Request_for_Information_(RFI)_Y25-607.pdf

Issue Date: April 30, 2025

ORANGE COUNTY FLORIDA

PROCUREMENT DIVISION

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION #Y25-607-MM

FOR

SHELTER BUS SYSTEM

Copies of this Request for Information document may be obtained from Orange County by download at: https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/orangecountyfl

SUBMISSION DUE DATE:

Electronic responses will be accepted up to 4:00 PM (local time), Tuesday, May 27, 2025, via the electronic procurement portal referenced above.

Electronic submissions are required to be made through the OpenGov Procurement portal only at:

https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/orangecountyfl.

NOTICE TO RESPONDENTS:

Your point-of-contact for this solicitation is Megan Miller, Contracts Supervisor at Megan.Miller@ocfl.net.

QUESTIONS:

All questions or concerns regarding this Request for Information shall be submitted by email to Megan.Miller@ocfl.net, no later than 5:00 PM Thursday, May 15, 2025 to the attention of Megan Miller, Procurement Division, referencing the RFI number.

OVERVIEW:

The Orange County Board of County Commissioners is seeking to provide additional emergency shelter beds to increase current capacity outside of building more shelters, which will have a longer timeline until the completion and opening of services. The shelter bus system will provide more immediate relief of the already full-capacity shelter system in the County and reach a population of chronically homeless individuals who may not regularly rely on the established shelter system.

NO AWARD WILL BE MADE FROM THIS SOLICITATION.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/orangecountyfl mailto:Megan.Miller@ocfl.net mailto:Megan.Miller@ocfl.net

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR EMERGENCY BUS SHELTER SYSTEM

PURPOSE

This Request for Information (RFI) is designed to gather information only. No cost data or confidential information shall be submitted.

BACKGROUND

Orange County (County) is the fifth largest county in Florida, and home to the metro-Orlando area.

The County provides funding to the shelter system through its Mental Health & Homelessness Division (MHH). As the MHH presented to the Board of County Commissioners on June 18, 2024, there are a current number of 1,165 shelter beds available across six agencies in the County. When compared to the 2024 Point in Time Count (PIT) of 2,091 homeless people in the County, there is a deficit of 926 shelter beds.

Beyond the need for an increased number of shelter beds available in the County, there are barriers to homeless people traveling to and utilizing the current shelter locations. Transportation to a shelter location can be infrequent or unreliable per the current public transportation system. There are limited bus routes depending on what part of the County a person is traveling from, and the reliability of the bus schedule is fraught with issues. Ability to transport and store their personal belongings in order to stay at a shelter overnight can also be a hardship for these individuals.

MHH is currently looking at available land for possible shelter locations and faces several factors that complicate the process, including zoning issues, homeless services and resource availability, public transportation availability, and community concern. Since building an additional shelter will be a multi-year process and a multi-million dollar investment, the need will not be minimized during the planning and development process of a new shelter. The shelter bus system will work to provide relief by adding additional beds and meeting the homeless clients throughout the County, as well as providing them a a safe and secure environment to sleep in an approved location.

Due to the Florida House Bill 1365 (2024) (H.B. 1365) coming into effect, prohibiting counties and municipalities from authorizing a person to engage in public camping or sleeping on any public property, except as designated by the County and certified by the State. The County is working to create systems that provide alternative places for the homeless to sleep. To continue to comply with H.B. 1365 and increase bed capacity for the unsheltered homeless, the County would like to understand operation options of shelter bus systems that could provide appropriate sleeping accommodations that provide overnight security, bathroom facilities, and personal storage.

Additionally, the County would like to understand how such a system could be integrated with additional County services for the homeless population, including day services.

A. It is anticipated that the operating agency and the MHH would use the bus system for:

1. Housing additional unsheltered persons,

2. Linking persons to additional services, including a day center,

3. Reducing pressure on the current shelter operations that have reached capacity,

4. Creating a more secure environment at night for this vulnerable population,

5. Tracking use/need of service in the County,

6. Minimize impact of homeless persons in the County regarding the perception of unsafe areas or redevelopment projects,

7. Meeting the requirements of municipalities per H.B. 1365.

B. MHH would like to know existing capabilities and cost of:

1. Agencies to acquire a bus,

2. Design of bus interior and exterior,

3. Building out the bus with beds.

4. Area for staff.

C. The design should include how many beds will be created within the bus, restroom facilities, and storage for individual clients. MHH would like to identify the total cost for creating a functioning shelter bus to include:

1. Acquisition of an appropriate bus,

2. Cost to design the interior and exterior of the bus to function as a mobile shelter,

3. Cost of build-out of the bus according to design plans,

4. Cost of final product with any additional costs that may be incurred that have not already been requested.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

RESPONSE FORM AND MARKET/PRODUCT QUESTIONNAIRE

RESPONSE FORM

THE FOLLOWING SECTION MUST BE COMPLETED BY ALL RESPONDENTS:

Company Name:

(Street No. or P.O. Box Number) (Street Name) (City)

(County) (State) (Zip Code)

Contact Person:

Phone Number:

Email Address:

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MARKET/PRODUCT QUESTIONNAIRE

A. SHELTER BUS DESIGN:

1. Provide a list of applicable models of the bus in this market that would best suit the purpose to provide sleeping arrangements overnight, and provide the following information.

a) Make, model and year, if applicable, of proposed bus with pricing

b) Dimensions of bus

c) Safety features that will be in place

d) Products or items that will need to be added to the bus for the purpose outlined.

2. Will the bus be designed to provide some ADA compliant features for some clients?

a) Provide information as to what types of features would be included, if applicable.

3. How many beds will be included in the design layout?

4. What will the storage capacity be?

a) Will there be storage that is individualized and secured per client?

b) What storage is there in the external portion underneath?

c) What type of storage is available for a client in their bunk space? What will the designated workspace for staff include in the design?

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION #Y25-607-MM