Legal Services for Housing Stability

The Rhode Island Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP23002007) seeking qualified law firms and attorneys to provide legal services for housing stability. The procurement is specifically targeting legal representation for tenants living at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI) to help maintain housing stability. Proposers must submit comprehensive legal services that assist low-income tenants in maintaining their housing, with a focus on legal interventions and support. The RFP was released on October 25, 2022, with proposals due by November 22, 2022 at 3:00 PM EST, and a vendor Q&A period running from October 25 to November 7, 2022. Evaluation criteria will include technical merit, cost, and the proposer's Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), and Disability Business Enterprise (DisBE) participation rates. The initial contract period will begin approximately January 1, 2023 for a one-year term, with potential renewals for additional 12-month periods through September 30, 2025. Required qualifications include professional liability insurance, workers compensation coverage, and demonstrated expertise in tenant legal services.

The RFP strongly encourages participation from minority, women-owned, and disability-owned business enterprises, with scoring criteria specifically allocating points for ISBE (Innovative Small Business Enterprise) participation. There are no incumbent vendors explicitly identified in the solicitation. The project will be funded through ERA2 Housing Stability Service dollars, with a total budget that must be fully expended by September 30, 2025. While a specific award value is not disclosed, the RFP indicates that OHCD anticipates selecting one or more proposers, suggesting potential for multiple awards. Proposers must register in the Ocean State Procures system and submit separate technical, cost, and ISBE participation proposals electronically. Insurance requirements are comprehensive, including $1 million in general and automobile liability coverage, and $2 million in professional liability coverage. The state reserves the right to award based on cost alone or to reject all proposals, providing flexibility in the procurement process.