsible for ensuring that the proposal has been submitted prior to the deadline. 

Requirements of Awardees

Awardees are expected to grant the University of California and the AAPI Data project the right to publish the project deliverables, and to disseminate findings from the project deliverables, with attribution to authors.

Deliverables

1. Project kick-off meeting (January 2, 2023)
2. Researchers are responsible for any IRB Review and Approval of Study Protocol
3. Preliminary policy paper (due April 3, 2023)
4. Mid-term project and expense report (due April 3, 2023)
5. Final policy paper (due September 29, 2023)
6. Final working paper (due September 29, 2023)
7. Final project narrative and budget report (due September 29, 2023)

Questions: Please contact AAPIdata@ucr.edu (email for any questions about the RFP process)