Ending Cmmunity Hmelessness Calitin, Inc. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) Yuth Hmelessness Demnstratin Prgram Austin/Travis Cunty Applicatin Due Date: 5PM, Friday February 23, 2018 Questins and Cmpleted Applicatins t: Niki Paul, nikipaul@austinech.rg
PURPOSE The purpse f this dcument is t prvide infrmatin n the Austin/Travis Cunty Yuth Hmelessness Demnstratin Prgram Request fr Prpsal. BACKGROUND Austin is a cmmunity fiercely cmmitted t ending hmelessness. Over the past several years, Austin has wrked t imprve system crdinatin and redesign system delivery t ensure that when any persn experiences hmelessness, there is a system in place that can address their needs making hmelessness rare, brief, and nnrecurring. Despite this cmmunity-wide effrt, ver 600 unaccmpanied yuth experienced literal hmelessness this past year. The cmmunity recgnizes a great need t i) imprve system crdinatin amng prviders and institutins serving yuth, ii) ensure there is clear pathway fr yung peple t swiftly access critical services, and iii) increase resurces that are dedicated t the specific needs f yung peple wh experience hmelessness. In January 2017, Austin was awarded a transfrmative demnstratin grant by the U.S Department f Husing and Urban Develpment (HUD) called the Yuth Hmelessness Demnstratin Prgram (YHDP). As part f this cmpetitive pprtunity, Austin jins nine ther cmmunities acrss the natin t take n the bld task f creating a lcal crdinated cmmunity respnse t prevent and end hmelessness fr unaccmpanied yuth by 2020. 1 As part f this demnstratin, the Austin cmmunity is charged with implementing a crdinated system strategy that applies bth evidence-based practice and a unique pprtunity t think utside the bx, test new prgramming, and break barriers fr yung peple in husing crisis. T lead this lcal effrt, the Austin/Travis Cunty Cntinuum f Care lead agency, the Ending Cmmunity Hmelessness Calitin (ECHO) cllabrated with key infrmants acrss the cmmunity, including several yung adults with lived experience f hmelessness, t develp a data-driven plan t accmplish this visin. The respnse t this call fr lcal cllabratin has been verwhelmingly psitive and is a testament t the fierce dedicatin f the Austin cmmunity. Over 100 cmmunity members participated acrss the varius planning cmmittees; prviding an unprecedented pprtunity fr lcal cllabratin acrss yuthdedicated and mainstream agencies. Institutins such as the Texas Department f Family Prtective Services, Texas Department f Juvenile Justice, and yung leaders with lived experiences f hmelessness all played a vital rle in this planning effrt. 1 https://www.hudexchange.inf/news/yuth-hmelessness-demnstratin-prgram-cmmunityselectin-annuncement/ 2
YHDP Shared Visin By 2020, all yuth and yung adults in Austin and Travis Cunty experiencing hmelessness live in a safe and cmfrtable space, and find cmmunity thrugh an intercnnected, yuth-driven system that is accessible, transparent, efficient, innvative and celebrates all identity and self-expressin. An end t yuth hmelessness des nt mean that yuth will never experience a husing crisis again. Instead, it means having a respnse system in place that ensures hmelessness is prevented whenever pssible, and a quick respnse with apprpriate husing ptins is available n the rare ccasins a yuth des experience hmelessness. YHDP Values Yuth Vice: Ensuring the vices f yuth and yung adults with lived experience rt all elements f ur plan and its implementatin with authentic pprtunities fr invlvement - especially invlving yung peple wh are mre ften marginalized by the dminant culture. Specifically seek input frm yuth and yung adults wh identify n the LGBTQA spectrum, have experience in the fster care system, are pregnant r parenting, are immigrant yuth, have experience in the juvenile justice system and/r survivrs f human trafficking and explitatin. Prvide pprtunities fr n-ging invlvement fr yuth and yung adults. Embracing Respect and Change: Be willing t listen and learn thrugh this prcess and fster a culture that embraces change and iteratin and pprtunities t imprve ur system fr yuth and yung adults. Addressing Disparities: Apply a racial and gender equity lens within the implementatin prcess and actively address implicit bias and racial disparities in Austin/Travis Cunty. Data-driven decisin making: Utilize needs data and use an active perfrmance management framewrk t drive all decisin making, including investment decisins and tracking prgress twards utcmes. Use data t target and priritize assistance t yuth with the greatest needs. 3
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS DESCRIPTION On behalf the Austin/Travis Cunty Yuth Hmelessness Demnstratin Prgram (YHDP), ECHO is seeking request fr prpsals frm service prvider(s) t cmplete the applicatin prcess and implement prgrams as defined by the Austin/Travis Cunty YHDP Cmmunity Plan t Prevent and End Yuth Hmelessness under the Yuth Hmelessness Demnstratin Prgram (YHDP), funded by United States Department f Husing and Urban Develpment s (HUD) Office f Special Needs Assistance Prgrams (OSNAP). ECHO is seeking applicants frm eligible rganizatins t implement three (3) different prject types apprved by the lcal YHDP leadership that will address critical resurce needs fr yuth experiencing hmelessness in Austin/Travis Cunty. Applicants may apply fr each prject type in full (pting t perate and manage the full scpe and implementatin f the prject) r fr ne r mre f the prject cmpnents (specific rles r psitins within each prject). If selected, applicant(s) may be asked t serve as the lead agency depending upn the utcmes f the RFP. Fr instance, if multiple entities are selected t administer the prject types, ne agency may be asked t serve as the prject lead and be respnsible fr managing sub-cntracts with the ther selected entities. See Appendix A fr detailed infrmatin fr each prject categry Prject Types Includes: i. Yuth Dedicated Rapid Rehusing Plus fr unaccmpanied yuth aged 18-24 years ld with a waiver ptin fr extending eligible prgram assistance fr yuth with greater needs up t 36 mnths f rental assistance ii. Available Funding Amunt: $2,671,000 (2 Year Term) Transitinal Aged Yuth (18-24 y) Husing Navigatin Shelter (TH-RRH) t address the need fr crisis husing fr Transitinal-Aged Yuth Available Funding Amunt: $1,537,000 (2 Year Term) Deeper Diversin and Familial Hme Supprts t serve any unaccmpanied yuth under the age f 25 with shrt-term supprtive services t divert frm hmelessness Available Funding Amunt: $836,000 (2 Year Term) *All HUD Funds require at 25% match n all budget items, but fr Leasing. If selected, each prject wuld be awarded fr a minimum f tw (2) years with the pssibility f renewal thrugh the FY19 HUD Cntinuum f Care Prgram cmpetitin. Selected Austin/Travis Cunty YHDP prject applicant(s) will be required t fulfill the fllwing: i. Agree t wrk with YHPD Technical Assistance and Austin YHDP Team n prject design and implementatin nce awarded including the applicatin submissin t OSNAPS ffice, as apprved by the YHDP cmmunity plan t achieve the gals and bjects as defined by the Crdinated Cmmunity Plan within 30 days after prject selectin annuncement. This will include finalizing prject scpe and prpsed budget. 4
ii. iv. Cntinuus Imprvement and Evaluatin: As part f this RFP, agencies will need t demnstrate their familiarity and experience with cntinuus imprvement prcesses, as well as their cmmitment t the flexibility and willingness t adjust curse depending upn lessns learned and perfrmance utcmes. Part f this prcess will include participating in peer learning activities and clse crdinatin with ECHO and the Austin Yuth Cllective t End Hmelessness. Additinally, HUD has awarded a cntract t Westat t cnduct a fur-year evaluatin f the implementatin and utcmes f the demnstratin. Recipients f the grant award are expected t participate in this evaluatin. Crdinate all prgram referrals thrugh the Austin/Travis Cunty Cntinuum f Care Crdinated Entry Prcess as defined by the CC Written Standards. Cmply with prgram requirements as per the Austin/Travis Cunty Cntinuum f Care Plicies and Prcedures, HUD Cntinuum f Care Interim Rule, FY2016 YHDP NOFA and any HUDapprved waivers. v. Reprting and Evaluatin: Applicants are respnsible fr cmplying with all HUD Cntinuum f Care and YHDP prgram requirements. In additin, all YHDP prjects will be evaluated by a lcal Data and Evaluatins Team. This will be a requirement fr all YHDP funded prjects. Hmeless Management Infrmatin System (HMIS): The HMIS is an nline database that enables rganizatins t cllect data n the services they prvide t peple experiencing hmelessness. Agencies are required t participate in HMIS and enter participant data per the HMIS data standards and prcedures. PROPOSAL GUIDELINES T be cnsidered fr this pprtunity, full cmpletin and submissin f the frms belw are required and must be submitted by email t nikipaul@austinech.rg by February 23 rd, 2018 at 7PM CST. The frms are required in the fllwing rder and submitted as separate dcuments: i. RFP Cversheet ii. iv. RFP Threshld Frm RFP Prpsal Frm RFP Budget Frm v. Other Attachments ADDRESSING REVIEWER BIAS T reduce the unintentinal impacts f bias, we ask respndents nt t include identifying infrmatin in the applicatin frms (i.e. agency name), but fr when the frm specifically asks fr the name. All identifying infrmatin will be maintained in the cver letter which will nt be shared with reviewers. Applicants will receive a unique identifier, managed by ECHO staff, and nt included in the review prcess. Submit all cmpleted frms via email t Niki Paul at nikipaul@austinech.rg by 5PM, Friday, February 23, 2018. All the applicatin infrmatin and frms must be submitted fully cmpleted fr cnsideratin. 5
A Bidders Cnference with YHDP TA representative Sarah Hunter is scheduled fr Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 2PM at ECHO Office, 300 E. Highland Mall Blvd, Austin, TX 78752, Suite 200. This is pen t any interested candidates. TIMELINE January 25, 2018 RFP Released February 1, 2018 Bidders Cnference February 23, 2018 RFP Due t ECHO Feb 26, 2018 RFP Review and Scring (tentative date) March 5, 2018 Membership Cuncil Meeting-Final Selectin (tentative date) Prpsal Selectin will imminently fllw All agency applicants will be infrmed via email t the identified primary cntact if their prject was accepted r denied as part f the Austin/Travis Cunty YHDP. AGENCY ELIGIBILITY Eligible applicants fr these funds include nnprfit husing and/r supprtive services rganizatins, public husing authrities, r ther public agencies. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS T be cnsidered fr funding thrugh this RFP, prjects must meet r be prepared t meet the fllwing requirements by June 1, 2018: i. Be lcated and/r prvide services in Austin/Travis Cunty gegraphic area and serve peple wh are experiencing hmelessness; ii. iv. Meet the requirements f the FY16 YHDP NOFA; Nt debarred frm receiving federal funds and in gd standing with all gvernment and funding cntracts; Participate in the Hmelessness Management Infrmatin System (HMIS); v. Adhere t Husing First practices while serving husehlds experiencing hmelessness; vi. Align with screening standards fr prgram eligibility requirements; and Participatin in and acceptance f all new prgram participants thrugh the Austin/Travis Cunty Crdinated Entry prcess as required. 6
EVALUATION PROCESS Threshld Review All applicatins will underg a threshld criteria review. ECHO staff will review prpsal packages fr eligibility and cmpleteness, and that each prject has met the minimum requirements as set frth in this RFP. Incmplete and/r ineligible prpsal packages will nt receive further review. Prject applicatins that pass the threshld review will be reviewed by an ad hc applicatin review panel. RFP Rank and Review Cmmittee The YHDP Rank and Review Cmmittee will evaluate prpsals utilizing the fllwing criteria and will select the highest-scring valid prpsal fr each prgram type. The review panel may be cmprised f YHDP Advisry Leadership, Austin Yuth Cllective members, funding partners, and ther individuals knwledgeable abut hmelessness and husing, the YHDP Crdinated Cmmunity Plan, and cnsistent with the Austin/Travis Cunty CC cnflict f interest plicy. This RFP is cmpetitive. All interested parties must cmplete the applicatin packet by the deadline t be cnsidered fr funding. All cmpleted applicatins turned in n r befre the deadline that meet the agency eligibility requirements will be reviewed and individually scred by members f the review panel. Applicatins nt meeting requirements f minimum eligibility r applicatin cmpleteness r submitted after the deadline will nt receive further cnsideratin. Multiple prpsals may be selected per prgram type depending n the scale and budget f prpsals submitted. If applicable, the YHDP Rank and Review Cmmittee will seek additinal infrmatin frm the applicants t maximize all YHDP prject funds. Final selectin will be made by the ECHO Membership Cuncil. Eligible and cmplete applicatins will be rated based n the fllwing criteria based n a ttal f 200 pints: Sectin I. Agency Qualificatins and Experience / 90 Pints Sectin II. Prject Design and Implementatin / 90 Pints Sectin III. Budget Prpsal / 20 Pints If yu have any questins, cntact Niki Paul at nikipaul@austinech.rg. 7