Emergency Shelter Support Services

Buncombe County, North Carolina is requesting proposals for emergency shelter support services to activate during county emergency operations and Mass Care activities, with proposals due October 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET and vendor questions due October 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET. The County may award contracts to multiple vendors and permits applicants to bid on all or a subset of service categories.

The scope encompasses general social work wraparound services, shelter de-mobilization and resident transition planning, in-shelter behavior management, and clinical support and debriefing for staff. Services will support an estimated one to three active emergency shelters, each housing a minimum of 50 residents with potential expansion to 150 residents per site depending on event complexity. All vendor personnel providing behavioral, clinical, or staff-support services must possess training or certification in crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, de-escalation techniques, and emotional co-regulation strategies.

Vendors must demonstrate a minimum of three years of experience in emergency response, social services, behavioral support, or shelter-based operations; documented experience serving vulnerable populations; demonstrated surge staffing capability; FEMA compliance ability; and provide three professional references. Vendors must submit detailed pricing for each proposed staff classification, including regular and overtime hourly rates, with total hours and quantities for 12-hour shifts.

Insurance requirements include commercial general liability of at least $1 million per occurrence with $2 million aggregate, business automobile liability of $1 million, workers compensation at statutory limits, and employer's liability with minimum limits of $500,000.

The initial contract term is one year, functioning as a pre-positioned contract activated only when Buncombe County declares an emergency shelter activation. Contract award is anticipated November 1, 2026, with an effective date of January 1, 2027. Portions or all of this contract are federally funded and subject to 2 C.F.R. 200.326 and Part 200, Appendix II, including federal uniform guidance on equal employment opportunity, suspension and debarment, and prohibited telecommunications and video surveillance equipment.