City of newark - program year 2025 2026 - emergency solutions grant (ESG) grant - request for proposals

The City of Newark, New Jersey, Department of Health and Community Wellness, Office of Homeless Services (OHS) is issuing Request for Proposals (RFP #2025-RFP-015) for the Program Year 2025-2026 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program to provide services and support to homeless and at-risk populations. The procurement seeks proposals from Newark-based organizations to deliver eligible activities under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act and the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, with a contract period running from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. Eligible activities include rapid re-housing programs, homelessness prevention services, emergency shelter operations, rental assistance, security deposits, housing search and placement services, case management, and transportation support for low-income Newark residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Proposals will be evaluated on a comprehensive 100-point scoring system based on benefit to homeless persons, collaboration efforts, application professionalism, activity need, cost-effectiveness, implementation readiness, organizational experience, and past performance. The RFP solicitation period runs from October 15, 2025, through November 6, 2025, with all proposals due electronically via the City's OpenGov e-Procurement Portal no later than 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2025; submissions received after this deadline will not be accepted. Applicants must demonstrate organizational capacity, financial stability, and compliance with federal and state regulations, including participation in the local Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for required HUD reporting.

The procurement is open exclusively to Newark organizations, and sub-recipients are restricted to using no more than 7 percent of their total allocation for salaries and personnel expenses. The ESG program requires all sub-recipients to provide a 100 percent match in cash or in-kind services to supplement federal funding. Applicants must comply with various federal, state, and local compliance requirements, including fair housing regulations, equal employment opportunity provisions, Section 3 hiring requirements, affirmative action laws, federal debarment certifications, and conflict of interest standards. Required submission documentation includes a Letter of Qualification and Letter of Intent, W-9 Form, Federal Non-Debarment Certification, Vendor Submission Forms (including equal employment opportunity language, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, ownership disclosures, criminal history certifications, sweatshops and Russia-Belarus activities certifications, and political contribution disclosures), financial statements, and organizational background information demonstrating implementation readiness. No specific budget allocation amount is identified in the solicitation documents; however, funding will be awarded through a selection committee process with recommendations presented to City Council for final approval. The highest-rated proposals will be considered for funding under the 2025-2026 HUD entitlement awards, with the goal of improving emergency shelter services and providing preventative assistance to address homelessness in Newark.