Requests for Proposals

Art Consultant

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is seeking bids for an independent contractor to curate and acquire artwork for its newly renovated headquarters in Millbrook, NY. The goal of the building-wide, a semi-permanent art installation in Tozer Ecosystem Science Building is to reflect the work and mission of the nonprofit environmental research organization.

The independent contractor will report to the President and will be responsible for: a) creating a plan for the artwork that tells a visual story of the institute’s work; b) identifying artists and artworks that fit this remit; c) incorporating existing photographic, printed, written, and object-based items from the historical archives and repurposing them for display; d) overseeing the acquisition, framing, and installation of all artworks; and e) investigating opportunities for artwork gifts or loans.

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from various candidates, conduct a fair and extensive evaluation based on criteria listed herein, and select the candidate who best represents the interests of Cary Institute.

Proposals will be accepted until March 31, 2023, with notification of selection made by mid-April. The consultant will work directly with Cary Institute’s President, in collaboration with the Director of Communications. Contract terms and conditions will be negotiated upon selection of the winning bidder for this RFP. All contractual terms and conditions will be subject to review by Cary Institute’s grants office and will include scope, budget, schedule, and other necessary items pertaining to the project.

Deliverables include

  1. Detailed project plan, including proposed overview and approach
  2. Provisional timeline
  3. Budget overview
  4. Bidder qualifications Art consulting and curating experience, including experience working with and repurposing archival material, is required.

Applicants should also have familiarity with the art world, including discovering and working with artists and galleries.

Proposals should include references and a provisional timeframe for completion of tasks. We would like the tasks delineated in this RFP to be completed within twelve months from the start date.

Please submit questions or proposals to Dr. Joshua Ginsberg (President, Cary Institute) at: caryrfp@caryinstitute.org.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Climate Assessment Contractor

Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is seeking bids for an independent contractor to complete a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Climate Assessment of the Institute. Cary Institute is an independent, nonprofit environmental research organization headquartered in New York’s Hudson Valley.

The independent contractor would be responsible for a) analyzing data and summarizing results from a Climate Assessment Survey that already has been conducted (46 responses), b) summarizing results from Climate Assessment Focus Groups that were already conducted (9 sessions), c) synthesizing and interpreting results across the two sources of information, and d) making recommendations for improving the diversity, equity, and inclusiveness of Cary Institute’s community.

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from various candidate organizations, conduct a fair and extensive evaluation based on criteria listed herein, and select the candidate who best represents the interests of Cary Institute.

Proposals will be accepted until December 8, 2022, with notification of selection made by early January. The consultant will work directly with Cary Institute’s President, in collaboration with the Institute’s Board of Trustees’ DEI Committee, and the staff Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee.

Contract terms and conditions will be negotiated upon selection of the winning bidder for this RFP. All contractual terms and conditions will be subject to review by Cary Institute’s grants department and will include scope, budget, schedule, and other necessary items pertaining to the project.

Deliverables include

  1. Detailed project plan.
  2. Analysis of Survey and Focus Group results, with summary statistics datasets complete with metadata and documentation.
  3. Report presenting the summary of each data source, a synthesis of findings across data sources, interpretation of the results, and recommendations for improvements.

Qualifications Sought

  1. DEI expertise and experience.
  2. Experience working with closed and open ended survey data, and focus group results.
  3. Familiarity with both academic institutions and non-profit organizations.
  4. Excellent references.

Provisional Timeline

We would like the tasks delineated in this RFP to be completed within three months from the start date. 

  • Proposal Contents
  • Bidder qualifications.
  • Overview and approach to data analysis, synthesis, interpretation, and recommendations.
  • Itemized budget. All costs must be itemized to include an explanation of all fees and costs.  
  • Timeframe for completion of tasks.

Please submit questions or proposals to Dr. Joshua Ginsberg (President, Cary Institute) at: caryrfp@caryinstitute.org.