NEFE seeks a business data consultant to evaluate our current data sources and set up a streamlined, modern data collection process.
The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) is a 501(c)3 private operating
foundation based in Denver, Colorado. We are the independent, centralizing voice providing
leadership, research, and collaboration to advance financial well-being in the U.S. To
understand and meet the changing financial education needs of all Americans, NEFE joins
forces with thought leaders across the country and worldwide to help improve financial well-
being. We facilitate rigorous financial literacy and behavioral research, convene experts on
various personal finance topics, and comment and engage in national public policy efforts.
As one of the first organizations to wholly dedicate its efforts to improving the effectiveness of
financial education, we continue our legacy of strengthening action-oriented research agendas, mobilizing intermediaries, and creating better solutions for researchers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers. NEFE envisions a nation where everyone has the knowledge, confidence, and opportunity to live their best financial life.
NEFE is independently funded by its own endowment and operates as a noncommercial entity
free from financial ties to other organizations. NEFE does not accept funding from the government or corporations and does not raise revenue through the sale of products or services. Growth of the endowment occurs through the investment of assets.
The organization currently uses several applications from the Microsoft suite including Power BI, Dynamics CRM, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, and Excel. In addition, we are in the implementation phase of Serenic Navigator, powered by Microsoft Dynamics Business Central and Grants Manager Plus - a portal that connects to Dynamics.
Our objective is to evaluate our current data sources including Microsoft products and third-
party vendors to find ways to streamline and modernize our data collection processes. Below is
a chart showing the products that we currently have in green and the various organizational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in orange (Note: the Project Management box is red as we do not have a Project Management tool, but we are potentially looking into Microsoft Project).
There are integration points between the various data sources that would improve business
intelligence. The arrows in the figure below represent integration points NEFE staff has
identified.
On the chart below, NEFE staff has identified potential data sources for tracking our KPIs, which
are currently tracked in Excel. Our goal is to collect and store them in a more efficient manner
so that they are easily uploaded to Power BI for reporting purposes. We are looking to reduce
reliance on Excel and employ a more secure and sophisticated database that can provide real-time reporting. This is an ideal time to integrate these systems and focus on improving our workflows and processes.
NEFE is seeking a business consultant to perform the following;
■ Understand the current Microsoft data sources and how they are being used, including:
o Microsoft Dynamics CRM
o Serenic Navigator (powered by Microsoft Dynamics Business Central)
o Grants Manager Plus (powered by Microsoft Dynamics CRM and customized by
Serenic)
o Power BI
o Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams, Power Apps and SharePoint
■ Set up appropriate integration points to maximize business intelligence.
■ Consider gaps in NEFE’s data sources and make recommendations to fill business
needs. Products outside the Microsoft suite will be considered, however it is critically
important that products integrate together and with Power BI.
■ Provide training on system upkeep and data integrity.
■ Consider NEFE’s Key Performance Indicators (see Appendix A) and make
recommendations on how to capture metrics using NEFE’s suite of Microsoft products.
■ Evaluate metrics that are being counted for multiple KPIs.
■ Evaluate Third Party Vendors used for data collection including:
o Qualtrics
o Cision
o BambooHR
o Google Scholar
o SPSS / STATA
o Tableau
o Google Analytics
o SurveyMonkey/Momentive
o Sprout Social
o Libsyn
o FiscalNote
o Board Effect
o Zapier
■ Determine whether data collection from the above third-party vendors could be shifted to
NEFE’s internal data source products or if third-party products can be integrated directly
into Power BI.
■ Provide recommendations on data hygiene and integrity across recommended solutions.
■ Evaluate security and privacy of any proposed software solutions, ensuring access to
each of the integrated systems is restricted to the appropriate individuals. Final solutions
will need to include/support the following security features:
o Multifactor authentication (already implemented for Microsoft 365 via DUO).
o Documentation of how much and what kind of data will be stored and how
sensitive it is. For example, we will not collect credit card, driver's license, SSN,
or other highly secure PII unless absolutely necessary and vetted with our
cybersecurity consultant and insurer in advance.
o Ability to regularly archive and backup data in the case of software/hardware
failure.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Please note, this is an RFI, not an RFP; it is a request for you to share information about your
capabilities and how you would approach meeting our needs. Responses are not
expected to include detailed budgets or specific activities.
Interested parties should submit the following information:
- Contact Information: Name, address, phone number, web address, email address and
contact person. - Background Information: Provide background information about your organization,
including history, size, and expertise. - Services: Describe how you will address the required services listed above.
- Cost and Timeline: Please provide pricing models such as price per user, hourly
rates for professional services and deliverable timeline. - Approach: What is your firm’s approach to data management, integration and
maintenance? - References: Provide a list of three references that may attest to your qualifications,
specifically regarding providing services to private foundation clients. - DEI: Share the organization's strategy and initiatives around diversity, equity, and
inclusion, including how the firm’s leadership demonstrates its commitment and how the
staff is supported in these efforts. For example, what initiatives exist to recruit, retain,
and advance a diverse workplace? Include a description of practices, programs,
services, community involvement and/or internal operations, such as information about
corporate social responsibility programs. - Data Security and Privacy: Details on the organization’s data security and privacy
policies when working with data provided by an external party.
Confidentiality
All information contained in this RFI is confidential and may not be disclosed, published, or
advertised in any manner without written authorization from the National Endowment for
Financial Education. All RFI documents remain the property of the National Endowment for
Financial Education. Suppliers who do not honor these confidentiality provisions will be
excluded from participating in this and future supply opportunities.
Proposal Response Date: June 9th, 2023
All responses must be submitted to the point of contact shown below.
The sole point of contact for this project is:
Peggy Muldoon
Director, Business Projects
National Endowment for Financial Education
pmuldoon@nefe.org
303-224-3531
