Emergency Shelter Night Services Pool On An As-Need Basis (SSH Funded)

The County of Sussex, New Jersey, is soliciting proposals through competitive contracting under N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1 et seq. to establish a pool of qualified emergency shelter providers offering night accommodations on an as-needed basis funded through Social Services for the Homeless (SSH) grant funds. The County seeks to create a flexible provider network capable of accepting referrals from the County for temporary emergency shelter placements for pre-screened and eligible individuals and families. Vendors must maintain safe and clean shelter facilities, comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and attend monthly meetings of the Human Services Advisory Council's Homeless Coordination Subcommittee. The contract will commence on July 1, 2026, for an initial twelve-month period with the option for four additional one-year renewals at the County's discretion. Compensation will be based solely on actual shelter nights utilized on an as-needed, County-authorized basis, submitted monthly with supporting documentation, with no guaranteed minimum volume or compensation to any selected vendor. Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: Experience and Capability (25 points), Capacity and Availability (25 points), Understanding of Services (20 points), Cost (15 points), and Compliance and Responsiveness (15 points). Key deadlines include a Request for Information deadline of April 16, 2026, bidder questions deadline of April 23, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., proposal submission deadline of May 1, 2026, and an anticipated contract award date of June 10, 2026, with site visits available by request and sealed proposals to be opened publicly on May 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Sussex County Office of Central Purchasing, 1 Spring Street, Newton, New Jersey 07860.

No set-aside designations or restrictions limiting eligible respondents to specific enterprise categories are identified in the solicitation documents. Vendors must submit comprehensive documentation including ownership disclosure forms, affirmative action certifications, Business Registration Certificates, W-9 forms, and proof of required insurance coverage before contract award, with additional certifications and employee information reports due within ten calendar days after award notification. All insurance requirements must be maintained at the vendor's expense through New Jersey-licensed providers, including Workers' Compensation insurance ($1,000,000 minimum), General Liability insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$3,000,000 aggregate minimum), Automobile Liability insurance ($3,000,000 combined single limit minimum), and Professional Liability insurance ($2,000,000 minimum), with the County named as an additional insured on all policies. Respondents must comply with federal provisions under 2 CFR Part 200 Appendix II, HIPAA, HITECH, and 42 CFR Part 2 regulations, and maintain records for a minimum of five years subject to County audit. No incumbent vendors, existing contracts, or current infrastructure requiring integration are specified in the solicitation documents, and no specific award values or budget ranges are identified, as compensation is contingent upon actual shelter nights utilized and subject to SSH funding availability.