YFS Poverty Report

Multnomah County's Department of County Human Services (DCHS), Youth and Family Services (YFS) Division, issued a Request for Intermediate Proposals (RIP) to contract with one organization to develop a comprehensive "Poverty in Multnomah County" report. The procurement seeks a detailed research project focused on analyzing poverty conditions within the county, requiring the selected organization to compile data from multiple sources and produce a comprehensive report. Specific deliverables include writing a detailed report highlighting social, health, and educational factors impacting low-income households, generating computer-generated maps illustrating resource access, and presenting draft findings to the Multnomah County Commission for Economic Dignity. The solicitation opened on January 25, 2019, at 8:00 AM PDT and closed on February 11, 2019, at 4:00 PM PDT, with a contract period from March 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019. The proposal evaluation consisted of two primary scoring groups: Programmatic Questions (75% of total score) and Responsible Business Practice Questions (25% of total score), assessing proposers on research coordination experience, government report writing capabilities, recommendation development approach, sustainability practices, and efforts to create economic and social benefits. Evaluation criteria emphasized not just technical capabilities but also the proposing organization's broader commitment to sustainable and socially responsible business practices.

The solicitation did not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. Kristina Smock Consulting was ultimately awarded the contract for $23,400.00, out of an anticipated project funding of $25,000. The contract was awarded to the highest-scoring proposer, with no guarantee of minimum service purchases. While specific details about disadvantaged enterprise participation were not explicitly outlined in the available documentation, the evaluation process appeared to value comprehensive and socially responsible approaches to the research project. The procurement emphasized a holistic approach to understanding poverty dynamics, seeking a vendor capable of delivering nuanced, data-driven insights into the economic challenges facing Multnomah County residents.