Title
Request Authorization to Enter Into Contract with Arizona Community Action Association, DBA Wildfire, for COVID-19 Emergency Utility, Rent and Mortgage Assistance Services (Ordinance S-46644)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into contract with Arizona Community Action Association, dba Wildfire, to provide emergency utility, rent and mortgage assistance services to Phoenix residents, including vulnerable residents, impacted by the COVID-19 national pandemic. The term of the contract will begin on or about May 20, 2020 through Dec. 30, 2020, with an aggregate amount not to exceed $24 million. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. Funding is provided through the City of Phoenix's Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF). There is no impact to the General Fund.
Report
Summary
The first draft of a strategic plan for the City of Phoenix's $293 million CRF was updated based on City Council discussion and input from April 30, 2020. Federal guidance relative to the CRF allows funds to cover the following: 1) costs incurred due to the COVID-19 public health emergency; 2) costs that were not accounted for in the budget adopted before March 2020; and 3) costs incurred between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020.
On May 5, 2020, City Council provided further input and direction on a strategy, proposed resource allocation, program development and timing implementation for a utility, and rent/mortgage assistance program for residents impacted by the COVID-19 national pandemic. The intent of the residential utility and rent/mortgage assistance program is to reduce the economic burden on residents due to the COVID-19 downturn. This program may also focus on vulnerable populations, in an effort to ensure barriers and obstacles to these critical services are removed and can be accessed in a more streamlined fashion. The program is aligned with the City Manager’s guiding principles and strategic plan to deploy CRF.
Staff recommends contracting with Wildfire due to its ability to provide utility, rent and mortgage assistance services of this scope and scale during this state of emergency. Wildfire is an experienced Arizona non-profit corporation focused on ending poverty and partners with the largest number of service providers locally through contracts with over 20 non-profit and community action organizations throughout Maricopa County. These partnerships provide Wildfire the capacity to most expeditiously provide direct utility, rent and mortgage assistance services to residents impacted by COVID-19 and to expend the funds by the required deadline of Dec. 30, 2020.
Procurement Information
Services may be procured, as needed, by using procurement procedures in accordance with Administrative Regulation 3.10 to implement and administer the COVID-19 Emergency Utility, Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program.
Contract Term
The term of this contract will begin on or about May 20, 2020 through Dec. 30, 2020. This contract may be extended based on continuous need and available funding, which may be exercised by the City Manager or designee.
Financial Impact
The aggregate value of this contract shall not exceed $24 million. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding will be provided through the City of Phoenix's Coronavirus Relief Fund.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Managers Karen Peters and Mario Paniagua, and the Neighborhood Services Department.