RFP #2022-20 Community Based Organization to Administer Distribution of ARPA Funds

Clackamas County, in collaboration with the City of Oregon City, is conducting a Request for Proposals (RFP #2022-20) to identify a Community Based Organization (CBO) to administer the distribution of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds targeting basic needs for communities most impacted by COVID-19. The selected organization will be responsible for assessing community needs, developing an application process, coordinating distribution of goods and/or funds, and submitting quarterly reports on project progress and expenditures. Key deliverables include distributing $2 million in ARPA funds to support essential services such as food, water, shelter, clothing, and sanitation for vulnerable populations. The CBO must begin administration within 45 days of contract award and operate through December 31, 2024. Evaluation criteria will include the organization's connections to rural and minority communities, proposed distribution methodology, and competitive pricing. The proposal submission deadline is April 5, 2022, at 2:00 PM Pacific Time, with a seven-day protest period following the notice of intent to award.

The procurement is open to Community Based Organizations with demonstrated experience serving hard-hit communities, with no specific set-aside designations explicitly stated. Importantly, the selected CBO will still be eligible to receive funds or goods and services through their own established application process. The contract budget is estimated at $180,000, though the county will accept competitive rates with a not-to-exceed total. AntFarm was identified as the apparent successful proposer in the Notice of Intent to Award, scoring 81.80 out of 100 points, with The Father's Heart Street Ministry as the second-ranked proposer at 71.60 points. The organization must ensure equitable distribution of funds and comply with ARPA guidelines, with the flexibility to incorporate a dollar amount in their proposal to serve their own families and communities in addition to distributing funds to other non-profit organizations.