Request for Proposals
Salesforce Architect
Thank you for your interest in providing Salesforce Consulting services to Apprenti, a non-profit organization that delivers registered apprenticeship programs across the United States. Apprenti creates alternative pathways to careers in tech and helps businesses address their digital skills gap. We provide economic mobility to underrepresented groups by identifying, training, and placing talent from underrepresented groups into a growing set of tech careers.
Apprenti is seeking proposals from qualified Salesforce Architects to re-design and implement robust Salesforce solutions that align with Apprenti’s data management goals and compliance requirements.
As a non-profit organization, that is partially government funded, the partner chosen for this work will need to be nimble, collaborative, efficient, and priced appropriately. We’re seeking an organization, or individual, that is able to serve as an extension of Apprenti, become a trusted resource, and grow with us.
Scope of Work
The initial scope of work is based on expectations for 2025-2026 and is subject to change. Future years will be considered based on outcomes, confidence in the relationship, business needs and budget.
Initial scope of work generally includes:
- Salesforce Audit and Strategy
- Conduct an audit on Apprenti’s existing Salesforce system by reviewing existing workflows and process automations, process for validating and cleansing data, objects and fields, and effectiveness of AppExchange Apps & Integrations. Evaluate Salesforce security threats.
- Meet with cross-functional teams to understand Apprenti’s business model and KPIs.
- Develop a comprehensive roadmap outlining the Salesforce redesign strategy, recommendations, and change management plans.
- Platform Development
- Update & re-design a quality, scalable, and user friendly Nonprofit Salesforce platform to support business growth.
- Knowledge of Apex, Visualforce, Java, SQL/SOQL, and Python.
- Redesign and improve workflows that can be automated.
- Automate business processes with Salesforce native applications and third party tools via AppExchange.
- Experience with DevOps process and tools.
- Experience with Conga Contracting for SalesForce.
- System Integration and API Development
- Ensure seamless integrations with connected applications including iContact, Notion, Docusign, Conga Contracting. Design integration project roadmaps for internal team members. Outline the optimal strategy for integration orchestration, be it through API integration, middleware, or a custom integration.
- Ability to maintain, update, and troubleshoot the integration between Salesforce and LMS (Absorb) platforms.
- Support with the setup of configuration settings within Apprenti’s Salesforce to establish connections and compatibility.
- Conduct integration testing, deployment, and monitor the integration to safeguard its ongoing alignment with Apprenti operations.
- Data Modeling and Management
- Deep knowledge in data modeling including standard objects (ie., accounts, contacts, opportunities, leads, and campaigns), custom objects, and managed objects.
- Proficient in crafting validation rules and formulas as well as logic constraints to ensure only accurate information is stored in Apprenti’s database.
- Follow guidelines for encrypting sensitive apprentice data including Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Leverage Salesforce Data Mask to mask & anonymize data in Sandboxes.
- Establish data governance processes and policies to ensure Apprenti’s data is relevant and stored efficiently. Identifying gaps and developing a strategy to address issues and cleanse data.
- Understand relevant apprenticeship compliance regulations when designing data models (ie, Department of Labor).
- Security & Backup Recovery
- Provide suggestions for Salesforce Backup solutions (native tools and third-party solutions) to reduce risk of losing data and metadata.
- Build a data/metadata restoration plan.
- Outline risk associated with Salesforce deployments.
- Collaborate with leads to assign appropriate Salesforce roles to users.
- Project Management
- Create and manage project timelines for all Apprenti Salesforce projects.
- Clearly communicate architectural options and risks to the Senior Leadership Team.
- Engage with cross functional teams to understand project needs.
- Fiscal accountability.
- Support Salesforce Adoption and Employee Training
- Craft customized trainings to help Apprenti’s Business Intelligence Team establish strong data collection and analysis practices. Additionally, provide support to the broader Apprenti Team on understanding best practices for utilizing Salesforce (ie., how to input data properly into opportunities, objects, fields; how to build reports; how to create dashboards).
Estimated Budget for Scope of Work
The estimated budget is not to exceed $100,000 for the first year of the project (calendar year).
Proposal Requirements
You must submit the following:
- Cover Letter: Provide an introduction to the individual/organization and explain relevant experience.
- Copy of current US Based business license. The proposer must be registered as a US entity. All personnel must live in the U.S.
- Detailed Proposal:
- Approach to delivering the Scope of Work.
- Include examples of past Salesforce projects, particularly in nonprofit sectors, in response.
- Completion of Appendix A (below).
- Resume or statement of qualifications for individual(s) who will be performing the work. Please include certifications, key skills, and relevant experiences.
- A fee schedule including estimated hours by each individual performing services and their respective hourly rates, tasks to be performed, miscellaneous fees, and other anticipated costs.
- Two to three professional/business references.
Evaluation Criteria
| EVALUATION CRITERIA WEIGHT |
| Cover letter with business’ legal information, business license [Yes or No] |
| Proposed delivery of Scope of Work (Appendix A, prompt #1) [25%] |
| Responses to prompts 2-5 in Appendix A [35%] |
| Past experience doing similar Salesforce projects, including conducting org-wide Salesforce audits and redesigning the system for improved data management [25%] |
| Competitive pricing – fee schedule including hourly rates, miscellaneous fees, and other anticipated expenses [15%] |
Selection Criteria
- Proposals will be evaluated to determine the firm or individual’s ability to complete the project scope based on the qualifications and evaluation criteria listed above.
- Apprenti may choose to interview one or more proposers but reserves the right to choose or to contract the firm that best meets the qualifications without conducting any interviews. Apprenti also reserves the right to reject all proposals.
- Submitting a proposal or being chosen as the most qualified proposal does not guarantee a contract will be executed.
- Must be a US based company and meet federal contractor requirements.
Submission Requirements
Proposals are due no later than 4:00pm Pacific Time on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted or considered. Apprenti assumes no responsibility for formatting or transmission errors. Response to questions 1-6 in Appendix A must be no longer than ten pages in length. Any page(s) submitted that exceeds this limit will not be considered. Font used must be no less than size 11. This page limit does not include work samples and resumes.
Proposals must be submitted in MS Word or PDF format by email to Marie Trudelle, at mtrudelle@apprenticareers.org. Responses must NOT be mailed.
Timeline
- RFP Issued Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
- Proposals Due Wednesday, June 4, 2025 by 4:00pm PST.
- Possible Finalist Interviews the week of June 16.
- Work Begins upon contract execution or as agreed upon by both parties.
Questions
All RFP related questions must be sent to Marie Trudelle at mtrudelle@apprenticareers.org. Responses to questions will be published weekly on Mondays. Apprenti will not consider any question that is sent outside of this protocol.
General Information
Proposers must also agree to comply, at a minimum, with the following:
General Requirements
The contractor shall comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Contractor noncompliance with any of these laws and regulations may result in canceling the contract.
Discrimination Laws
Contractor shall comply with all federal, state, and local nondiscrimination laws, regulations, and policies. Contractor noncompliance with certain anti-discrimination laws may result in canceling the contract.
Required Disclosures
Contractor shall disclose any potential or actual conflicts of interest, including but not limited to, any recent business dealings that could be perceived as a conflict, any current or recent state or federal employee working on behalf of Contractor. Contractor shall also certify that it has not been debarred from contracting with the Federal government and shall further disclose if there are any legal actions against it.
