HEX01725C_-_RFQ_LEAD_HAZARD_CONTROL_&_HEALTHY_HOME_GRANT.pdf

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

HEX017251

LEAD HAZARD CONTROL and

HEALTHY HOMES GRANT

CITY OF BRIDGEPORT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PURCHASES

999 BROAD STREET

BRIDGEPORT CT 06604

Submission deadline:

Wednesday, January 15, 2025, by 2:00 p.m.

Attachments:

Table Of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Scope of Work

3. Qualifications

4. Submission Guidelines

5. Evaluations

6. Evaluation Criteria

7. Selection Process

8. Required Response Format

9. Vendor Questionnaire

10. Appendix A

11. Appendix B

12. Appendix C

13. Appendix D

A – Professional Services Insurance Rider

B – City of Bridgeport Template Agreement

C – Evaluation Criteria

D – No Conflicts Form 10-2018

1. Introduction The City of Bridgeport Department of Health and Social Service is requesting proposal responses from qualified State of Connecticut Licensed Lead Abatement Contractors for the Bridgeport Lead Hazard Control Program (BLHC).

As the recipient of the program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH), the City of Bridgeport proposes to remediate 160 residential housing units of lead over a four-year period with Healthy Homes interventions. The units will be scattered throughout Bridgeport. They will be occupied by families with children identified to have elevated blood lead levels; families with children under six; and/or vacant units to be rented to families with children under the age of six.

Please note the City of Bridgeport encourages Minority business enterprises (MBE), Women business enterprises (WBE) and City-based businesses (CBB) to submit proposals. MBE, WBE or CBB State and/or City certification(s) showing the vendor’s current M/WBE and/or CBB status must be included as part of the proposal package at the time of submission for such status to be considered. For details, please see City Ordinance 3.12.130D (setting an attainable goal of 30% for prime contractor utilization of certain target groups for contracts stemming from QBS selection process and City Ordinance 3.12.130E (setting a possible award of 10 additional points to the evaluation criteria scoring).

1.1. Project / City Background

The City of Bridgeport Department of Health has addressed the prevalence of children with elevated blood lead levels and toxic lead sources in the homes where they live that were built before 1978. Fourteen years ago, the Health Department successfully acquired a HUD grant award. With the grant funds, the city successfully implemented an initiative that continues to pave the way for a cleaner, safer, and healthier Bridgeport for generations to come. Bridgeport Lead Hazard Control (BLHC) is a truly comprehensive approach that builds and strengthens collaborations between multiple city departments, faith and community-based organizations, parent groups, and private entities to promote awareness of lead poisoning and create lead safe neighborhoods ensuring the health of Bridgeport children and families.

Bridgeport, the most populous city in Connecticut and the fifth-most populous in New England, is situated in eastern Fairfield County at the mouth of the Pequonnock River on Long Island Sound. With a population of 148,131 in 2024, it is 60 miles from Manhattan and 40 miles from the Bronx, forming part of the New York metropolitan area. The city borders Trumbull to the north, Fairfield to the west, and Stratford to the east. Bridgeport is a significant part of the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region and the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk-Danbury metropolitan statistical area, the second largest in Connecticut.

Since the early 21st century, Bridgeport has seen extensive redevelopment in its downtown area and other neighborhoods. Bridgeport is home to several educational institutions, including the University of Bridgeport, Housatonic Community College, Paier College, and part of Sacred Heart University, as well as the state's only zoo, Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. The city is also nicknamed "Park City" for its 35 public parks, covering 1,300 acres, including two large parks.

Despite not being headquartered in the city, over a dozen Fortune 500 companies are based in the metropolitan area shared with Stamford.

Bridgeport is a culturally vibrant city with three museums, numerous parks, and significant venues like Seaside Park, the Total Mortgage Arena, and the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater. The Barnum Museum and Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo are notable attractions, enhancing the city's cultural and recreational appeal. Recognized for its diversity, Bridgeport is consistently

2. SCOPE OF WORK

Lead Hazard Control strategies shall be implemented using lead safe work practices following Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Housing and Urban (HUD) and the State of Connecticut Guidelines. Where abatement is to be performed, the work shall be performed in accordance with the CTDPH LPP&C regulations (19a-111-1 through 11) by a firm licensed as a CTDPH Lead Abatement Contractor, utilizing personnel certified as CTDPH Lead Abatement Supervisor or Worker in accordance with CTDPH 20-478-1 through 3. All work methods shall be performed by personnel certified in the EPA’s Lead Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program.

The Contractor shall meet the re-occupancy testing criteria in each work area as specified of the scope of work. Clearance dust wipes shall meet the standards of 40 CPR 745 Subpart D (10/100/100)

The City of Bridgeport Health and Social Services Department shall provide a Program/Project/Construction Manager to oversee activities of the Contractor. The Contractor shall notify the Program Manager of start date. The Contractor shall restore all work areas and auxiliary areas utilized during work to conditions equal to or better than the original. Any damage caused by the Contractor during work must be repaired by the Contractor.

Prior to work, the Homeowner shall be responsible for elimination any condition that prohibit the proper completion of any work activities as required by the Consultant and must ensure access to the site before, during and after abatement.

LEAD -

The BLHC will be implemented throughout the City of Bridgeport Health and Social Services Department. Efforts will address the prevalence of lead-based paint in its older housing stock and encourage the development of lead safe housing and healthy home. Children six (6) and under with elevated blood lead levels (EBLL’s) will be the targeted audience and property owners who rent to them. The lead hazard control funds must be used to remediate lead hazards. The work may include replacing or covering lead-painted windows and their components, interior and exterior doors and walls and its components, as well as other lead painted surfaces. All properties receiving Lead Hazard Control funds are eligible to receive Healthy Homes Supplemental funds.

These funds can be used to correct non-lead paint related health and safety hazards.

The maximum Lead Hazard Control grant is $15,000.00 per unit.

HEALTHY HOMES –

In accordance with the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control (LPPC) regulations, where children under the age of six reside, full permanent abatement/remediation control strategies have been specified in the child occupied dwelling units, associated common areas and the building exterior. Wherever feasible and or allowable, hazard control strategies ae specified that utilized interim controls such as standard treatments; coverings, ; paint stabilization, etc.

The maximum Healthy Homes supplemental fund is $4,900.00 per unit.

3. QUALIFICATIONS

All interested Contractors must be Lead Paint Licensed or Certified and must complete all forms and supply all documents requested in the posted proposal.

Housing Units built prior to 1978 with residing or visiting children age under six (6) and with proven evidence of lead paint by a health department code enforcement officer are eligible. Both rental properties and owner-occupied properties are eligible and have residing households meeting the income and rent limits set by HUD guidelines of low to moderate income (LMI).

3.1. Qualification Expectations

All licenses and certifications must be current at all times throughout the program period and must be registered and maintain registration under the Governments SAM System (System Award Management) (Link: https://sam.gov/content/home)

Contractors must be able to performed at expected work; be capable to complete the work; must have the capacity to do the work; must maintain good credit to obtain supplies and material; must have integrity, perseverance and tenacity about said projects; must have limitations on subcontracting and ensure that the subcontractors are responsible and have integrity. All contractors must be able to see their project bids to completion. Changes may only be made for unforeseen dire circumstances. The contractor must complete the specific work in accordance with the agree upon terms and specifications as well as the conditions required by the standards.

3.2 Specifications

It will the responsibility of the selected Contractors to secure insurance as required by the City and any other component needed to operate fully functional intergenerational Lead Programs, including but not limited to, advertising and recruitment, provision of programs supplies, materials and equipment, any participant pre-registration and the completion of all forms, reports or audits that may be required by the department. Representatives of the Health Department Lead Hazard Program will be available, if needed, to provide technical assistance and supplemental promotion but will not be involved in the direct provision of services.

Certified Lead-Based Paint Businesses will provide a combination of Trainings in Lead Abatement Supervisor, Lead Abatement Worker, Renovation , Repair and Painting (RRP) and General Contractor. Respondent services from the City of Bridgeport Health Department will encompass such services as inspection, risk assessment, management plans, designs, monitoring, testing, analytical laboratory services, report preparation and consultation during construction and remediation. Certain services provided under these contracts may require firms and individuals to be certified or licensed by industry trade organizations. Respondents shall provide Project Design services for single and muti family units as needed, i.e.

specifications and or scope of work. The City of Bridgeport reserves the right to select more than on (1) contractor for the project term. If more than on firm is selected, selection will be based on bid process for that project and may alternate between firms depending on capacity to meet both program deadlines.

https://sam.gov/content/home

All work to be performed by the contractor shall comply with, as minimum, the Connecticut State Building Code as adopted pursuant to CGS-29-252, as amended; the Connecticut Fire Safety Code as adopted pursuant to CGS-29-292, as amended.

The year of the code governing the work shall be the current code which has been adopted as per the above Connecticut General Statues on the start date of the project.

There must be no pending criminal litigation or criminal charges against the firm, Principal Owners, Partners, Corporate Officers, or Subcontractors.

3.4 Key Deliverables

The City of Bridgeport BLHC Program must provide a list of key deliverables i.e. transparent & “reliable” specifications and scope of work, superior customer service & responsiveness, demonstrated commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.

3.5 Capability

Detail the requirements, including standards or protocols that must be followed or adhered to and any other specific requirements or technologies that need to be used.

3.6 Payment Terms

Payment terms are Net 45 Days.

4 Submission Guidelines

4.1 Contacting the City of Bridgeport

The exclusive means by which all prospective respondents may obtain RFQ packages, direct inquires, request and receive addenda and supplemental information, and submit proposals shall be through the City of Bridgeport’s bidding platform.

The City of Bridgeport has made it possible for vendors to view our solicitations, download bid packages and ask questions, free of charge.

Instructions to do so are as follows:

1. Go to https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/bridgeportct

2. Click on any bid you see. It will take you to that bid’s page.

3. On the right-hand side of the page, click on Register now for free!

4. After you register, you'll be able to view/download or ask questions on any bid you have interest in.

If you have any trouble registering, please contact OpenGov using the chat feature or send an email to procurement-support@opengov.com https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/bridgeportct mailto:procurement-support@opengov.com

Addenda Notification: Respondents are required to register on OpenGov. Once the respondent has completed registration, they will receive addenda notifications in their email. Ultimately, it is the sole responsibility of each respondent to periodically check the site for any addenda.

4.2 Submission Instructions

Submissions are encouraged to be made electronically through the OpenGov site at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/bridgeportct no later than 2:00 pm on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

Submissions may also be made as follows:

ONE (1) ORIGINAL, THREE (3) COPIES AND ONE (1) ELECTRONIC VIA

THUMBDRIVE MUST BE SUBMITTED.

Sealed submissions must be received and time-stamped by the Department of Public Purchases prior to RFQ closing time. No submission received after closing time will be considered. The opening will be in the City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases’ Conference Room. To ensure proper handling and avoid misdirected delivery, please mark your RFQ envelope as follows:

HEX01725C — BRIDGEPORT LEAD HAZARD

Submissions to:

Ann Binkley City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases 2nd floor, 999 Broad Street Bridgeport, CT 06604

RFQ submissions are due:

Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 2:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST)

Questions and Answers: It is the responsibility of each firm to inquire about additional information or clarification as to any aspect of the RFQ or the Project by submitting questions. The City of Bridgeport will receive questions until Friday, December 20, 2024, at 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) and will promptly provide answers to such questions no later than Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 4:00 pm by publishing them on the Procurement Portal.

All firms are obligated to become familiar with such questions and answers and to submit or revise their proposals accordingly. The City of Bridgeport assumes no responsibility for a firm’s failure to read questions or answers and to revise their responses accordingly.

Late Submissions: City will not assume responsibility if a submission is misdirected, or its delivery is delayed. It shall be the sole responsibility of the submitter to pay for any type of delivery service charge, and to see that the Office of the Purchasing Agent receives his/her submission on time. The clock used shall be the Purchasing Agent’s official date and time stamp clock. The City does not assume financial responsibility for late deliveries by the U.S. Postal System or any other delivery service.

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/bridgeportct

Expenses: The City shall not be responsible for and/or shall not pay any costs associated with the preparation, submission, or presentation of any submission, or costs incurred by the responding firms during the interview and negotiations phase of the solicitation process

Information and Materials: Any information or materials submitted to this RFQ shall become the property of the City of Bridgeport and will not be returned. All submitted materials will be available for public review.

Dates: Please keep in mind dates are estimates only and are subject to change.

4.3 Timeline

Release Project Date: Monday, December 9, 2024

Question Submission Deadline: Friday, December 20, 2024

Question Response Deadline: Thursday, January 7, 2025

Response Submission Deadline: Wednesday , January 15, 2025

5. Evaluations

Selection of the successful proposal will be based upon submission of proposals meeting the evaluation criteria shown in the Evaluation Criteria Section. Proposal evaluations will be based on a points scale, using the Evaluation Criteria listed.

As part of the evaluation process, the City may ask questions of a clarifying nature from Offerors as required. The City may also request an oral presentation to explain the proposal and answer questions.

The City Reserves the right to cancel this RFQ at any time or reject an or all proposals received as a result of this RFQ if it is in the best interest of the City. The City reserves the right to waive any informality in any proposal.

6. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated utilizing an evaluation matrix based on a City Selection Committee’s project specific or weighted criterion. Typical decision criteria are listed in the Attachment D – Evaluation Sample Chart. The decision criteria in the attached are for demonstration purposes, only. The decision criteria can vary based on project scope or request for proposal (RFQ) type.

7. Selection Process

The City Selection Committee will review the responses to compliance with the required documentation to determine responsiveness. MBE firms, or firms that form a joint venture with non-MBE prime, and who are entitled to Evaluation Credits pursuant to City ordinance, will be determined and evaluation credits will be issued for purposes of selection.

The City Selection Committee, comprised of key internal stakeholders, will review, evaluate proposals, and score them and rank the responses on a 100-point scale with any evaluation credits awarded. Upon completion of the evaluation and scoring, the City Selection Committee may conduct post-evaluation interviews with the most qualified suppliers prior to a final decision. The City of Bridgeport reserves the right to reject any or all submissions and cancel this request for proposal (RFQ), without liability.

Selection Committee:

The selection committee will consist of at least 4 members from the following divisions.

• One (1) BLHC Program Manager

• Two (2) Health Department team members

• One (1) Central Grants Employee

8. Required Response Format

• Executive Summary

The executive summary should include an introduction, a summary of the proposal, an understanding of requirements, and the value proposition.

• Company Profile

A company overview should be provided, along with experience and expertise, certifications and accreditations, and key personnel assigned to the project including resumes. All personnel in responsible charge of the project will be required to process and maintain valid professional licenses and certifications for the State of Connecticut.

• Case Studies | Comparable Projects

Prove demonstrated experience with similar projects. To be qualified, the proposed project awardee for this project must have recently and successfully completed recent projects with similar scope and complexity and shall provide references for those projects.

Provide demonstrated experience with municipalities comparable to the City of Bridgeport. Any additional information which demonstrates the respondent’s ability to perform the required work not already mentioned herein, must be provided.

• Compliance and Legal

Please refer to Scope of Work and Appendices A & B

• References

Please provide three (3) client references applicable to your value proposition.

9. Vendor Questionnaire

1. No Conflicts/Disclosure Form (Signed and notarized)* Every business or individual that is issued a notice of intent to award pursuant to the city’s purchasing ordinance (section 3.08.070, as amended), must fully and accurately complete this disclosure form. If there is insufficient space for any answer, attach additional sheets.

No Conflicts/Disclosure Form are included in Attachment D of this RFQ.

*Response required

2. Certificate of Insurance* Please upload most current Certification of Insurance meeting the specifications of this bid.

Reference Appendix A

*Response required

3. Bid Proposal Documents Please upload your proposal here. Reference Required Response Format and Scope of Work Section

10. Appendix A

Please see Attachment A - Professional Services Insurance Rider.

11. Appendix B

Please see Attachment B - City of Bridgeport Contractor Agreement.

12. Appendix C

Please see Attachment C – Evaluation Sample Chart.

13. Appendix D

Please see Attachment D – No Conflicts/Disclosure Form.