About the Farm
John Boner Neighborhood Centers's mission is to inspire neighbors and partners to improve the quality of life on the Near Eastside by providing tools for change and growth.  Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential for a happy life. Our wide range of services supports your well-being, including our community garden at the Boner Fitness and Learning Center, where we offer enriching programs for children, youth, and families
 
Growing Places Indy's mission is to empower people to cultivate individual, family, and community wellness through urban agriculture, access to fresh local food, and mind-body education.  Our work at the Boner Fitness and Learning Center (BFLC) began in 2012, managing 2,500 square feet of raised beds and a greenhouse. We continue to grow roots, perennial herbs, edible flowers, and more in this area. It also serves as a great learning space for groups on the farm. In 2014, the farm expanded space from raised beds into a 13,000 square-foot direct planting area, making this our largest site. Plants for all of our sites are started from seed in greenhouses and are transplanted throughout the season
 

Project Specifics
John Boner Neighborhood Centers (JBNC), with advisement from Growing Places Indy (GPI), is seeking proposals from qualified organizations or individuals to manage and provide programming for the Farm at the Boner Fitness and Learning Center, located at 727 North Oriental Street, 46202 on the campus of Arsenal Technical High School.  JBNC will make space available to the Program Provider for agreed upon activities at no charge. The purpose of this RFP is to identify a Site Manager and Program Provider who will oversee and program either:

• Option 1: The greenhouse and 39 raised beds, including the compost area, OR
• Option 2: The greenhouse, 39 raised beds, and the front farm area (including shipping containers, wash/pack station, walk-in cooler, etc.)

Required Deliverables
The selected Site Manager and Program Provider will be responsible for:

1.  Farm Management and Operations

• Overseeing the daily operations of the farm assets selected (Option 1 or Option 2).
• Managing seasonal planning, planting, cultivation, harvesting, plan for produce distribution and farm maintenance.
• Ensuring sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, including composting and water conservation.
• Supervising staff, volunteers, and community participants.
• Maintaining and repairing farm infrastructure, tools, and equipment.
• Keeping the growing spaces and edging around growing spaces weeded and mown as appropriate. This includes the edging along the greenhouse exterior.
• Keeping the greenhouse and storage areas orderly and clean.
   

2.  Community Programming and Engagement

• Designing and implementing community programs that utilize the farm to engage diverse populations, including youth, families, and local residents.
• Communicating, and when appropriate collaborating, with JBNC staff to integrate garden/farm activities with broader community goals.
   

3.  Youth and Family Programming - examples might include:

• Developing hands-on learning experiences for youth that promote environmental stewardship, healthy eating, and active lifestyles.
• Creating opportunities for families to participate in farm-based activities such as gardening, cooking classes, and seasonal events.
   

4.  Food Access and Distribution

• Facilitating the distribution of produce to community members through local markets, food pantries, and other outlets that promote food security.
• Communicating with JBNC how garden/farm-grown produce will be distributed in the community.
• Collaborating with other community programs as possible to ensure farm-grown food reaches those most in need.
   

5.  Fundraising and Resource Development

• The organization must fully fund the proposed management and programming annually.
• Identifying and pursuing funding opportunities to support farm operations and program development.
• Developing relationships with potential donors, sponsors, and community partners.
   

6.  Reporting and Evaluation

• Providing regular updates to JBNC on farm activities, community engagement, and program outcomes.
• Tracking participation and impact metrics to evaluate the success of programs.

Evaluation Criteria
Your proposals will be reviewed by an RFP selection committee and evaluated in accordance with the criteria outlined in the previous section. Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevant experience and qualifications of the organization and key personnel (30%)
• Strength and feasibility of the proposed work plan (40%)
• Budget and financial viability (20%)
• Support from the organization’s board and references (10%)

Proposal Timeline

• RFP Issued: 10/09/2024
• Proposal Deadline: 11/01/2024 by 5:00 PM EST
• Selection of Provider: 11/15/2024
• Start Date: 1/1/2025
   

Project Duration
The project will operate under an Annual Agreement starting on January 1, 2025, which will automatically renew each year