THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING FINANCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP) Program for the Special Needs/Barrier Free Housing Strategy was initiated through an advertisement published in the Sun Sentinel on October 13, 2013. The public was advised that applications for the rehabilitation/removal of architectural barriers to owner occupied homes with disabled household members could be obtained from the Housing Finance and Community Development Division ("Division") on October 14, 2013. Technical assistance was available from October 14, 2013 through November 4, 2013.
Funding for the Special Needs/Barrier Free strategy was previously approved by the Board on August 27, 2013, Item No. 24. As a directive from the State, a minimum of 20% of the County’s total allocation for the SHIP Fiscal Year 2013/2014 must serve persons with special needs, and the Division's Special Needs/Barrier Free strategy fulfills this requirement. The application cycle began October 14, 2013 and ended on November 4, 2013. Two agencies responded to the RFP; the Center for Independent Living, Inc., (CIL) and Broward County Minority Builders Coalition (BCMBC), Inc. Based on the RFP categories for rating the maximum score was 84 points. CIL scored 75 points and BCMBC scored 77 points. The RFP review committee was comprised of Broward County staff from the Purchasing Division and the Housing Finance and Community Development Division.
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation is requiring that all SHIP funds be expended by June 15, 2015. The normal timeframe is two years for expenditures. Due to the compressed schedule, staff is recommending that the project budget be split evenly between the two vendors with $80,000 awarded to CIL and $80,000 awarded to BCMBC. This will allow client identification, project specification, and construction of the expected projects within the required period.
Pursuant to the attached Resolution, the County Administrator is authorized to execute agreements for the respective program in forms approved by the Office of the County Attorney, which shall include all standard agreement provisions, and incorporate changes recommended by the County's Risk Manager or County Auditor, so long as the changes are in the best interest of the County and do not cause a change in the project amount. In addition, the County Administrator is authorized to extend the term or modify the project scope consistent with all applicable rules and regulations. |