Financial Counseling Provider

The City of Pittsburgh, through its Office of Management and Budget, is seeking up to two qualified nonprofit organizations to serve as Financial Counseling Providers for the Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) initiative. This procurement aims to deliver comprehensive, free one-on-one financial counseling services to Pittsburgh residents, with a focus on specific demographic groups including residents in extreme and high-need neighborhoods, returning citizens, single-parent households, youth aged 14-18, young adults aged 19-30, and immigrant and refugee communities. The selected providers will be responsible for identifying and hiring a Program Manager and two to three full-time financial counselors, with a primary administrative office located within Pittsburgh city limits. The contract will include a six-month buildout phase followed by an 18-month implementation phase for service delivery. Evaluation criteria will be points-based, assessing proposers on qualifications, project approach, cost proposal, work history with target demographics, and commitment to minority, women-owned, veteran-owned, and LGBTQIA+ business participation. The RFP (#2023-RFP-272) was released on December 22, 2023, with a pre-proposal meeting held on January 29, 2024, and proposal responses due by February 12, 2024, at 5:00 pm.

Respondents must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a minimum of two years of financial counseling experience and demonstrate sustainable funding for the 18-month contract period. The initiative requires proposers to provide evidence of financial resources, including payroll, office equipment, and location. While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly outlined, the procurement emphasizes commitment to diverse business participation, including minority, women-owned, veteran-owned, and LGBTQIA+ businesses. The project is supported by the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund and follows a standardized model that includes comprehensive financial health assessments, goal-setting, and action planning for clients. Counseling services will be confidential, lasting a minimum of 30 minutes, and can be conducted in-person or remotely. Although a specific budget range is not provided in the documents, the procurement suggests a comprehensive approach to financial counseling with a focus on creating a sustainable, publicly-funded service that can be integrated into various social service programs.