The Water Research Foundation (WRF), a leading nonprofit organization committed to advancing the science of water through collaborative research and innovation, has released RFP 5369 titled "Eliminating Barriers to Entry: Water Utilities as Community Partners for Career Pipelines." This funding opportunity is part of WRF's Research Priority Program, reflecting the Foundation's strategic investment in workforce development for the water sector. The program aims to address significant challenges faced by water utilities, particularly in recruiting for entry-level roles, by fostering partnerships with community organizations that can provide access to underrepresented job seekers.
This RFP seeks proposals that will identify best practices for creating sustainable, mutually beneficial collaborations between utilities and community-based entities such as vocational training centers, workforce programs, and re-entry services. The research is expected to enhance understanding of how such partnerships can be structured to align goals and maximize benefits across regions. A particular focus is on identifying measurable success factors that can inform replication and scalability beyond localized efforts.
Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative and original research methodologies. Potential research components may include a review of barriers faced by underrepresented populations, case studies of effective career pipeline models, and analysis of success metrics across the industry. The selected researcher will collaborate with a Project Advisory Committee to help define what constitutes a "successful" community partnership in this context.
Deliverables may include a comprehensive research report following WRF templates, a guidance manual tailored for utilities interested in building partnerships, and outreach formats such as webcasts or workshops. The project duration is anticipated to be 24 months from the start of the contract. All proposals must adhere to WRF's submission guidelines, including specific requirements for administrative, cost, and audit compliance.
Eligible applicants include both U.S. and non-U.S. entities, such as educational institutions, research organizations, government agencies, and for-profit firms. Proposals must demonstrate a minimum 33% cost share by the applicant, in cash or in-kind, to be considered. Submissions must be completed online by 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time on Thursday, November 20, 2025. For programmatic inquiries, applicants may contact Alice Jariz at ajariz@waterrf.org; for technical submission support, Caroline Bruck can be reached at cbruck@waterrf.org. Notifications and contracts will follow after evaluation based on criteria such as technical merit, communication plan, and budget structure.
Follow WRF’s compliance rules and cost share requirements; ensure submission by deadline; use templates.
