Request for Proposals for Training of Facilitator and Follow Up for Youth Gathering Of Native Americans (GONA) Team

The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, a federally Recognized Indian Tribe, invites your business to submit a Proposal to provide comprehensive training, coaching, and facilitation support to build the capacity of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB) Community GONA Team for the LTBB Education Department.

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB) is the recipient of an Indian Health Services (IHS) Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention (SPIP) grant to increase public awareness on better recognition, prevention and intervention of suicide in the Native American community. LTBB’s target audience for this project is the LTBB Youth and what it takes for the youth to feel whole, safe, and rooted again.

Now LTBB is seeking contractor to provide comprehensive training, coaching, and facilitation support to build the capacity of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians (LTBB) Community GONA Team. Services will include:

• Virtual and onsite Training of Facilitators (TOF) at the LTBB Administration Building located at 7500 Odawa Circle, Harbor Springs, Michigan.
• Deliver an in-depth Training of Facilitators (TOF) program for approximately 20-25 participants selected by LTBB.
• Provide logistical coordination and participant support to include but not limited to online pre-training sessions and preparation activities, a 3.5-day onsite training seminar at an agreed-upon location, interactive learning experiences utilizing adult learning principles, practical application exercises and hands-on coaching opportunities, facilitation practice sessions with real-time feedback, and training materials, participant resources, and implementation tools.
• Secure and manage a suitable training venue capable of accommodating 20-25 participants for the duration of the onsite training.
• Coordinate and provide meeting space and necessary audiovisual equipment, breakfast, lunch, and refreshments during training days, and participant materials and supplies required for training activities.
• Provide Practical Coaching and Capacity Building: onsite coaching throughout the training experience, observation and assessment of participant facilitation skills, individual and team feedback to strengthen facilitator effectiveness, and guidance regarding implementation planning and community engagement strategies.
• Provide follow-up technical assistance to strengthen community-led facilitation and implementation efforts. Following completion of the TOF, the contractor shall provide ongoing support to LTBB's Community GONA Team, including assistance in planning and implementing the 2027 Community GONA event, lead facilitation support and partnership with LTBB facilitators during the event, real-time coaching and mentorship for LTBB team members before, during, and after the Community GONA, facilitation consultation to strengthen local leadership and capacity, and up to mutually agreed-upon follow-up coaching sessions conducted virtually following the Community GONA event.

Deliverables

1. Online TOF training sessions.
2. One 3.5-day onsite TOF training for 20-25 participants.
3. Training curriculum and participant materials.
4. Venue coordination and catering services.
5. Hands-on facilitation coaching and mentoring.
6. Community GONA facilitation support in 2027.
7. Follow-up technical assistance and coaching.
8. Final summary report documenting activities, participation, and recommendations.

All of Contractor’s travel related details (travel, lodging, transportation, meals) shall be handled by contractor and included in the fee proposal.

All bids must be received by Mandy Szocinski in the Accounting Department by **November 16, 2026 no later than 3:00pm prevailing local time**. Submittals received after deadline will not be considered.

Bids will be accepted in the following methods:

• By E-Mail: mszocinski@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov
• U.S. Mail to: Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Attn: Mandy Szocinski, 7500 Odawa Circle, Harbor Springs, MI 49740

A team from LTBB will evaluate the proposals and choose to award the contract to one or more of the most responsive firms having proven experience in similar projects as described above. Native American Preference shall apply. The award may be split, at the LTBB’s discretion, between two (2) or more contractors to better service specific locations.

Proposals shall be evaluated on a point scale (Total Possible Points = 100). Incomplete responses will not be considered.

A copy of the *Certificates of Insurance* for the Contract term is **required** as part of the bid package.