What is this RFP for and who should respond?
This RFP is to solicit stations for participation in the Station Renewal Project.
How is this different from the recent Audience Service Challenge grants or the Blueprint Project?
The Station Renewal Project, like its predecessors, focuses on improving station performance but also differs in several ways: by requiring the investment and commitment of not only the station’s General Manager, but also of the station’s governing body or parent institution (Board of Directors, university officials, etc.); by including an organizational development professional on the assessment team; by abandoning the blanket assumption that what works at one station will work at any other station; and (perhaps most importantly) by making larger investments than those contemplated in the ASC grant program.
If my station had an ASC grant are we still eligible to apply for the Station Renewal Project?
Yes. The RFP seeking station participation will set out the specific criteria for selection, but previous participation in a CPB grant program will not automatically preclude participation in this program.
How much is CPB making available to each station?
Each of the ten stations participating in Phase I – Station Assessment will receive approximately $35,000. That amount includes a station grant of $10,000 and approximately $25,000 in services.
The average investment for the five stations participating in Phase II - Implementation is expected to be an additional several hundred thousand dollars per station in grants and services. Stations participating in Phase II will be expected to show community support for the changes by contributing significant amounts of the total costs for implementation.
Why are only ten stations able to participate in Phase I – Station Assessment?
We are only interested in stations and licensees that are genuinely committed to change and performing the associated hard work. We are also limited by the resources available to apply to the project.
Why are only five stations able to participate in Phase II - Implementation?
The participation cap will help maximize the limited funding available for such a program. We anticipate that the strict criteria for participation in Phase II will make it difficult for all of the Phase I stations to qualify.
Will the program be funded again to give other stations a chance to participate?
We have approval to proceed with this initial class of stations. If this class shows significant improvement as a result of the project, CPB will consider funding another class.
Who will be performing the assessments?
All of the assessments will be performed by Public Radio Capital. Public Radio Capital has a proven track record of supplying public radio organizations with business planning, consulting, station appraisals, acquisition and financial advisory services. PRC's work has focused on strengthening public radio organizations, so that public broadcasters can reach more people with quality programming. PRC will be partnering with an organizational development firm that will also be part of the assessment process. Site visits to participating stations will include two consultants, one from PRC and the other from the partnering OD firm.
If my station does its own needs assessment without participating in Phase I – Station Assessment, will we be eligible to apply for Phase II - Implementation?
No. Although CPB Radio encourages all stations to assess what might be needed to increase the level of service to their communities and to implement appropriate changes, only those stations participating in Phase I will be eligible to apply for participation in Phase II - Implementation.
How long will Phase I – Station Assessment last?
We anticipate that the station assessments and resulting analysis and recommendation reporting will be completed within six months.
How long will Phase II – Implementation last?
We anticipate that implementation will take approximately 24 months after the contracting process has been completed.