RFP 60389 Addendum #1.pdf

RFP 60389, ADDENDUM #1 PAGE 1 OF 4

City of Fairfax, VA

Office of Procurement Services 10455 Armstrong Street

Fairfax, VA 22030

Date: March 14, 2024

Addendum # 1

Reference: RFP 60389

Title: Affordable Housing and Homelessness Strategic Plan

Due Date/Time: March 19, 2024 @ 4:00 p.m.

Due Date/Time is changed to: March 21, 2024 @ 4:00 p.m.

This addendum is issued to make the following changes, corrections, clarifications, and additions to the invitation for bid document. The information in this addendum modifies and changes the original invitation for bid and takes precedence over the original document.

1. Do you expect stakeholder engagement to take place in person, virtually, or in combina�on?

The offeror should u�lize a varied approach to stakeholder communica�on and engagement that ensures inclusion of mul�ple stakeholder viewpoints. This approach should include both virtual and in-person strategies, taking into considera�on specific challenges inherent to engagement with vulnerable popula�ons.

2. Has the City conducted any previous engagement with the homeless popula�on? What challenges did you face in trying to reach this popula�on?

The City of Fairfax par�cipates in the Fairfax County Con�nuum of Care. Homelessness services are provided in the city by local nonprofits overseen by the Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. Within the City, the annual point in �me (PIT) count facilitated by Fairfax County is the primary mechanism for engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness. The city does not currently provide direct services; City staff engagement with the homeless popula�on tends to occur within the areas of law enforcement (trespassing, encampments) and in response to behavioral health crisis.

In the summer 2023, the City of Fairfax ‘s City Council created a Homelessness Task Force created in part to help the city to beter understand the scope and cause of homelessness within the City of Fairfax. Part of the task force’s planned ac�vi�es is to survey unhoused individuals engaged in the hypothermia program. This is the city’s first atempt at a planned

RFP 60389, ADDENDUM #1 PAGE 2 OF 4

engagement ac�vity outside of the PIT count. Due to the growing and (o�en) changing homeless popula�on within the city, the city understands the importance of developing addi�onal engagement opportuni�es outside of the January PIT count.

3. Is it appropriate to include cash incen�ves in the proposed budget to encourage par�cipa�on from difficult to reach popula�ons?

Strategies to increase par�cipa�on with difficult to reach popula�ons should be included in the stakeholder engagement plan. Cash incen�ves are a proven strategy to increase engagement and can be an included strategy if the parameters for its use are clearly outlined.

4. The RFP asks for “es�mated associated costs” as part of the strategic plan. Can you elaborate on the level of detail you expect as part of cost es�mates?

Cost reasonableness is an evalua�on criteria. The offeror should provide informa�on that is sufficient for the city to assess the level of effort and associated inputs (labor and material) to perform the contract deliverables.

5. Will the City be available to support engagement efforts (e.g., contacts, scheduling, venues, etc.)?

The city will designate a staff person to oversee and provide guidance for this project, but primary responsibility for developing and implemen�ng engagement ac�vi�es lies with the offeror. The offeror is also responsible for all organiza�onal support ac�vi�es associated with the effort. City staff will be available to help connect the vendor to key county and nonprofit partners as part of the engagement process.

The city has several venues available for community engagement events ini�ated with this project. The offeror will be required to coordinate dates with city staff to ensure venue availability.

6. Will the City be available to guide a windshield tour?

Staff will be available to facilitate a tour of the City of Fairfax that includes contextual informa�on about the community.

7. What components is the City of Fairfax expec�ng to be included in the detailed analysis of the current affordable housing market and homelessness situa�on?

In December 2023, the City of Fairfax released a Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy Report linked to the City’s 2035 Comprehensive Plan. It is the city’s inten�on that the offeror u�lize the exis�ng housing needs assessment findings and recommenda�ons as a star�ng point for a deeper review of the City of Fairfax’s affordable housing market landscape, focusing both on challenges and opportuni�es. This analysis should consider the city’s housing challenges within the context of Northern Virginia and the Greater Washington

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metro housing market. Explora�on and analysis of addi�onal secondary data sources as may be specifically relevant to understanding the issue, such as the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS), point-in-�me counts, regional housing affordability reports, etc., could be considered.

The detailed analysis, coupled with robust stakeholder and community engagement, should produce ac�onable recommenda�ons that will guide the city’s efforts to protect and increase affordable housing stock within the city and evaluate service provision for persons that are homeless, with an emphasis on housing and services for individuals at 30% or less of AMI, individuals who require suppor�ve housing programs, residents at-risk for homelessness, and workforce housing for 30-100% AMI. The analysis should include innova�ve solu�ons, iden�fy poten�al funding opportuni�es along with addressing poten�al regulatory, code, city ordinance and/or administra�ve barriers to future affordable housing development in the city and homelessness service provision. For poten�al barriers iden�fied, poten�al solu�ons for the city to consider should be reflected. The city is interested in understanding financing and partnership op�ons to support and encourage nonprofit organiza�ons working to develop permanent suppor�ve housing and provide services to persons who are homeless.

A broader understanding of the current homeless popula�on within the city, including impacts on both residents who find themselves unhoused or at-risk for homelessness and the greater community is necessary to the strategic plan development. The city’s Homelessness Task Force has begun the work to gather data that beter defines current homeless trends within the city and current service gaps and availability. The offeror will have access to the task force’s work and recommenda�ons. These ques�ons just came in (today is the last day for ques�ons). I included a suggested response for #3.

8. What is the forecast on the City's need for housing units?

The forecast could be impacted based on projected popula�on changes, policy and current housing stock. The RFP’s Scope of Work asked for “a detailed analysis of the current affordable housing market and homelessness situa�on…” The offeror should have a detailed analysis of affordable housing needs – including forecas�ng units.

9. Does the City want another housing market study for exis�ng housing and homelessness given that they just completed one?

See response to ques�on 7. The plan is for the offeror to build on the recently completed Housing Assessment findings to provide a more comprehensive review of affordable housing stock- both exis�ng and needed based on projected growth.

All other terms and conditions remain the same.

RFP 60389, ADDENDUM #1 PAGE 4 OF 4

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT:

OFFEROR NAME: __________________________________________________________________

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE: __________________________________________________________

NAME AND TITLE: __________________________________________________________________

NOTE: This Addendum is acknowledged and considered a part of the subject solicitation. A signed copy of this addendum must be included in the response. Failure to do so may result in rejection of the bid or proposal.

Patricia Innocenti, CPPO Procurement Director / Purchasing Agent