RFA homeownership language access and community outreach and engagement

The State of Oregon Housing and Community Services Department (OHCS) is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA #S-91400-00016009) to fund homeownership language access and community outreach and engagement activities designed to address racial disparities in homeownership for Communities of Color and other Underserved Populations in Marion County and statewide. The solicitation seeks qualified applicants to provide two primary categories of services: Language Access activities (professional translation services, interpretation services, language assistance notices, and Language Access Plan development) and Community Outreach and Engagement activities (culturally responsive marketing campaigns, community events, culturally responsive service delivery, curriculum development, relationship building with underserved populations, and staff training in cultural competency). Applicants must target households with incomes at or below 120 percent of Area Median Income and demonstrate current involvement in sponsoring or managing homeownership programs or services. Applications are due March 31, 2026, at 4:00 PM Pacific Time through OregonBuys, with a pre-application conference held on February 26, 2026, at 2:00 PM Pacific Time and a question submission deadline of March 12, 2026, at 4:00 PM Pacific Time. The evaluation criteria consists of 110 total possible points, with Project Overview and Alignment weighted at 60 points, Workplan and Expected Outcomes at 35 points, and Estimated Budget at 15 points; a minimum score of 70 points is required for award eligibility. The anticipated notice of intent to award is May 1, 2026, with the initial grant term extending from June 2026 through June 30, 2027, and all goods and services must be received by that date.

Eligible applicants are restricted to nonprofit organizations established under ORS Chapter 65, Housing Authorities, units of Local Government, and federally recognized Indian tribes that own land in Oregon. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation materials, and no specific technology infrastructure integration is required. The maximum grant amount per award is $70,000, with administrative costs capped at 15 percent of total grant expenditures; staff costs are permissible as program expenses when directly related to approved project activities. Multiple grants are anticipated to be awarded, with the agency reserving discretion to target funding awards by county to ensure statewide coverage. Grant funds are provided from the State of Oregon General Fund, with initial disbursement of 50 percent of the award amount upon execution of the grant agreement and receipt of a completed Funds Advance Request, and subsequent disbursements tied to expenditure reports. All applicants must comply with the Oregon False Claims Act, maintain confidential information security protocols per the Oregon Consumer Information Protection Act, and carry workers' compensation insurance and commercial general liability insurance of no less than $1,000,000 per occurrence.