Title
2023-24 Neighborhood Services Department Housing Rehabilitation Programs (Ordinance S-49682)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, accept, and if awarded, enter into any necessary agreements to implement the Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) grant-funded Housing Rehabilitation Programs. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Report
Summary
NSD manages housing rehabilitation projects that enhance the quality of life for low- and moderate-income property owners and tenants by rehabilitating single- and multi-family owner- and tenant-occupied properties to address health and safety hazards, and promote conservation, sustainability and energy efficiency to support and revitalize communities. Housing rehabilitation projects are funded through a variety of federal, state and local grant funds, outlined below.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds used to fund housing rehabilitation contracts between low- and moderate-income property owners and contractors on the Approved Contractor List (ACL). These contracts may also be supplemented with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, utility providers, and other state and local agencies.
- HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Home (OLHCHH) funding supports NSD's Lead Safe Program and its ongoing efforts to provide lead testing and lead hazard remediation services in single- and multi-family housing units built before 1978 and occupied by low-income families with pregnant women and/or children under six years of age. The OLHCHH competitive grant applications fund the Lead Safe Phoenix program, in partnership with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, and funds direct contracts with environmental consulting firms.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funds provided through the Arizona Department of Housing, Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, Southwest Gas, the Utility Repair, Replacement and Deposit program, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Wildfire support NSD's continuous commitment of providing weatherization assistance services. These services include installation of attic insulation, sunscreens, duct sealing, room pressure relief/air balancing, and the repair or replacement of heating and cooling systems in owner-occupied and rental households that meet federal poverty guidelines.
NSD will maintain an ACL to enhance the number of eligible small businesses. To be added to the ACL and be eligible to participate as a housing rehabilitation contractor, receive bid opportunities and perform construction services on housing rehabilitation projects, contractors must be screened and qualified on an individual basis and must meet and maintain all eligibility requirements set forth within the NSD Housing Rehab Contractor Application Packet found on the NSD website. The ACL will be continuously open to local contractors that meet the applicable criteria in the Contractor Application Packet to promote small business participation. Contractors on the ACL will be selected to submit bids on a rotating basis.
NSD seeks authorization to proceed with all actions necessary or appropriate to implement and administer its grant-funded Housing Rehabilitation programs, including applying for and accepting up to $13,745,000 in funding. NSD expects to be awarded approximately:
- $1.7 million in CDBG funds;
- $6 million in WAP funds;
- $970,000 in OLHCHH funds;
- $575,000 in HOME funds; and
- Up to $4.5 million in the City's second tranche of American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Actions include:
- If awarded, enter into any necessary contracts or agreements with the grantor(s) to fund existing and future contracts in accordance with the grant terms.
- Enter into and amend contracts with eligible property owners to perform rehabilitation services; enter into contracts with private contractors; issue Request for Proposals, Request for Qualifications, Calls for Interest, and Requests for Bids for Housing Rehabilitation Program services; award, negotiate, and execute contracts with the successful responders; and negotiate and/or amend existing contracts with various contractors and service providers to perform work on eligible housing and rental rehabilitation projects.
- Maintain an ACL of qualified contractors to enter into agreements with low- and moderate-income property owners funded by NSD pursuant to the grant terms. These funds may be disbursed to the property owner or contractor.
- Take all other action necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this item and implement and administer the Housing Rehabilitation Program grants according to their terms.
Procurement Information
As needed to implement and administer NSD's Housing Rehabilitation Programs, services may be procured using procurement procedures in accordance with Administrative Regulation 3.10.
Financial Impact
These programs are funded with federal, state and local grants. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item is scheduled to be heard by the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee on May 3, 2023.
Public Outreach
The ACL and/or other procurement opportunities will be advertised in local print media and will also be posted on NSD's website.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Neighborhood Services Department.