Request For Proposals: Wordpress Development & Technical Implementation Partner

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: WORDPRESS DEVELOPMENT & TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION PARTNER

About Black Health Alliance

Black Health Alliance (BHA) is a community-led registered charity working to improve the health and well-being of Black communities in Canada. We centre Black communities in defining the challenges and barriers affecting our health and well-being. We provide a platform for Black people to establish a common voice around systemic problems, and we work to co-design and mobilize the tools, skills, partnerships and investment needed to implement solutions that improve health outcomes across Canada.

About Emergence Creative

Emergence builds brands, engages communities, and drives behavior change in the pursuit of genuine social transformation. As a creative agency rooted in social impact, Emergence collaborates exclusively with partners dedicated to the common good. From health to society to the environment, Emergence is confronting some of the most urgent challenges of our time with strategies that promote human well-being.

Project Overview

Black Health Alliance is in the process of developing Leve, a community-rooted platform designed to support the health and well-being of Black people across Canada—offering tools, stories, and support to help people care for themselves and each other.

The Leve minimum viable product (MVP) is a mobile-optimized, WordPress-based web platform piloting across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Ottawa, and Windsor, with plans for national expansion. The pilot will offer content that combines condition-specific and general wellness information, including nutrition, rest, movement, social determinants of health, and more. The pilot will initially focus on two primary content streams.

Users will navigate through a bold and interactive website, centered around their daily life, and have access to editorial-style stories, health management tools, and external community resources. The platform will also feature ‘care connections’ to local partners as well as tools for service providers to support culturally affirming care.

Overall, there will be a mix of original photography, content, and stories in order to create an engaging, community-centered experience. We are looking for a tech partner to join us in building this platform.

Technical Partner Description

Responsibilities

PLANNING

• Collaborate on refining and finalizing the product roadmap, including prioritized target release dates and milestones to translate the MVP vision into a functional digital website optimized for both desktop and mobile platforms.
• Implement the evaluation framework, KPIs, and data collection methods prior to build, ensuring alignment on how success will be measured and tracked.
• Advise on the finalization of the sitemap based on technical backend capabilities; this sitemap will serve as a core component of the technical architecture, alongside the user journeys that will be established through the wireframes.

BUILDING & IMPLEMENTING

• Build the MVP on WordPress, selecting the appropriate plugins and tools to ensure a scalable, secure, and user-friendly experience.
• Work closely with the Leve team to implement designs that meet high accessibility and performance standards.
• Implement core MVP features, including:
  • Develop core functionality, including content streams with website pages organized in a clear hierarchy and accessible through primary and secondary navigation.
  • Create engaging editorial-style pages, incorporating interactions where possible (e.g., parallax scrolling).
  • Implement user authentication through user profiles and login, enabling light customization of the user experience.
  • Create a resource and tools directory, which will include health management tools and external community partners, with interactive features such as filtering and tags to support personalized user experiences.
  • Implement a database management system (e.g., MySQL) and a content personalization system (e.g., enabling users to like content and create saved collections)*

*Ensure that tools, resources, and partner content can be multi-homed, appearing in multiple locations throughout the user journey as needed.

• Integrate analytics, hosting, and maintenance infrastructure.

POST LAUNCH

• Make adjustments and slight iterations based on user feedback post-MVP launch. This includes:
  • Conducting usability testing*
  • Performing technical testing*
  • Gathering and analyzing user feedback
  • Making iterative improvements
  • Compiling measurement milestones

*Functionality may be tested prior to launch, depending on budget.

Skills And Experience

MUST-HAVES

• Strong experience developing user-friendly WordPress sites (custom themes, plugins, and integrations)
• Demonstrated experience in front-end technologies: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, etc.
• Understanding of PHP and WordPress architecture for backend customization
• Experience with WordPress builders (e.g., Gutenberg, Elementor, or custom theme frameworks)
• Knowledge of database management and hosting environments
• Familiarity with APIs and connecting third-party tools (e.g., analytics, CRM, health resource directories)
• Knowledge on accessibility (WCAG standards), responsive design, and performance optimization
• Adherence to security best practices
• Alignment with the mission of supporting the health and well-being of Black communities

NICE-TO-HAVE

• Ability to implement multilingual support for users
• Experience in working in early-stage or social-impact projects is a plus
• Familiarity with community-driven features (e.g., user profiles and/or story submissions)

Logistics

• The position will start in January with onboarding, with planning beginning in January, and the platform launching in May.
• Candidates must be based in Canada, preferably but not required to the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Ottawa, and Windsor area. The position is fully remote and follows east coast hours, approximately 9am-5pm EST.
• Laptops are not provided.
• Based on the build, a separate scope of work may continue post-launch.

Application Requirements

Interested Tech Partner should submit the following:

1. Cover Letter: Introduce yourself and your experience in content development , particularly in health-related or community-focused projects. Clearly state your understanding of the service to be provided.
2. Resume: Provide a resume outlining your relevant experience.
3. Portfolio: Provide 4-5 samples of your previous work, especially any content related to health, wellness, or community outreach. As well, identify any experience (lived or professional) working with Black communities and organizations, particularly in Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Ottawa, and Windsor.
4. References: Provide at least two professional references who can attest to your expertise and work ethic.

You may supplement your proposal with any additional information you feel will strengthen your submission. Please forward required documents to: Ameerah Craigg, Manager of Health Promotion & Community Engagement - opportunities@blackhealthalliance.ca by December 12 2025

BUDGET

Black Health Alliance currently has an available budget of $10,000 CAD with the option for supplementary funds if necessary.

SELECTION PROCESS

The Candidate will be selected by January 2026

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Each proponent shall declare in its response any real or perceived conflict of interest which either presently exists or can reasonably be foreseen as arising in the future. A conflict of interest will be evaluated on its merits and will not necessarily result in the exclusion of a response.

QUESTIONS & CLARIFICATION

All interested parties will have the opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification by sending email to: opportunities@blackhealthalliance.ca

We look forward to your submissions and to collaborating with a skilled Technical Partner who shares our passion for health and community empowerment.