U.S.-Based Low-Code Developer and Technical SME for Public-Sector Website RFP

I am seeking an experienced, U.S.-based individual developer to serve as the technical subject-matter expert (SME)/advisor for a public-sector website redesign proposal. Scope: This is an immediate, paid advising engagement supporting a competitive RFP response due August 24. If our bid is successful, we intend to retain the selected freelancer as a named technical subcontractor for the implementation project. Bubble.io experience is preferred, but we are open to other platforms, including Webflow, WeWeb/Xano, WordPress, Drupal, or comparable solutions, if you can make a strong, well-supported recommendation based on the client’s technical, accessibility, content-management, security, and maintainability requirements. This posting is for individual freelancers only. Please do not apply as an agency, staffing company, or recruiter. Initial RFP Support The selected developer will help us: - Review the solicitation, existing websites, and technical requirements - Recommend an appropriate platform and technical architecture - Explain the benefits, limitations, risks, and tradeoffs of the recommended solution - Develop a credible implementation estimate, staffing assumption, and project schedule - Identify technical assumptions, dependencies, and potential project risks - Provide a professional biography, résumé, qualifications, availability, and pricing for inclusion in the proposal - Provide relevant portfolio examples and, preferably, verifiable client references - Review the completed proposal for technical accuracy - Participate in a client interview, presentation, or technical demonstration if requested The developer will be identified in the proposal as the project’s technical SME and proposed subcontractor. You must be comfortable providing your legal name, business name if applicable, professional biography, qualifications, portfolio, references, availability, and pricing for inclusion in a public-sector proposal. Potential Implementation Scope If awarded, the anticipated project will involve redesigning and launching two related public-agency websites. The likely scope includes: - Technical discovery and solution architecture - Responsive website development - User-friendly content management - Content and document migration - Accessible page and CMS templates - WCAG 2.1 AA and ADA compliance - Accessibility testing and remediation - Cross-browser and mobile testing - Search, forms, integrations, and other public-facing website functionality - Staff training and documentation - Deployment, launch support, and post-launch stabilization Our preliminary planning assumption is approximately 150–250 development hours over roughly 8–12 weeks, with an average commitment of approximately 15–30 hours per week during active development. Candidates will be expected to review the requirements and provide their own recommended effort, schedule, and availability. The project will be managed collaboratively in Jira using a milestone-based, iterative workflow with a prioritized backlog, regular status reviews/demos, issue tracking, acceptance criteria, and documented approvals. Required Qualifications - Currently located in and authorized to work in the United States, Must be a US Citizen - Significant hands-on experience building and launching production websites or web applications - Advanced experience with Bubble.io or another appropriate low-code or CMS platform - Ability to independently recommend a platform rather than simply implement a predetermined solution - Demonstrated knowledge of WCAG 2.1 AA, ADA accessibility, accessible templates, testing, and remediation - Experience with content migration, responsive development, testing, deployment, and client training - Strong written and verbal communication - Ability to produce reliable estimates, schedules, assumptions, and technical documentation - Availability to support proposal development before August 24 - Willingness to participate in a client interview or technical demonstration - Willingness to be named as a technical SME and subcontractor in the proposal Strongly Preferred - Direct experience with government or public-sector website projects - Experience with government-adjacent organizations such as nonprofits, libraries, higher education, K–12 education, associations, or community organizations - Verifiable references from prior clients - Portfolio examples demonstrating accessible, content-heavy, public-facing websites - Experience working with nontechnical communications or administrative staff - Familiarity with public-sector procurement, security, accessibility, records, and documentation expectations Budget and Engagement - Hourly range: $70 per hour (for proposal stage); $90-$140/hr during project stage) - Anticipated initial RFP-support engagement: approximately 8–15 hours - Potential awarded engagement: approximately 150–250 hours, subject to the final technical recommendation and project plan - The proposal-support phase is paid - Continued implementation work is contingent upon our team receiving the contract award Application Questions Please answer each of the following: 1. In what U.S. state and time zone are you located? 2. Are you applying as an individual freelancer rather than through an agency? 3. Please provide two or three relevant portfolio examples and explain your specific role on each project. 4. Describe your experience with government, nonprofit, library, education, or other public-serving organizations. 5. Describe your experience implementing and verifying WCAG 2.1 AA and ADA accessibility. 6. Are you available to provide technical recommendations, estimates, proposal materials, and review support BEFORE August 24? 7. If the proposal is successful, what weekly availability could you offer during an approximately 8–12-week implementation? 8. Are you comfortable being named in the proposal as the technical SME and proposed subcontractor? 9. Are you available to participate in a client interview or technical demonstration if requested? The prospective client’s identity is intentionally omitted from this public posting. Shortlisted candidates will receive the publicly available solicitation and additional project details.