Q&A From Bidders Conference_Final.docx

Low-income Home Rehabilitation Grant Program Solicitation Q&AEnergy Energy

Bidders Conference Questions:

Q: We represent a nonprofit in Thurston County that has a critical home repair program for low-income homeowners. Are we eligible to apply? We have not been “approved by the department.”

Answer: Yes, a nonprofit with experience in home repair will be eligible if it meets the following minimum requirements:

· The entity is licensed to do business in Washington or submit a statement of commitment that it will become licensed in Washington within thirty (30) calendar days of being selected as the Apparently Successful Applicant. (except tribal entities)

· The entity has two years of experience in home renovation-related programs such as housing rehabilitation and/or weatherization in the last five years.

· The entity has two years of experience in providing services through low-income programs related to home repair in the last five years.

Q: Will this presentation be linked online?

Answer: Yes, the recording and all answers to the questions generated during the conference is posted online and available for review at the following websites:

Washington Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) - https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/ Commerce Website - http://www.commerce.wa.gov/serving-communities/current-opportunities/.

HRGP Website - Home Rehabilitation Grant Program (HRGP) - Washington State Department of Commerce

Q: How long is the reporting period?

Answer: Successful applicants (rehabilitation agencies) must report on the following events:

Q: Is there an option for commerce to request an extension into the new biennium (vocal)?

Answer: It is a bit early to be able to answer that question. Every year, when we get close to the end of a biennium, commerce can ask the Legislature to have funds re-appropriated. We will ask if necessary, once it gets to that point towards the end of the year. However, we will not know until April or May of 2025.

Q: Can you clarify what “approved commerce grantee” means? Does this mean any organization that has already received a grant from Commerce (such as the Housing Trust Fund)?

Answer: Former entities that participated in the Home Rehabilitation Loan Program (HRLP) are considered approved grantees and eligible to apply for this grant opportunity.

Q: What is the process for getting authorization from the dept. as a rehabilitation agency?

Answer: To become an authorized rehabilitation agency, entities must apply to RFA No. S23-92402, be selected as an Apparent Successful Applicant, and further contract with Commerce. The process will require that the entity/applicant meet the minimal qualifications related to having experience in home repair and providing services to low-income households in rural areas.

Q: How do I confirm if my location is considered rural?

Answer: The United States Department of Agriculture has a tool to determine if a property is located in an eligible rural area. Please visit the following link - Eligibility (usda.gov)

Q: Will there be an option to extend the contract into the next biennium? Since the timeline to spend will be half a year or so.

Answer: Please see the answer to question #4.

Q: Can the service agency establish a minimum grant amount?

Answer: The agency must develop a comprehensive scope of work for the client and determine the project’s parameters and feasibility. The program does not require that the agency spend the maximum grant amount on a project, yet expects to achieve measures that address any health, safety and durability of the home.

Q: Also, are we required to perform a full inspection and risk assessment on homes for issues that fall outside the specific repair requests of the household? (e.g. led/asbestos/electrical inspections for assessments for roof repairs)

A: Yes, the agency is responsible for completing an inspection in order to develop a comprehensive scope of work and identify any other measures needed beyond the household's requested repairs. If the scope of work requires further risk assessment related to lead, asbestos, and/or electrical, the agency must follow state and local rules and regulations related to handling asbestos, lead, and electrical inspections.

Q: Which areas qualify as and what is this specific definition of rural?

A: Definition of a Rural Area:

· A place having fewer than 2,500 inhabitants

· A county or parish with an urban population of 20,000 inhabitants or less

· Any place with a population not in excess of 20,000 inhabitants and not located in a Metropolitan Statistical Area

Q: Until the grant is expended? Not long term I am assuming – the reporting.

Answer: Please see the answer to question #3 for information about reporting and the answer to question #4 regarding contract extension.

Q: Is there a template for the inspection form? Are we using the HRRP form?

Answer: Yes, the program will provide all successful applicants (rehabilitation agencies) with an inspection form to complete pre- and post-inspection.

Q: Will commerce need to approve individual projects before any work begins?

Answer: Yes, a program/project application will be required for all rehabilitation projects funded by the grant. Grantees must submit a project application to Commerce for review and approval.

Q: Are we reporting Flood risks/hazards (FIRM mapping)?

Answer: No, it does not apply.

Q: Will these be following prevailing wage?

Answers: Yes, recipients of HRGP funds may be subject to the state Prevailing Wages law, Chapter 39.12 RCW.

If the applicant/recipient is receiving other public funds and/or is a public entity (e.g., city, county, housing authority), they may be required to pay prevailing wages on the project. A definitive determination regarding the applicability of Prevailing Wages law can only be obtained from L&I.

Commerce strongly recommends that all Rehabilitation agencies (Grantees) examine their project facts and all aspects of expected funding prior to applying for HRGP funding, to determine whether or not prevailing wages must be paid on their project and if so what wage rates apply. Commerce further recommends that HRGP Rehabilitation agencies (Grantees) consult with L&I and their private legal counsel regarding Prevailing Wages law requirements and specific factual questions (e.g., will the project funding structure activate a prevailing wage requirement?). Failure to secure a determination from L&I prior to commencement of work on a project can result in significant additional cost to the project.

Commerce staff is not authorized and is not responsible for determining whether or not Prevailing Wages law applies to any specific project. Each project’s unique financing structure (i.e., the amount and terms of all public funds awarded to or invested in the project) may affect the applicability of Prevailing Wages law. Furthermore, Commerce cannot guarantee funds can be provided to cover additional project costs if a higher prevailing wage rate (e.g., commercial rather than residential) is determined to be required by L&I. The HRGP Rehabilitation agencies (Grantee) is responsible for including applicable prevailing wage requirements in construction bid specifications.

Q: What are the lien requirements for projects?

Answer: The program will not place any liens on the homeowner's property. There is only one lien waiver required from the contractor when the contractor is fully paid for the services provided.

Q: Do contractors required to file intents and affidavits for prevailing wage reporting?

Answer: Yes, recipients of HRGP funds are subject to the state Prevailing Wages law, Chapter 39.12 RCW.

Q: Are there any promotional tools available for contractor recruitment? We had a lot of difficulty during HRLP, and the prevailing wage requirements will only complicate things further.

Answer: There is no promotional material related to contractor recruitment at this time.

Q: Can we get a preview of any available form templates that are available before the RFA submission date?

Answer: Yes, guidelines and inspection form will be available for review once finalized and before the solicitation closes.

Q: If it is a biennium, why is end date 2025 not 2026?

Answer: The allocation appropriated for HRGP by the Legislature was for the 23-25 biennium. The Home Rehabilitation Grant Program (HRGP) is precedent to the Low-income Rehabilitation Revolving Loan Program (WAC365-175), effective July 1, 2023, the Washington State Legislature made significant modifications (House Bill 1250), modifying the language of the Proviso from a loan program to a grant program. Because of those changes, the program had to go through the process of rulemaking and program development; therefore, there was a delay before the program was fully developed and open for solicitation.

Q: We are our own contractor and we are not union so how would prevailing wage affect us?

Answer: All successful applicants will be required to comply with prevailing wages rules and regulations.

Q: Who is responsible for getting bids?

Answer: There are no expectations or restrictions on how many bids per project an agency should obtain. The homeowner and/or the successful applicant (rehabilitation agency) can complete the process of obtaining bids, yet the successful applicant (rehabilitation agency) has the responsibility to review, discuss, and approve any bids for any given project. The agency must follow its own procurement process regarding obtaining bids.

Q: Please follow up on the max grant amount (50k or 80% of property value, whichever is less?)

Answer: The maximum grant amount (50K) must be lesser of:

80 percent of the assessed value or appraised value of the property post rehabilitation whichever is greater;

or $50,000

Q: Are competitive bids required? If so is there a minimum?

Answer: The successful applicants must follow their own procurement process for obtaining bids. There is no minimum requirement for the number of bids per project. The agency must follow its own procurement process for obtaining bids.

Q: How soon do you expect the recording to be on the website?

Answer: The recording is now available on the following websites:

WEBS - https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/ Commerce Website - http://www.commerce.wa.gov/serving-communities/current-opportunities/.

HRGP Website - Home Rehabilitation Grant Program (HRGP) - Washington State Department of Commerce

Q: What is the WEBS link?

Answer: The Washington Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) is a portal that allows you to receive notifications regarding funding opportunities within the state. This is one of the websites where the solicitation lives along with any other material related to the solicitation.

RFA NO. S23-92402

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