In 2026, the Seattle City Council adopted a $4 million ongoing addition to the budget of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) to strengthen critical services for Seattle’s immigrant and refugee communities. This funding comes in recognition of the recent federal funding loss for ESOL education and workforce development efforts that are essential to a thriving City of Seattle.
For immigrants arriving in the United States, learning English is a huge step toward building a new life and contributing to the economic and cultural vitality of our communities. English proficiency brings economic opportunity, social integration, access to essential services, and personal confidence. In addition to learning grammar and vocabulary, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) education provides a comprehensive support system designed to help English Language Learners (ELL) navigate their new environment and achieve their full potential.
The City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) is seeking proposals to provide English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes (Level 1 – Level 3) classes with accompanying digital literacy curriculum to low-income English Language Learners (ELL). Awarded organizations will provide services to low-income adults who live, work, attend school, or own a business in Seattle.
Through this competitive selection process, OIRA intends to award approximately $485,000 for a 12-month contract period.
What to Know
This Request For Proposals (RFP) is competitive and open for application to any legally constituted entity or collaborative group that meets the Minimum Qualifications and any additional criteria outlined in these guidelines. Applications may be submitted by individual nonprofit organizations, public community colleges or by collaborative groups operating based on a Memorandum of Agreement.
Total funds available: Up to $485,000 is available annually for awards through this RFP, subject to the continuing appropriation authority of the Seattle City Council.
Awards: Each awarded applicant may receive up to $200,000 annually. OIRA reserves the right to provide no, partial, or full funding depending on review results.
Contract Period: Contracts will start on August 1, 2026, and end on July 31, 2027. While OIRA intends to renew contracts on an annual basis through 12 months, renewals will depend on program evaluation and funding availability. The total amount available for these contracts is subject to approval by the Seattle City Council.
RFP Process Timeline: An application evaluation committee will review submitted applications. Applicants may expect to hear back from OIRA within 6 weeks of the application submission.
RFP Submission Deadline: 5:00 pm, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Application must be submitted through FLUXX platform.
Information Session: Join an optional virtual information session on Friday, May 29, 2026 to learn more about the application process; qualities of a strong proposal and to ask any questions.
Scope of Work
Applicants will be responsible for developing a proposal that provides a holistic ESOL program that includes not only the English speaking and literacy curriculum but also provides basic digital literacy education. With more of the job search process, employment training and workplaces working within an online environment, basic digital literacy education is a necessary addition to the ESOL curriculum.
Successful applicants are those who additionally provide employment support services, barrier mitigation components (case management), workforce development programs, and/or education support services such as tutoring.
Examples of eligible proposals can include, but are not limited to:
- Vocational ESOL program, providing industry-specific English classes tied to employment pathways.
- Supplemental ESOL class for ELL participants of workforce development programs (apprenticeships, career pathways, etc.).
- Expanding existing ESOL program for ELL adults
- Workforce ESOL and digital literacy program for ELL adults, providing basic job skills training and ESOL with digital literacy.
- ESOL class for ELL parents and caregivers, helping parents to communicate with schools, support children academically, and navigate community systems.
- Refugee integration ESOL program, providing basic English and community integration support for newly arrived refugees.
- Combined conversational circle and ESOL class for ELL adults.
Applicant Qualifications
Applicants are required to meet Minimum Qualifications in order to be eligible for consideration, however meeting the Minimum Qualifications does not guarantee an applicant will be awarded funding.
Eligible applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Be at least one of the following:
- Nonprofit organization with a 501(c)3 status or have a fiscal sponsor with a 501(c)3 status.
- Public community college.
- Organizations applying with partner(s) must identify a lead applicant. If your application includes formal partnerships, applicants will need to identify each partner and describe their roles and responsibilities for all partners involved. Applicants will need to include a draft Memorandum of Agreement.
- If providing in-person or hybrid ESOL classes, applicant must have facilities in areas where there is high concentration of immigrants and refugees.
- Must have staff with ESOL teaching experience with ELL adults and teaching credentials.
- Experience working with immigrant and refugee communities.
- Must submit a complete application, including budget.
Eligibility
Applicants must ensure that program participants fulfill the following criteria:
- Live, work, attend school, or own businesses within Seattle city limits.
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be low income/ have an income of 80% or less of Seattle’s area median income.
Reporting requirements
In addition to meeting all the Minimum Qualifications, awarded organizations must fulfill reporting requirements that will be outlined in the resulting service contracts. Awarded programs must track student progress and retain program records. Required reports will depend upon the type of program and services proposed, but all information will be aggregated and non-identifiable.
At minimum, using Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)’s performance measurements for program evaluation, reports for each reporting period will include:
- Measurable Skill Gains (MSG): CASAS or other alternatives MSG systems
- Aggregated Participants’ Demographics
- Satisfaction Post Survey: Measuring participants’ satisfaction and confidence level
- Attendance Rates
- Qualitative- Participants’ Narratives
Application
Check out the application questions to help guide you through your application process.
Evaluation Criteria
OIRA will work with the Application Evaluation Committee to review applications and provide recommendations for funding. OIRA reserves the right to seek clarification on information in the proposal and reject incomplete applications. Based on the recommendations of the Application Evaluation Committee, OIRA will make decisions to make no award, partial or full awards, or to negotiate.
Proposals will be evaluated against the rating criteria listed next to each section of questions in the application. Highly rated proposals will describe how the organization plans to meet all rating criteria.
How to Apply
Applications will be rated only on the information requested or referenced in this RFP and may include any clarifying information requested by OIRA. Answer each application question completely and include all the required attachments. Do not include any materials not requested with your application.
Applications must be received by June 24, 2026, at 5:00 pm PST. Applications received by other means or after the due date will not be accepted.
Applications will be collected through the FLUXX Grant Management platform. To apply or create a FLUXX account please visit the City of Seattle FLUXX portal at seattle.fluxx.io.
You will only be able to answer the application questions through the FLUXX platform.
For additional information on navigating the FLUXX platform, please see instructions below.
If you have any issues with the FLUXX platform, please contact OIRA at OIRARFP@seattle.gov.
Appeal Process
Applicants have the right to protest or appeal certain decisions in the award process based on the following grounds:
- Regarding failure to submit a complete application or failure to meet the minimum eligibility requirements outlined in the funding opportunity.
- A matter of bias, discrimination, or conflict of interest.
- Failure to adhere to guidelines and/or procedures established in a funding opportunity.
A written appeal that states the specific action or decision you are appealing must be submitted by the lead agency executive director as soon as possible after notification of funding decisions, with the deadline of July 22, 2026. Appeals will be reviewed by the OIRA Director and a written decision will be made within five (5) business days of the receipt of the appeal. Appeals should be emailed to OIRARFP@seattle.gov.
Complete applications are due Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 5pm.
Completed Proposal Checklist
A complete RFP application proposal submission must include the following:
- Proof of your organization or fiscal sponsor’s IRS 501(c)3 letter
- Application Narrative Questions
- Program budget
- Draft Memorandum of Agreement (if applicable)
RFP Process Timeline
| May 22, 2026 | OIRA distributes RFP |
| May 29, 2026 | OIRA provides one optional Q&A session for potential applicants |
| June 24, 2026 | Applications DUE by 5:00 PM |
| July 17, 2026 | OIRA announces funding decisions |
| July 17 – July 22, 2026 | Appeal period |
| July 23, 2026 | OIRA conducts contract negotiation process with successful applicants |
| August 1, 2026 | Organizations begin contract period |
Q&A Sessions for Potential Applicants
A question and answer (Q&A) session will be offered Friday, May 29, 2026, at 10:00 am.
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Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/227634592603292?p=M6oA4ZKmiksMODl3u8
Meeting ID: 227 634 592 603 292
Passcode: Zp7U7cZ6
Dial in by phone
+1 206-686-8357,,136632684# United States, Seattle
Phone conference ID: 136 632 684#
Join on a video conferencing device
Tenant key: seattle@m.webex.com
Video ID: 112 316 255 7
Attendance is voluntary. Applicants are not required to attend a session to be eligible to submit an application. The Q&A sessions will provide information about guidelines and processes and answers to application questions.
