Small Business and Gig Worker Grants

Orange County, Florida is seeking a consultant to develop and administer federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant programs through RFP #Y22-607-AH, targeting small businesses and gig workers impacted by COVID-19. The procurement involves three distinct grant programs: $10,000 grants for companies with commercial locations, micro business grants up to $3,000 for home-based businesses, and $1,400 gig worker grants. The selected consultant will be responsible for creating a comprehensive marketing plan, developing a project plan, utilizing the Neighborly Software system for grant administration, and establishing reporting mechanisms for leadership. Key project objectives include reaching at least 50,000 unique residents, creating 2,500 unique business profiles, and demonstrating a 20% increase in new business engagements. Electronic proposals will be accepted through the OpenGov Procurement portal until 4:00 PM local time on March 8, 2022, with the project timeline targeting marketing plan launch by January 2021 and completion by April 30, 2022.

The contract will be structured with milestone-based payments, including 10% upon marketing and project plan completion, 15% at program launch, 35% after a progress report on program metrics, and 40% upon submission of the final report. While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly detailed, the grant programs are designed to support small and micro businesses, as well as gig workers, suggesting potential preference for local or disadvantaged enterprises. The consultant will work closely with the Orange County Comptroller's office to process grant payments and must integrate with the existing Neighborly Software system. Although the total contract amount is not specified, the grants are funded through federal ARPA funds, with the county reserving the right to adjust the contract based on federal funding guidance. The procurement appears focused on economic recovery and support for businesses most significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with an emphasis on creating a comprehensive and transparent grant distribution mechanism.