Lead Screening and Testing Administrator RFQ

The Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition (LSCC) is seeking one or more Administrators for a critical new program to increase the blood lead testing rates in the City of Cleveland. The selected Administrator(s) will spearhead efforts to expand and strengthen lead screening, testing, and early intervention services for residents of the City of Cleveland, focusing on the city’s most at-risk populations.

In 2023, childhood blood lead testing in Cleveland dropped to a five-year low, with only 32% of children ages one to five tested. This is a decline of around 3,500 children compared to 2019. Testing rates in eastern Cleveland neighborhoods were significantly lower than in western areas, with some eastern neighborhoods reaching only half of their 2019 testing levels.

The data also show that 18% of children tested had blood lead levels at or above 3.5 µg/dL, a rate much higher than the national average. LSCC is dedicated to addressing this issue by increasing lead screening and testing, especially in high-risk areas.

Through this RFQ process, the Administrator(s) will oversee three core programs:

  1. Improving Community-Based Lead Screening and Testing:  Focused on increasing testing rates by establishing pediatric medical homes and other community-based health partnerships, this initiative aims to ensure more City of Cleveland residents have easy access to testing and screening services.
  2. Streamlining Lead Safe Education Training:  This program will disseminate a consistent training curriculum for all community-facing workers, ensuring workers and service providers are equipped with the latest lead safety education, knowledge, and practices.
  3. Collaborating with Public Health Authorities:  The Administrator(s) will serve as a centralized coordination point, working closely with the City of Cleveland Department of Health and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to investigate positive lead tests and ensure timely interventions.

Full details can be found in the RFQ.

Pre-Response Conference
A Pre-Response Conference took place on October 31, 2024, covering details about the Administrator role and the RFQ. You can access the conference video here, and the questions addressed during the conference are available in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Submission Deadline
We encourage all mission-driven organizations to apply. Submissions must be received electronically in pdf format by November 13, 2024, at leadsafecleveland@gmail.com. Please include “Statement of Qualifications for Lead Screening and Testing Administrator” in the subject line of the email.

Questions
Questions about the program and applying are available in the FAQs. Any other questions regarding the RFQ should be directed to leadsafecleveland@gmail.com.

 

RFQ - Click Below to Download

Lead Safe Screening & Testing RFQ

 

 

Related Resources

Pre-Response Conference Recording – October 31, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Press Release - Screening & Testing

Lead Poisoning Data Brief 2023 (clevelandhealth.org)

Early childhood lead exposure in Cuyahoga County and the impact on kindergarten readiness.” Case Western Reserve University Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development. 

Lead Screening and Testing Commission, operated under the Cleveland Department of Public Health

HHAC + LSCC Subcommittee on Early Childhood Screening/Testing and Services: Summary of landscape and subcommittee work