Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool - Operator RFP

Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) issued a Request for Proposals on March 10, 2026, to procure a qualified operator to establish and operate a Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool that will serve as a fiscal intermediary for administering rental subsidies to individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability throughout Ventura County. The primary services include acting as a fiscal intermediary to consolidate multiple rental assistance funding streams, identifying and securing scattered-site rental units across the county, engaging and maintaining relationships with landlords, connecting individuals to permanent housing, administering a risk mitigation fund, coordinating with managed care and service providers, and generating required HMIS and performance data. Required qualifications include a minimum of two years of experience identifying and securing housing units in Ventura County, two years of regular engagement with rental assistance programs and the regional housing market, existing formal or informal partnerships with local landlords and service providers, capacity to serve individuals with serious behavioral health conditions experiencing housing instability, and all necessary permits and licenses. Key objectives include expediting housing placements and reducing the time households require to access and maintain permanent housing through a centralized, coordinated funding structure. Proposals are evaluated on Technical Approach & Program Design (35%), Organizational Capacity & Experience (25%), Community Partnerships & Landlord Engagement (20%), Budget & Cost-Effectiveness (15%), and Quality Assurance & Reporting (5%). Critical deadlines include Intent to Bid and bidder questions due March 23, 2026, vendor questions answered March 27, 2026, proposal submission deadline April 8, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. through the Bonfire platform, contractor selection anticipated March 30, 2026, contract negotiation by May 13, 2026, and service commencement July 1, 2026. The initial contract term is one year with two optional one-year extensions subject to Board of Supervisors appropriation of funds.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting eligible bidder types based on disadvantaged enterprise status or organizational structure. No incumbent vendor or current contractor is identified in the procurement documents. The proposal must address compliance with California housing requirements including Proposition 1 (2024), the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) effective July 1, 2026, CalAIM Community Supports, and Housing First principles, with integration into existing managed care and service provider coordination systems. Initial funding sources include Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) and Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care (HUD CoC) Grant funds, with plans to add additional funding streams as available. Compensation is structured on a reimbursement basis with Net 60 days payment for actual staffing, infrastructure, and program costs, with one-time infrastructure funding available for database development, consulting services, and startup costs in addition to ongoing program budgets. The RFP permits applicants to request one-time infrastructure development funding with explicit specifications for amounts and intended uses, though specific budget ranges or total award values are not disclosed in the available documentation.