Request for Proposals for legal services for the agency and/or the Head Start Program

The Choanoke Area Development and Association is in taking request for proposals for legal services for the agency and/or the Head Start Program. The proposal can be for all or just the Head Start program.

Legal Services needed for the entire agency are:

• Governance Matters (Board of Directors);
• General Contracts, including Nondisclosure, Employment and Operating Agreements;
• Executive Compensation Surveys, Compliance, and Advice;
• Compliance Filings & Reports;
• Amending Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation;
• Revision of Employment Policies & Procedures Manuals;
• Evaluation of Fundraising Plans (including compliance with charitable solicitation laws);
• Planned Giving Strategies and Legal Agreements;
• Organizational Risk Management;
• Use, and Risks of Social Media;
• Board of Directors and Staff Training;
• Executive Director Consulting & Training

With the Head Start/Early Head Start program & CADA needs legal assistance with:

1. Administration of Children & Families (ACF) review
2. Interpretation of regulations from federal, state, local, and private agencies
3. Compliance with Head Start Act and Head Start Program Performance Standards
4. Can serve as legal consultant to the grantee’s board of directors as licensed attorney familiar with issues related to Head Start/Early Head Start (Satisfies 642(c)(1)(b) of the Head Start Act)
5. Review, revise or draft a conflict-of interest policy for use by governing board (Satisfies 642(c)(1)(E) of the Head Start Act)
6. Review, revise or draft impasse policy between governing board and policy council (Satisfies 642(c)(1)(E) of the Head Start Act)
7. Can provide advice and counsel to governing board to ensure program compliance with federal laws and regulations, applicable state, tribal and local laws and regulations (Satisfies 642(c)(1)(E) of the Head Start Act) (Note – Only North Carolina and Florida available for advice regarding state law regulations but may be able to register with your state as 'corporate counsel')
8. Review all relevant board, committee and policy council meeting minutes to ensure all bodies are documenting actions related to review of : monthly financial statements, monthly program info summaries, monthly report of meals (USDA/CACFP), Financial Audit/Single Audit, Annual Budget, Annual Self-Assessment, Community Needs Assessment, Communications from ACF/Regional Office, Program Information Reports (PIR) (Satisfies 642(c)(1)(E) of the Head Start Act and 1301.3(3) Head Start Program Performance Standards)
9. Review and revise grantee’s HR personnel policies and advise governing body and policy council regarding adoption (will affirm review for grantees subject to Community Service Block Grant requirements) (Satisfies 642(c)(1)(E) of the Head Start Act)
10. Review, revise and draft whistleblower policy for grantee (Satisfies 642(c)(1)(E) of the Head Start Act)
11. Assist governing board with performing compensation review of CEO (Satisfies 642(c)(1)(E) of the Head Start Act)
12. Review, revise and draft bylaws for Policy Council (Satisfies 642(c)(2)(D) of the Head Start Act)
13. Provide agency with legal assistance regarding negotiation and drafting agreements with potential delegate agencies, including providing assistance with monitoring delegate agency’s compliance with such agreement