Prev-Div-RE RFP 2026.pdf

(v.09/15/25)

Request for Proposals # 274-HCD-FY27-5

Title: Homelessness Prevention, Diversion, and Rapid Exit Program

Issue Date: September 16, 2026

Due Date: October 21, 2026, no later than 5:00PM EST

*LATE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED*

Issuing Department: Housing and Community Development

Direct all inquiries concerning this RFP to:

Chelsea Levy Community Development Grant Administrator Email: Chelsea.Levy@raleighnc.gov mailto:Chelsea.Levy@raleighnc.gov

Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 PURPOSE

1.2 BACKGROUND

1.3 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TIMELINE

1.5 PROPOSAL QUESTIONS

1.6 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

1.7 BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT & OPPORTUNITIES

1.8 RIGHTS TO SUBMITTED MATERIAL

1.9 COMMUNICATIONS

1.10 LOBBYING

1.11 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

1.12 PROPOSER EXPENSES

1.13 PROPOSER ACCEPTANCE

2 PROPOSALS

2.1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS REQUIRED DOCUMENT FORMAT

2.2 RFP DOCUMENTS

3 PROPOSAL EVALUATION

3.1 PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA (STAGE 1)

3.2 FINAL SELECTION

3.3 NOTICE TO PROPOSERS REGARDING RFP TERMS AND CONDITIONS

3.4 CONTRACT TERM

4 SCOPE OF SERVICES

APPENDIX I: PROPOSAL COST FORM

APPENDIX II: PROPOSER QUESTIONNAIRE

APPENDIX III: REFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE INSTRUCTIONS

APPENDIX III: REFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE FORM

APPENDIX IV: SAMPLE CONTRACT

APPENDIX V: EXCEPTIONS TO THE RFP

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose

The City of Raleigh (COR) is solicitating proposals from one or more agencies to administer a Homelessness Prevention, Diversion, and Rapid Exit Program. The goals of this program are to prevent households at imminent risk from becoming homeless and to divert and rapidly exit households experiencing homelessness from the homeless response system.

The City anticipates making available approximately $500,000 to prevent, divert, and rapidly exit Raleigh residents from the homeless response system.

A detailed scope of services is provided in Section 4 of this document.

All information related to this solicitation, including any addenda, will be posted to the North Carolina electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) at https://evp.nc.gov/.

All questions related to this solicitation must be submitted in writing (via email) to the following individual. Questions submitted via telephone will not be answered:

Contact Name Email Address Chelsea Levy Chelsea.Levy@raleighnc.gov

1.2 Background

The City of Raleigh, the Capital City of North Carolina, remains one of the fastest growing areas in the country. A great economy, top educational institutions, and exceptional health care facilities are some of the characteristics that attract people to the triangle area. The mild climate, diverse work force and proximity to Research Triangle Park combine to make Raleigh a great place to live.

Raleigh is a 21st Century City of Innovation focusing on environmental, cultural, and economic sustainability. The City conserves and protects our environmental resources through best practice and cutting-edge conservation and stewardship, land use, infrastructure and building technologies. The City welcomes growth and diversity through policies and programs that will protect and enhance Raleigh’s existing neighborhoods, natural amenities, history, and cultural and human resources for future generations. The City leads to improve quality of life for neighborhoods and standard of living for all citizens.

The City works with universities, colleges, citizens, and local partners to promote new technology, create new job opportunities, and encourage local businesses and entrepreneurs. The City enlists and prepares 21st Century staff with the skill sets to carry out the duties of the City through transparent civic engagement and by providing the very best customer service to our citizens.

Like many communities across the United States, Raleigh is experiencing a significant housing affordability crisis driven by rising rents, limited housing supply, and increasing cost burdens for low- and moderate-income households. As housing costs have https://evp.nc.gov/ outpaced wages, more households are at risk of housing instability, displacement, and homelessness. These local challenges reflect broader national trends, where the shortage of affordable housing has become a primary driver of increased homelessness.

In Wake County, the impacts of the housing crisis are visible in the growing number of residents experiencing homelessness. The City of Raleigh, in partnership with Wake County and other community partners, is addressing homelessness using evidence-based interventions.

To expand these efforts, the City is making funding available to support a Homelessness Diversion, Prevention, and Rapid Exit Program to serve Raleigh households with the following goals:

• Prevent households at imminent risk of losing housing from becoming homeless;

• End individuals’ and families’ experience of homelessness as quickly as possible while empowering them to regain control over their situation;

• Limit the trauma of homelessness on the individual or family and keep limited shelter beds available for those most in need;

• Incorporate creative problem solving and conflict resolution to empower clients to find immediate alternatives to shelter and return to more stable housing;

• Engage each client in a strengths-based conversation to identify immediate alternate housing arrangements and, if necessary, connections with services and financial assistance;

• Complement other homeless intervention strategies, and not act as a barrier to shelter; and

• Enhance the Wake County Continuum of Care’s (CoC) homelessness response system through well-trained staff and access to these funds across the network of service providers for qualifying households.

1.3 Request for Proposal (RFP) Timeline

Provided below is a list of the anticipated schedule of events related to this solicitation.

The City of Raleigh reserves the right to modify and/or adjust the following schedule to meet the needs of the service. All times shown are Eastern Time (EST):

RFP Process Date and Time

RFP Advertisement Date September 16, 2026

Deadline for Written Questions September 30, 2026

City Response to Questions (anticipated) October 14, 2026

Proposal Due Date and Time

October 21, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time

1.5 Proposal Questions

Requests for clarification and questions to this RFP must be received by the City not later than the date shown above in the RFP Timeline (Section 1.3) for the submittal of written inquires. The firm’s failure to request clarification and submit questions by the date in the RFP Timeline above shall be considered to constitute the firm’s acceptance of all City’s terms and conditions and requirements.

The City shall issue addenda reflecting questions and answers to this RFP, if any, and shall be posted to North Carolina electronic Vendor Portal (eVP). No information, instruction or advice provided orally or informally by any City personnel, whether made in response to a question or otherwise in connection with this RFP, shall be considered authoritative or binding. Proposers can only rely on written material contained in an Addendum to this RFP.

It is important that all Proposers submitting to this RFP periodically check eVP for any Addenda. It is the Proposers responsibility to ensure that all addenda have been reviewed and, if required signed and returned.

All questions related to this solicitation must be submitted in writing (via email) to the following individual – questions submitted via telephone will not be answered:

Contact Name Email Address Chelsea Levy Chelsea.Levy@raleighnc.gov

1.6 Proposal Submission Requirements and Contact Information

Proposals must follow the format as defined in Section 2 (PROPOSALS), and be addressed and submitted as follows.

The preferred method for submissions is electronic. The electronic proposal must be addressed and submitted as shown below.

Email to: Chelsea.Levy@raleighnc.gov

Subject: RFP No. 274-HCD-FY27-5

If the proposal cannot be submitted electronically, below is the optional method to submit by hard copy.

DELIVERED BY US POSTAL SERVICE MAIL

AND OTHER DELIVERY SERVICES:

City of Raleigh

Evaluation Meeting (anticipated) October 28, 2026

Selection Announced (tentative) November 4, 2026 https://evp.nc.gov/ https://evp.nc.gov/

ATTN: Chelsea Levy Housing and Community Development Department 421 Fayetteville St, Suite 1200 Raleigh, NC 27601 RFP No. 274-HCD-FY27-5

The proposal, regardless of submission method, must be received by the City on or before the RFP due date and time provided in RFP Timeline (Section 1.3). Proposals received after the RFP due date and time will not be considered. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that their proposal is submitted by the due date and time specified in the RFP Timeline (Section 1.3).

Any requirements in the RFP that cannot be met must be indicated on Appendix VI:

Exceptions to the RFP and submitted with the proposal. Proposers must respond to the entire Request for Proposals (RFP). Any incomplete proposal may be eliminated from competition at the discretion of the City of Raleigh. The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals for any reason and to waive any informality it deems in its best interest.

1.7 Business Engagement & Opportunities

The City of Raleigh maintains processes to conduct business with all business enterprises, including small, emerging, growing, under-capitalized, and under-resourced firms or organizations.

1.8 Rights to Submitted Material

All proposals and supporting materials, as well as correspondence relating to this RFP, shall become the property of the City. The content of all submittals will be held confidential until the selection of the firm is made. Proposals will be reviewed by the Evaluation Team, as well as other City staff and members of the general public who submit public record requests. Any proprietary data must be clearly marked. In submitting a Proposal, each Prospective Proposer agrees that the City may reveal any trade secret materials contained in such response to all City staff and City officials involved in the selection process and to any outside consultant or other third party who serves on the Evaluation Team or who is hired by the City to assist in the selection process.

Proposals marked entirely as “confidential”, “proprietary”, or “trade secret” will be considered non-responsive and will be removed from the evaluation process.

1.9 Communications

All communications of any nature regarding this RFP with any City staff, elected City officials, evaluation committee members, are strictly forbidden from the time the solicitation is publicly posted until award. Questions must be submitted in writing to the individual designated in Section 1.1 (Purpose), prior to the deadline provided in the RFP Timeline (Section 1.3). Violation of this provision may result in the firm’s proposal being removed from consideration.

1.10 Lobbying

By responding to this RFP, the firm certifies that is has not and will not pay any person or firm to influence or attempt to influence an officer or employee of the City or the State of North Carolina, or any elected official in connection with obtaining a contract as a result of this RFP.

1.11 Conflicts of Interest

City of Raleigh contracts are controlled by three conflict of interest provisions.

First, federal procurement standards provide in 2 CFR 200.318 (c)(1), No employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported by a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or a firm which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated herein, has a financial or other interest in or a tangible personal benefit from a firm considered for a contract. The officers, employees, and agents of the non-Federal entity may neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors or parties to subcontracts.

Similarly, the North Carolina General Statutes provides a criminal statute for conflicts of interest in public contracting. N.C.G.S. § 14-234(a):

(1) No public officer or employee who is involved in making or administering a contract on behalf of a public agency may derive a direct benefit from the contract except as provided in this section, or as otherwise allowed by law. (2) A public officer or employee who will derive a direct benefit from a contract with the public agency he or she serves, but who is not involved in making or administering the contract, shall not attempt to influence any other person who is involved in making or administering the contract. (3) No public officer or employee may solicit or receive any gift, favor, reward, service, or promise of reward, including a promise of future employment, in exchange for recommending, influencing, or attempting to influence the award of a contract by the public agency he or she serves.

City of Raleigh Charter Section 3.9 regulates private transactions between the City and its officials and employees. The Charter states:

No member of the City Council, official, or employee of the City of Raleigh shall be financially interested, or have any personal beneficial interest, either directly or indirectly, as agent, representative, or otherwise, in the purchase of, or contract for, or in furnishing any materials, equipment or supplies to the City of Raleigh, nor shall any official or employee of the City of Raleigh accept or receive, or agree to accept or receive, directly or indirectly, from any person, firm or corporation to whom any contract may be awarded or from whom any materials, equipment or supplies may be purchased by the City of Raleigh, by rebate, gift, or otherwise, any money or anything of value whatsoever, or any promise, obligation or contract for future reward or compensation, for recommending or procuring the uses of any such materials, equipment or supplies by the City of Raleigh; no member of the City Council, official or employee of the City of

Raleigh shall for his own personal benefit operate, directly or indirectly, any concession in any building or on any lands of the City of Raleigh, nor shall any official or employee of the City of Raleigh bid for or be awarded any contract granting concessionary rights of any nature or kind from the City of Raleigh; it shall be unlawful for any member of the City Council, official or employee of the City of Raleigh to bid for or to purchase or to contract to purchase from the City of Raleigh any real estate, equipment, materials, or supplies of any nature or kind whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, at either public or private sale, either singly, or through or jointly with any other person.

1.12 Proposer Expenses

The City of Raleigh will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any Proposer in the development of a response to this Request for Proposal or any other activities associated with this procurement including but not limited to any onsite (or otherwise) interviews and/or presentations, and/or supplemental information provided, submitted, or given to City of Raleigh and/or its representatives. Further, the City of Raleigh shall reserve the right to cancel the work described herein prior to issuance and acceptance of any contractual agreement/purchase order by the recommended Proposer even if the awarding authority for each entity has formally accepted a recommendation.

1.13 Proposer Acceptance

Submission of any proposal indicates a Proposer’s acceptance of the conditions contained in this RFP. Furthermore, the City of Raleigh is not bound to accept a proposal on the basis of lowest price, and further, the City has the sole discretion and reserves the right to cancel this RFP, and to reject any and all proposals, to waive any and all informalities and/or irregularities and reserves the right to re-advertise this RFP with either the identical or revised scope and specifications if it is deemed to be in the best interests of the City to do so.

The City of Raleigh reserves the right to accept or reject any or all of the items in the proposal, and to award the contract in whole or in part and/or negotiate any or all items with individual Proposers if it is deemed in the best interest of the City to do so. Moreover, the City reserves the right to make no selection if proposals are deemed to be outside the fiscal constraint or not in the best interest of the City.

2 PROPOSALS

Submitted proposals must follow the format outlined below. The City may reject as non-responsive at its sole discretion any proposal that does not provide complete and/or adequate responses or departs in any substantial way from the required format.

2.1 Request for Proposals Required Document Format

Responses should include the following items:

2.1.1. Section 1: Cover Letter

• Provide an introduction letter summarizing the unique proposal of your firm to meet the needs of this service requirement. This letter should be presented on the firm’s official letterhead and signed by an authorized representative who has the authority to enter into a contract with the City on behalf of the firm.

• Additionally, include the name, address, telephone and email address of the individual who serves as the point of contact for this solicitation.

2.1.2. Section 2: Corporate Background and Experience

• Include background information on the firm and provide detailed information regarding the firm’s experience with similar projects.

• Provide a list of all similar contracts performed in the past two (2) years, accompanied by at least three (3) references (contact persons, firm, telephone number and email address).

• Include the total amount invoiced for each listed project, the length of the project, and list of those involved in the project who are also proposed for the subject project named in this solicitation. Failure to provide a list of all similar contracts in the specified period may result in the rejection of the firm’s proposal. The evaluation team reserves the right to contact any or all listed references, and to contact other public entities regarding past performance on similar projects.

• Include an organization chart and information about the specific relevant experience for the proposed employees and applicable staff. One employee must be designated as the principal contact for the City.

• For key team members, provide resumes and include examples of experience implementing cash transfer programs.

2.1.3. Section 3: Project Understanding, Approach and Schedule

• Provide a comprehensive narrative, outline, and/or graph demonstrating the firm's understanding and approach to accomplishing the tasks outlined in the Scope of Work section of this RFP.

• A description of each task and deliverable and the schedule for accomplishing each shall be included.

2.1.4. Section 4: Cost

• Provide a complete cost schedule. Hourly rates shall be fully burdened to include all costs, all applicable overhead and profit (including lodging, meals, and transportation). Attach any additional pricing details.

2.1.5. Appendix I – Proposal Cost Form

• Must complete, sign, and include as part of proposal.

2.1.6. Appendix II – Proposer Questionnaire

2.1.7. Appendix III – Reference Questionnaire Form

• The City, as a part of the RFP, requires proposing companies to submit a minimum of three (3) business references, which can include partner organizations, governmental entities, funders, etc., as required within this document. The purpose of the references is to document the experience of the proposer relevant to the scope of services and assist in the evaluation process. Please follow instructions included in Appendix III – Reference Questionnaire Form (Instructions).

2.1.8. Appendix VI – Exceptions to the RFP

2.1.9. RFP Addenda

• It is the Proposers responsibility to check the North Carolina electronic Vendor

Portal (eVP) website at https://evp.nc.gov/ to verify if an RFP Addendum has been issued. RFP Addendums must be signed and included with the proposal.

2.2 RFP Documents

This RFP is comprised of the base RFP document, any attachments, and any addenda released before the contract is awarded. All attachments and addenda released for this RFP in advance of any contract award are incorporated herein by reference.

3 PROPOSAL EVALUATION

3.1 Proposal Evaluation Criteria (Stage 1)

This is not a bid. There will not be a public opening. The proposals received in response to this RFP will be evaluated and ranked by the evaluation committee in accordance with the process and evaluation criteria contained below. Responses will be evaluated in light of the material and substantiating evidence presented in the response and not based on https://evp.nc.gov/ what is inferred. After thoroughly reading and reviewing this RFP, each evaluation committee member shall conduct his or her independent evaluation of the proposals received and grade the responses on their merit in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in the following table.

The maximum interview/demonstration points a Proposer can receive is five (5) points.

The Proposers selected for interviews/demonstrations under this section will be notified in writing of the date and time. The Proposers’ interview/demonstrations shall be based solely upon information provided in each Proposer’s original proposal. No new information may be presented.

Criteria (a) Weight

(b) Score (0-3)

(a) x (b) Weighted Score

Corporate Background and Experience 30

Project Understanding 25

Project Approach 25

Proposed Cost 20

Final Score

Score Points 0- Missing or Does Not Meet Expectation 2- Meets Expectation 1- Partially Meets Expectation 3- Exceeds Expectation

Cost Formula: The cost criterion is rated by giving the proposal with the lowest total cost the maximum number of Cost points available. The remaining proposals are rated by applying the following formula:

1 - B - A x C = D A

A—the lowest Proposer’s cost.

B—the Proposer’s cost being scored.

C—the maximum number of cost points available.

D—Proposer’s cost score (points).

Note: If the formula results in a negative number (which will occur when the Offeror’s cost is more than twice the lowest cost), zero points shall be assigned.

3.2 Final Selection

Proposals will be evaluated and ranked according to the criteria and weighted values set forth in Section 3.1. A final selection for recommendation will be made at this time, after which negotiations of a contract with the most qualified firm will commence. If negotiations are unsuccessful, the City will then pursue negotiations with the next most qualified firm.

All Proposers will be notified of their standing immediately following the City’s decision.

The City shall not be bound or in any way obligated until both parties have executed a contract. The City also reserves the right to delay the award of a contract or to not award a contract.

3.3 Notice to Proposers Regarding RFP Terms and Conditions

It shall be the Proposer’s responsibility to read the RFP Instructions, the City’s contract terms and conditions (within the sample City Service Contract provided in Appendix IV), all relevant exhibits, attachments, and any other components made a part of this RFP and comply with all requirements and specifications herein. Proposers are also responsible for obtaining and complying with all Addenda and other changes that may be issued in connection with this RFP.

3.4 Contract Term

The contract issued by the City to the awarded proposer will define either a completion date by which the services are to be completed and finished, or a term date by which the services will begin and be provided repeatedly over a specific period. The details of the contract term and any options to renew or extend the contract, will be stated in the contract issued by the City. See Appendix IV for a sample version of the City’s contract for services.

4 SCOPE OF SERVICES

Awarded proposer shall provide services, all as set forth in this RFP and more particularly described in this Section 4. All program guidelines are subject to change at the City’s discretion.

Definitions

• Provider: Organization awarded funding through the program to provide prevention, diversion, and rapid exit services.

• Client: Person(s) receiving assistance through program funding.

• Eligible Households: Households (individuals or families) eligible for this program include Raleigh residents who are at-risk of becoming homeless or meet the HUD or McKinney-Vento definition of homeless, and have a household income of 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI), as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), unless otherwise approved by the City of Raleigh. Current income limits can be found on the City’s website:

https://raleighnc.gov/housing/services/apply-homebuyer-assistance/hud-income-and-rent-limits.

• Financial Assistance Payments to Third Parties: All financial assistance provided must be made to third parties, unless otherwise approved by the City, and can include housing payments (e.g., rent or hotel), utilities, relocation (moving costs), and transportation (bus tickets, train tickets) costs.

https://raleighnc.gov/housing/services/apply-homebuyer-assistance/hud-income-and-rent-limits https://raleighnc.gov/housing/services/apply-homebuyer-assistance/hud-income-and-rent-limits

• Wake County Continuum of Care (CoC): Local planning body tasked with creating a collaborative, inclusive, community-based process and approach to plan for and manage homeless assistance resources and programs to end homelessness.

• Coordinated Entry: A HUD mandated, evidence-based system developed to coordinate intake, assessment, and provision of referrals for people accessing a community’s homeless services system through a centralized phone hotline and at access sites.

• Homeless Management Information System (HMIS): The local information technology system used to collect client-level data and data on the provision of housing and services to individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Service Definitions

Homelessness Prevention Homelessness prevention services target households who are at imminent risk of becoming homeless. Services may include short-term case management, mediation, family reunification, and flexible financial assistance to prevent individuals and families from losing their housing and becoming homeless. Once stabilization is achieved, program funds may be used to provide short-term rental assistance for up to three (3) months. The Provider must verify household income and determine the amount of tenant contribution, equal to 30% of income. The maximum amount of rental assistance is the difference between the monthly rent and the tenant share of rent (i.e., 30% of monthly income).

Participants must meet the at-risk of homelessness or Category 2, 3, or 4 of the homeless definitions as outlined in 24 CFR Part 576.2 at initial evaluation and have an annual income below 50% of Area Median Income (AMI). Households may only be assisted under this component as long as the assistance is necessary to regain stability in permanent housing.

Eligible expenses include rental assistance, rental arrears for up to six (6) months of rent in arrears including any late fees, rental application fees, security deposits, last month's rent, utility deposits, utility payments, and/or moving costs. Total assistance for Homelessness Prevention is limited to $7,500 per household, unless otherwise approved by the City of Raleigh.

Homelessness Diversion and Rapid Exit Diversion services target households who are requesting entry into shelter or housing at the “front door” of the homelessness response system. Rapid Exit services target households who are currently residing in emergency shelter. Both Diversion and Rapid Exit services assist households to identify immediate, alternative housing arrangements and, if necessary, connect them with services and financial assistance to help them obtain or return to housing and address other issues once their immediate housing crisis is resolved.

Diversion and Rapid Exit are both intensive service interventions that use strengths-based, problem-solving conversations with clients to understand what caused the housing crisis, empower clients to find immediate alternate housing arrangements, and end the experience of homelessness as quickly as possible for clients.

Effective Diversion and Rapid Exit interventions are used to:

• Negotiate a return to previous housing;

• Secure short-term, non-shelter accommodations (e.g., hotels);

• Secure accommodations in apartments or homes (including shared housing);

• Return clients to family for housing support;

• Connect clients with services to help them secure stable housing; and

• Connect clients with financial assistance to help them secure stable housing.

Examples of Diversion and Rapid Exit interventions include:

• Short-term financial assistance paid to third parties on behalf of the client including rental and utilities assistance, relocation/moving costs, and transportation costs (bus tickets, train tickets), and

• Problem-solving case management services including mediation with landlords and families, referrals to legal assistance, family reunification, and housing search.

Diversion serves individuals or families who are experiencing literal homelessness OR meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or McKinney-Vento definition of homeless AND have a household income of 50% AMI or below.

Rapid Exit serves individuals or families who are experiencing literal homelessness and have been residing in emergency shelter.

Total financial assistance for Diversion and/or Rapid Exit is limited to $7,500 per household, unless otherwise approved by the City of Raleigh.

Referrals and Reporting

This program requires clients to be referred from the Coordinated Entry System. A strong proposal will clearly demonstrate how these funds will be integrated through Coordinated Entry and made easily accessible to other service providers who may encounter clients that qualify for these services. Entering program beneficiary data into HMIS is required.

Services and Expectations of this RFP

1. Proposers may propose a service delivery fee for the role of problem solving to successfully prevent, divert, or rapidly exit households as described in this RFP. The service delivery fee can only support responsibilities associated with the City’s Homelessness Prevention, Diversion, and Rapid Exit program.

2. Proposers must specify how many individuals or families are projected to be served through Prevention, Diversion, or Rapid Exit during the funding period. A household (independent of how many members) will count as one successful outcome.

3. The selected organization(s) will be required to fully utilize the HMIS system’s developed workflow and to input all client data. Proposers must provide a copy of a relevant HMIS report that demonstrates organization’s data quality.

4. The City of Raleigh has the following expectations regarding the selected organization(s) with regards to the ongoing operations of this project, including but not limited to:

a. Establish an ongoing collaboration with the City of Raleigh.

b. Participate in regular project oversight meetings with the City of Raleigh to discuss and assess progress towards outcomes and strategy. Frequency of meetings is to be determined by the City of Raleigh.

c. Actively participate in the Wake County CoC, to include taking direction from the Lead Agency to ensure activities align with the goals and strategic plan of the CoC such as the Wake at Home initiative.

5. Expectations for problem solving intervention and program supervision:

a. Provide real-time assistance, including the ability to respond within one (1) business day to the City and other relevant partners.

b. Enter information into HMIS within 24 hours of contact.

c. Provide case management services to include, but not limited to:

intake/assessment/screening, negotiations with clients’ family or friends to facilitate a return to housing, crisis housing search assistance, problem solving conversations, short-term case management, referral to legal assistance for eviction issues, and linkage to mainstream benefits such as employment navigation, McKinney-Vento resources, etc.

d. Record case documentation to include, but not limited to: telephone calls and emails, attempts to make contact, and client face-to-face interactions. Case documentation should be detailed and clearly documented in client’s case record in real-time or within 24 hours of client contact.

e. Provide financial assistance for approved housing, move-in, and relocation expenses such as security deposits, partial rental payments, rental and utility arrears, furnishings, and/or other related expenditures. All financial assistance provided must be paid to third parties on behalf of the client served unless otherwise authorized.

f. Access funds needed to assist individuals/households in an expedient manner, not to exceed one (1) business day.

g. Provide timely response to urgent and emergent client needs.

h. Provide transportation services for clients to housing-related appointments and activities, by staff vehicle, rideshare, or comparable means, consistent with professional, ethical, and safety standards and applicable agency policy.

i. Offer accessible services with flexible office locations and hours. Service locations within the community must include multi-service facilities, shelters, courts, housing properties, encampments, and offices of other community-based organizations. Work hours must be adjustable to meet the needs of clients and service locations.

j. Form relationships with shelters to help Divert and Rapidly Exit individuals.

k. Liaise with other service providers and community partners as a pathway to increase Diversion referrals and problem-solving conversations.

l. Maintain a flexible, fair, and easily accessible path to problem solving and make referrals to appropriate mainstream resources and any other housing intervention services in partnership with CoC agencies.

m. Demonstrate a spirit of responsiveness, flexibility, reliability, and kindness in work with clients, CoC members, and partners.

n. Make connections to emergency shelters if desired by clients.

o. Submit reports on a monthly basis or at other intervals as specified by the City of Raleigh.

p. Participate in the CoC and maintain regular engagement with the Coordinated

Entry team, diversion teams, and other community stakeholders.

q. Provide transportation to clients as needed.

Projected Outcomes and Performance Measures The City seeks proposals that demonstrate the ability to quickly launch and sustain a program to immediately problem-solve with clients through conflict resolution and an empowerment-based approach to ensure that their homelessness experience is as brief as possible. To achieve all expected outcomes, Proposers should have experience with providing services to individuals/families imminently homeless or currently experiencing homelessness, or similar services they are applying for as outlined in this RFP.

Measuring performance is a critical aspect of improving service delivery and ensuring effectiveness. The following performance standards articulate the expectations for performance of the Proposer in operating Prevention, Diversion, and Rapid Exit. The goals identified are intended to serve as benchmarks for success. Data quality is paramount, and it is important that timely data entry into HMIS be completed to track progress towards goals.

Furthermore, it is expected that the Proposer will participate in monthly meetings with the City of Raleigh regarding the performance and compliance of the core interventions.

The City will work with the successful Proposer to develop a program outline plan based on the following minimum expectations.

In addition to the program outcomes and indicators below, the selected organization will also meet contract metrics as defined by the number of clients being proposed to prevent, divert, or rapidly exit. Proposers must provide an estimate of the number of clients to be served with each intervention, and the estimates will be used as performance indicators.

Prevention Outcomes:

• Clients will remain in permanent housing.

• Families will not be displaced from their communities.

Performance Indicators:

• Number of presented clients that remain in permanent housing.

• Number of prevented clients that remain in permanent housing after 6, 9, or 12 months.

• Number of clients that remain in their communities, if desired.

Diversion Outcomes:

• Clients will obtain or return to housing.

• Clients will maintain or obtain housing and will not enter the homeless system.

• Number of diversion clients diverted from entering the homeless response system (i.e., received services before spending a night in shelter, unsheltered, or in a motel with a voucher).

• Number of diversion clients that remain in permanent housing.

• Number of diversion clients referred from various referral organizations.

• Number of diversion clients enrolled into diversion services per week.

• Number of diversion client exits from diversion services per week.

• Type of service provided to each diversion client.

• Amount of financial assistance provided to each diversion client.

Rapid Exit Outcomes:

• Clients will obtain or return to permanent housing.

• Clients will maintain permanent housing and not return to the homeless system.

• Clients will experience reduced length of time within the homeless system.

• Number of eligible clients that are rapidly exited that do not exceed the average length of stay.

In order to meet the above expectations, the selected organization(s) must to ensure the following programmatic metrics and timeframes are adhered to:

a. Management of data including the evaluation of HMIS data reports weekly to monitor the progress towards program referrals, enrollments, and exits.

b. Submission of monthly reports to the City of Raleigh for continued monitoring of program performance.

c. Submission of quarterly reports to the City of Raleigh at the end of each quarter for continued monitoring of program metrics and performance.

APPENDIX I: PROPOSAL COST FORM

The awarded proposer shall perform the services to be performed as set forth in this RFP and more particularly described in Section 4 for a not to exceed total amount of:

Attach proposal cost itemization or breakdown to this Appendix I Proposal Cost Form.

Proposer/Company Name: ____________________________________________________

Authorized Signature _______________________________Date__________________

Signed by: _____________________________________________________________

[Type or Print Name]

Title of Signer: __________________________________________________________

APPENDIX II: PROPOSER QUESTIONNAIRE

The following questions must be answered, and data given must be clear and comprehensive. If necessary, questions may be answered on separate sheets. The Proposer may submit any additional information desired.

Company Name: d/b/a (if applicable)

Street / PO Box:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: Fax: E-Mail:

Website (if applicable):

Sole Proprietor Partnership Corporation Other

Number of years in business under company’s present name:

Fed Tax ID #: DUNS #

Are you registered with the North Carolina Secretary of State to conduct business (if required)? (Check One) YES: NO: Not Applicable:

Are you properly licensed/certified by the Federal and/or State of North Carolina to perform the specified work?

YES: NO: Not Applicable: ATTACH COPY OF ALL APPLICABLE LICENSING/CERTIFICATION DOCUMENTS Are/will you be properly insured to perform the work? YES: NO:

Contact for this Contract: Title:

Phone: Fax: E-Mail:

Have you ever defaulted or failed on a contract? (If yes, attach details) YES: NO:

List at least three (3) references for which you have provided these services (same scope/size) in the past three years - preferably government agencies. Do not include City of Raleigh as a reference to meet the requirement of listing at least (3) references.

PROPOSERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING REFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE (APPENDIX III) TO THEIR

REFERENCES.

1. Company:

Contact Person: Title:

Phone: Fax: E-Mail:

Describe Scope of Work:

2. Company:

Contact Person: Title:

Phone: Fax: E-Mail:

Describe Scope of Work:

3. Company:

Contact Person: Title:

Phone: Fax: E-Mail:

Describe Scope of Work:

4. Company:

Contact Person: Title:

Phone: Fax: E-Mail:

Describe Scope of Work:

5. Company:

Contact Person: Title:

Phone: Fax: E-Mail:

Describe Scope of Work:

The undersigned swears to the truth and accuracy of all statements and answers contained herein:

Authorized Signature: Date:

APPENDIX III: REFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE INSTRUCTIONS

Homelessness Prevention, Diversion, and Rapid Exit Program

The City of Raleigh, as a part of the RFP, requires proposing companies to submit a minimum of three (3) business references as required within this document. The purpose of the references is to document the experience of the proposer relevant to the scope of services and assist in the evaluation process.

• The Proposer is required to send the reference form (the following two pages) to each business reference listed on Proposer Questionnaire.

• The business reference, in turn, is requested to submit the Reference Form directly to the City of Raleigh Point of Contact identified on the Reference Questionnaire form for inclusion in the evaluation process.

• The form and information provided will become a part of the submitted proposal. The business reference may be contacted for validation of the response.

• It is the Proposer’s responsibility to verify their references have been received by the City of Raleigh Point of Contact by the date indicated on the reference form.

APPENDIX III: REFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE FORM

Homelessness Prevention, Diversion, and Rapid Exit Program

(Name of Business Requesting Reference)

This form is being submitted to your company for completion as a business reference for the company listed above.

This form is to be returned to the City of Raleigh, Chelsea Levy, via email to Chelsea.Levy@raleighnc.gov no later than 5 p.m. EST, October 21, 2026, and MUST NOT be returned to the company requesting the reference.

For questions or concerns regarding this form, please contact the City of Raleigh, Point of Contact above.

Company Providing Reference

Contact Name and Title/Position

Contact Telephone Number

Contact Email Address

Questions:

1. In what capacity have you worked with this company in the past? If the company was under a contract, please acknowledge and explain briefly whether or not the contract was successful.

Comments:

2. How would you rate this company’s knowledge and expertise?

3= Excellent 2= Satisfactory 1= Unsatisfactory 0= Unacceptable

3. How would you rate the company’s flexibility relative to changes in the scope and timelines?

4. What is your level of satisfaction with hard-copy materials, e.g. reports, logs, etc. produced by the company?

5. How would you rate the dynamics/interaction between the company and your staff?

6. Who were the company’s principle representatives involved in providing your service and how would you rate them individually? Would you comment on the skills, knowledge, behaviors or other factors on which you based the rating?

(3= Excellent; 2= Satisfactory; 1= Unsatisfactory; 0= Unacceptable)

Name: Rating:

7. With which aspect(s) of this company’s services are you most satisfied?

8. With which aspect(s) of this company’s services are you least satisfied?

9. Would you recommend this company’s services to your organization again?

APPENDIX IV: SAMPLE CONTRACT

NORTH CAROLINA

WAKE COUNTY

CONTRACT FOR SERVICES

THIS CONTRACT (“Contract”) is entered into by and between__________, hereinafter referred to as the “Contractor”, and the City of Raleigh, a North Carolina municipal corporation, hereinafter referred to as the “City”.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the City desires to procure a contractor to perform services; and WHEREAS, the City has completed necessary steps for retention of professional and other services under applicable City policies; and WHEREAS, the City has agreed to engage the Contractor, and the Contractor has agreed to contract with the City, for performance of services as described, and according to the further terms and conditions, set forth herein.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of sums to be paid to the Contractor, and other good and valuable consideration, the Contractor and City do contract and agree as follows:

1. Scope of Services The Contractor shall perform for the City the following described services:

2. Schedule/Time of Performance Select and use one of the three options/versions below for the length/time the services are to be provided and delete the other two options/versions:

1.) One-Time Service Completed by a Specific Date; or 2.) Repeated Services Over a Period of Time/Term (without renewal options); or 3.) Repeated Services Over a Period of Time/Term (with Renewal Options).

[1.) For a One-time Service Completed by a Specific Date, use the following:]

In performing the services described in this Contract, it is mutually agreed that time is of the essence. The Contract shall be effective upon the date of the City’s signature.

The Contractor shall begin work on , and work shall be completed no later than .

In the event the services under the Contract are not completed by this date, the Contractor shall be assessed liquidated damages of for each day’s delay beyond the completion date.

[If liquidated damages are not applicable to this Contract, then remove this paragraph.]

[2.) For Repeated Services Over a Period of Time/Term (without renewal options), use the following:]

In performing the services described in this Contract, it is mutually agreed that time is of the essence. The Contract shall have a term of [written number (X) – example: five (5)] years, beginning on the Effective Date through and including [enter term end date].

[3.) For Repeated Services Over a Period of Time/Term (with Renewal Options), use the following:]

In performing the services described in this Contract, it is mutually agreed that time is of the essence. The Contract shall have an initial term of years, beginning on the Effective Date through and including [enter initial term end date].

Prior to the expiration of the initial term or any subsequent renewal terms, the City shall have the option, in its sole discretion, to renew the Contract on the same terms and conditions as are set forth herein for up to a total of additional one-year terms, for a maximum contract term not to exceed five (5) years. The City shall exercise each such renewal option no later than days before the end of the Contract’s then-current term.

The parties acknowledge and agree that a written notice exercising one of the City’s renewal options that is sent to the Contractor as an attachment to an e-mail (for example, as a PDF of a letter sent as an attachment to an e-mail), and which written notice does not contain an original, wet signature or a digital signature, shall nonetheless have the same force and effect as if such written notice contained an original, wet signature or digital signature.

Once the City has decided to exercise a renewal option as provided in this Section, the City hereby authorizes the director of the City department that is responsible for administering this Contract on behalf of the City to execute on behalf of the City the written notice to Contractor that so exercises one of the City’s renewal option(s), and the Contractor shall accept such written notice as the City’s exercise of the applicable renewal option. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for purposes of providing written notice of the City’s exercise of a renewal option as set forth herein, the parties acknowledge and agree that the City shall submit such written notice to Contractor by e-mail, to the attention of the Contractor representative specified in Section 4 below, “Notices”.

The Contractor shall be responsible for immediately notifying the City in writing of any changes to its contact information in Section 5, “Notices”. The City’s inability to deliver to Contractor written notice of the City’s exercise of a renewal option because Contractor has failed to keep the City informed of any changes to its contact information in Section 5, below, shall not negate the effectiveness or validity of the City’s exercise of any such renewal option if written notice of the same has been timely submitted by the City to the last-known email address that the City has for the Contractor’s representative pursuant to Section 5, below.

3. Compensation; Time of Payment For services to be performed hereunder, the City shall pay the Contractor a not to exceed total contract amount $ ($ for the initial term and $ for each renewal term if exercised by the City), unless changed by a duly authorized amendment.

[if using option 3 in the Time of Performance section above, enter the total contract amount followed by the sub-total amounts of the initial term and the amount of the renewal options] [if not using option 3 in the Time of Performance section above, delete the statement in the parenthesis ( ) with the sub-total amounts if the contract doesn’t include optional renewal terms]

3.1. The standard City of Raleigh payment term is NET 30 days from the date of invoice.

3.2. Send all invoices electronically by email accountspayable@raleighnc.gov (or send by mail to: City of Raleigh, Accounts Payable, PO Box 590, Raleigh, North Carolina 27602-0590).

3.3. All invoices must include the following Purchase Order Number __________. Invoices submitted without the correct purchase order number will result in delayed payment.

4. Workmanship and Quality of Services All work performed under this Contract shall be performed as described in the Scope of Services, above, and in a workmanlike and professional manner, all to the reasonable satisfaction of the City, and shall conform to all prevailing industry and professional standards.

5. Notices Except as…