TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute agreements, and any related documents or amendments, with Bloomberg Philanthropies and its What Works Cities (WWC) initiative partners, for the provision of technical assistance resources to build the City’s capacity and skills to use data and evidence to make more informed decisions, deliver more effective services and programs, and improve residents’ lives, at no cost to the City, for a period of 24 months, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into an agreement with Bloomberg Philanthropies (Bloomberg) for the pro bono provision of technical assistance services to advance data and performance management practices, under the What Works Cities (WWC) initiative. These technical assistance services are provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies’ network of partner organizations, described in more detail below.
In April 2015, Bloomberg launched WWC as a national initiative to enhance cities’ use of data and evidence. Over 100 mid-size and large U.S. cities participate in WWC. To deliver technical assistance to cities, Bloomberg maintains a network of expert partners to help government agencies use data more effectively and achieve WWC certification, a national standard of excellence for data-driven, well-managed local government. As of the preparation of this letter, Bloomberg’s WWC partners include the four following organizations:
· The Behavioral Insights Team, which helps cities develop and evaluate ideas for improving government services.
· Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab, which supports cities in improving the results they achieve with their contracted dollars.
· Center for Government Excellence at Johns Hopkins University, which provides technical assistance and strategic training that enhances cities' capacities to leverage cutting-edge ...
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