Roots to Roofs Pilot Program: Verification Form for "Qualifying Community Development Organization" and "Equitable Development Use"

The City of Seattle, through its Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) in conjunction with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI), is administering a verification process for the Roots to Roofs Pilot Program, which is not a traditional procurement but rather an ongoing qualification verification process with no formal deadline. The primary objective is to verify that applicants qualify as "qualifying community development organizations" and that proposed development projects meet "equitable development use" criteria as defined in Seattle Municipal Code Section 23.40.091. Eligible applicants must submit a comprehensive verification form demonstrating that their organization holds at least 51 percent ownership interest in a proposed development project and that the organization's mission encompasses creation or preservation of affordable housing, affordable commercial space, affordable arts space, community gathering spaces, or other equitable development uses. The verification form was posted on March 24, 2026, with a response submission deadline of December 31, 2035, at 12:00 a.m., submitted electronically through the procurement portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/seattle/projects/243503. Following submission of a complete application, OPCD staff will review materials and the OPCD Director will issue a determination letter confirming verification status or providing reasons for denial. The contact for inquiries is Nick Welch, Senior Planner, at nicolas.welch@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8203.

Eligible organizations are restricted to nonprofit organizations registered with the Washington Secretary of State, public development authorities created pursuant to RCW 35.21.730, or public housing authorities created pursuant to RCW 35.82.030, thereby establishing clear set-aside designations for community-focused entities. Qualifying developments may include equitable development uses that are allowed outright in Neighborhood Residential zones and exempt from applicable floor area ratio limits in Multifamily and Commercial zones, providing regulatory flexibility for approved projects. No pricing, budget allocation, contract term information, incumbent vendors, or award values are specified in this opportunity, as the process constitutes a qualification verification mechanism rather than a traditional procurement with awarded contracts and associated funding. The jurisdiction coverage extends to King County and Spokane City within the State of Washington, though the primary administering agency is the City of Seattle. This pilot program implements the process established in Director's Rule OPCD 03-2026 / SDCI 04-2026 and represents an ongoing, open opportunity with no formal deadline for responses.