CoC RFP Guidance and Q & As from 8/15 bidders’ conference

The CoC RFP bidders’ conference took place today. The attached Question and Answer document provides the questions asked prior to and in the bidders’ conference, with responses.

The CoC will continue to take written questions regarding the RFP until Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at 5:00 pm. Please submit questions in writing to gmccafferty@springfieldcityhall.com.

Additional guidance/information provided at the bidders’ conference:

  1. The CoC is compiling project Scorecards for each renewal project. The Scorecards summarize information that demonstrates project performance and is used for scoring projects in the CoC competition.
  2. Applicants are permitted to include with RFP responses one page (no larger than 8.5 x 11) which provides explanation about one or more of the scoring factors as applied to their project. For example, the page can include information about why scoring did not meet expectations. The page should be submitted with required documents at the time that these are submitted to the Springfield Office of Housing. The single page of explanation is optional, and is not a required part of the competition.

 

CoC Request for Proposals – Seeking Projects to Include in FY2017 CoC Competition

The CoC has released its Request for Proposals (RFP), seeking projects to include in its FY 2017 CoC Competition Application to HUD.

The RFP is available here:  Hampden County CoC Competition FY2017.

The schedule for the competition is as follows:

August 2               Release RFP

August 15             Optional bidders’ conference

August 28             Deadline for submittal of complete applications

September 13      Ranking and selection decisions posted

September 25      Full CoC application posted on CoC website

September 28     CoC Application submitted to HUD

Any updates or corrections will be posted on this website. Applicants should subscribe to make sure that they receive any additional information.

Materials for 7/28 CoC Meeting

The key agenda item for this Friday’s CoC meeting will be the upcoming HUD competition, in which the CoC is eligible to receive up to $3,619,553 in program funds, including at least $339,807 for new programs.

In this application, HUD will base our CoC’s score more than ever on our performance as a system, and all indications are that performance will count more and more each year. To remain competitive, the CoC will need to be strategic about how we allocate our funds.

I am providing the following documents to give us the background needed to consider performance and policy as we consider funding decisions. Please review before Friday’s meeting.

CoC Board of Directors meeting 7/28

The CoC Board of Directors will meet Friday, July 28, 1:30-3 pm, at the offices of the Mental Health Association, 995 Worthington St., Springfield

The meeting is open for attendance by all CoC members.

The primary agenda item will be review of CoC funding priorities and the process for the FY17 CoC Competition, which will be recommended to the Board for approval. A more detailed agenda and supporting documents will be posted prior to the meeting.

HUD released the FY17 CoC NOFA on July 14. The NOFA makes available $3,619,553 in funding for permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and a new category Transitional Housing-Rapid Rehousing, which allows a single provider to have a program that combines these two housing types in order to allow very short-term transitional housing placements followed by provision of rental assistance. The NOFA also makes available renewal funding for HMIS and Coordinated Entry.

Of this year’s grant, $339,807 are bonus funds for one or more new projects. In addition to these funds, there is the possibility that additional funds will be freed up from existing grants for new projects.

 

 

HUD has released the NOFA for the FY17 CoC Competition!

The Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Competition has been posted to the FY 2017 CoC Program Competition: Funding Availability page on the HUD Exchange.

You can access the NOFA here: https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/FY-2017-CoC-Program-Competition-NOFA.pdf

The Submission Deadline is Thursday, September 28, 2017. The electronic application in e-snaps will be available on or after next Tuesday, July 18, 2017.

What’s New and Special Considerations for the FY 2017 CoC Program Competition

The list below highlights some important information about what has changed, what is new, and special considerations that CoCs should make while planning for the FY 2017 CoC Program Competition. This list is not exhaustive and additional details are located in the FY 2017 CoC Program Competition NOFA.

  • Tier 1 is 94 percent of the CoC’s ARD amount.
  • The amount available for the Permanent Housing Bonus is 6 percent of the CoC’s Final Pro Rata Need (FPRN).
  • Renewal project applicants may submit their renewal project applications with no changes. We strongly encourage you wait to access e-snaps to complete your renewal project application until the FY 2017 Renewal Project Application Detailed Instructions are posted on the HUD Exchange so you can determine if you want to take advantage of this new function.
  • HUD has made several changes to the eligibility requirements for permanent housing, permanent supportive housing, and rapid rehousing. Applicants should carefully read the FY 2017 CoC Program Competition NOFA regarding these changes.
  • Most of the mandatory HUD form attachments have been moved to e-snaps as fillable forms that only require a checkbox certification with the project applicant’s authorized representative information. The only HUD required form that remains an attachment is the HUD-2991, Certification of Consistency with the Consolidated Plan, and it must be attached by the Collaborative Applicant to the FY 2017 CoC Priority Listing.
  • Tier 2 project-level scoring has been revised to include only three criteria – CoC Application score, ranked position of the project application in Tier 2, and the project application’s commitment to Housing First. The type of project has been removed as a Tier 2 scoring criteria.
  • System Performance Measurement information will be largely scored on data submitted by the CoC to the Homelessness Data Exchange (HDX), although CoCs will be required to attach the FY 2017 Competition Report to their CoC Application in e-snaps.
  • The local ranking process continues to be crucial to making the CoC Program as effective as possible. CoCs should use objective, performance-based criteria to rate projects and should consider both the need to serve particular populations of people experiencing homelessness (for example, survivors of domestic violence, youth, and persons with substance use disorders) and the effectiveness of their projects in reducing homelessness.
  • All applicants must have a current HUD-approved Code of Conduct. Most organizations’ Codes of Conduct were removed from HUD’s website in early 2017, as they did not meet the requirements of 2 CFR part 200, and the organizations were notified by another HUD office that a new Code of Conduct must be submitted. Be sure to review the Code of Conduct for HUD Grant Programs page on HUD’s website to ensure your organization is listed which means you have submitted an approved Code of Conduct. If you do not see your organization on the list, be sure to attach a current and complete Code of Conduct to your Project Applicant Profile in e-snaps.