Homelessness Drop-In Centers

The City of Detroit Office of Contracting and Procurement, on behalf of the Housing and Revitalization Department, is soliciting proposals to operate 24-hour, low-barrier drop-in centers serving individuals experiencing homelessness. The procurement seeks qualified organizations to maintain 220 drop-in center beds across multiple locations, providing temporary shelter, basic needs (meals, hygiene products, bedding), case management, medical and behavioral health assessments, security, and transportation assistance. Facilities must include separate areas for men, women, and families, with amenities such as ADA-accessible bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, kitchen capabilities, and community spaces that comply with all applicable building, health, and safety codes. Respondents must demonstrate a minimum of one year of experience providing drop-in center, emergency shelter, or transitional housing services and must maintain adequate funds to support three months of operations without reimbursement. The RFP requires 24/7 intake and case management capabilities, mental and behavioral health assessments by certified practitioners within 24 hours of arrival, a minimum of three nutritious meals daily, and de-escalation and restorative safety protocols. A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for April 22, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST via Microsoft Teams; written questions must be submitted by May 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM EST with answers distributed by May 6, 2026; proposals are due May 13, 2026 at 4:00 PM EST through the EUNA Bonfire portal. The contract award is for one year with an optional one-year renewal, contingent upon Detroit City Council approval and Chief Procurement Officer signature, with payment governed by the City's Prompt Payment Ordinance (NET 30 days standard terms).

The City of Detroit offers equalization credits to certified Detroit-based businesses, with credits ranging from one to five percent depending on certification category (Detroit Headquartered Business and Detroit Resident Business each receive five percent). Organizations must comply with the City of Detroit's Property Maintenance Code and Dangerous Building Code, obtain Treasury Clearance, register in the System of Awards Management (SAM) if receiving federal funding, and maintain ISO 27001 certification or provide annual SOC 2 Type 2 reports for data protection. The City currently funds two drop-in centers serving 3,321 households and 4,732 individuals annually, and the RFP indicates the City may award one or multiple contracts and reserves the right to request oral presentations or site visits as part of the evaluation process. Respondents must submit comprehensive proposals including organizational capacity documentation, financial audits or single audits (depending on federal fund expenditure levels), detailed budgets with administrative costs capped at ten percent of the total award, proof of past performance, building inspection reports, and various certifications including Conditions of Award compliance, Contracting Expectations attestation, and minimum cash on hand equivalency (three months of operating expenses). While specific budget amounts are not provided in the RFP documents, the contract structure is reimbursement-based with the City of Detroit providing funding for facility operations, staffing, and services delivery.