REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS - LEAD HAZARD CONTROL and HEALTHY HOMES GRANT

The City of Bridgeport Department of Health and Social Service is seeking qualified State of Connecticut Licensed Lead Abatement Contractors to participate in the Bridgeport Lead Hazard Control Program (BLHC), funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. The procurement is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) aimed at remediating 160 residential housing units for lead hazards over a four-year period, targeting units occupied by families with children who have elevated blood lead levels, children under six, or vacant units to be rented to families with children under six. Proposals are due on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, by 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, and can be submitted electronically through the OpenGov procurement portal or via physical submission to the Department of Public Purchases. The evaluation criteria will be based on a 100-point scale, assessing factors such as Similar Contract Projects, Federal Funding, Past Performance, and Background Experience & Qualifications. Contractors must comply with OSHA, EPA, and HUD guidelines, and demonstrate comprehensive expertise in lead abatement and healthy homes interventions.

The City encourages submissions from Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women Business Enterprises (WBE), and City-based businesses, with potential additional evaluation points for such vendors. The maximum Lead Hazard Control grant is $15,000 per unit, with an additional $4,900 per unit available for Healthy Homes supplemental funds, bringing the total potential funding to $19,900 per unit. Contractors must provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability, Automobile Liability, and Professional Liability insurance, with minimum coverage limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence. The City of Bridgeport requires that insurance carriers be licensed in Connecticut with an AM Best rating of A-VII or better, and the City must be named as an Additional Insured. Contractors will be required to complete the lead hazard remediation and rehabilitation within 60 days of construction start, with work to commence within 10 days of the agreement date. The project includes potential financial incentives for homeowners, such as loan forgiveness if specific conditions are met, including renting to extremely low or very low-income tenants and marketing to families with children under six.