Title
Ranking and Funding for Homeless Services at the Empowerment Center (B)
The Gainesville City Commission requests the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners to consider and approve the proposal ranking for Homeless Services at the Empowerment Center; and authorize County staff to amend the Interlocal Agreement between the City and the County for equal funding for Homeless Services at the Empowerment Center.
Explanation
On February 15, 2018, the Gainesville City Commission discussed City and County staff’s recommendation and ranking of the organizations for Homeless Services at the Empowerment Center. The organization’s that submitted proposals are as follows: 1) Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry (ACCHH); and 2) Gainesville Marketplace Charity Support Foundation (GMCSF).
As part of the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process, City and County staff ranked GMCSF as the number one ranked organization. However, after reviewing and evaluating the proposals, the City Commission determined that the ACCHH is the number one ranked organization for homeless services and authorized the City Manager to negotiate a contract with the number one ranked firm. Further, the City Commission authorized the City Manager to negotiate with GMCSF, if negotiations with the ACCHH are unsuccessful.
Attached is a copy of the February 15, 2018 City Commission agenda item and back up presented to the Gainesville City Commission regarding the proposed ranking of the two proposals. Also attached are the Evaluation Summary and Negotiation Results for reference.
At the December 11, 2017 Joint City and County Commission Meeting, City staff in conjunction with County staff was directed to prepare a cost analysis of the City and County managing homeless services at the Empowerment Center in case no provider was selected to manage the facilities. For reference, included in the backup is a Cost Estimate chart summarizing the costs for the City/County to manage the facilities. The chart also includes a comparison of the costs of the proposals submitted by the GMCSF and ACCHH.
Additionally, included is a draft City/County Crisis Response Center Implementation Plan outlining transitioning the provision of homeless services to the City and County if no provider is selected to manage the facilities. Further, attached is a draft City/County Crisis Response Center analysis describing the City and County direct management of homeless services at the Empowerment Center. However, due to limited staff capacity and minimal experience in providing homeless services, City staff does not recommend that the City manage the facility at this time.
Fiscal Note
Based on the ITN proposals, the City and County contribution for a 9-month contract for homeless services at the Empowerment Center is as follows: 1) Grace Market Charity Support Foundation (GMCSF) $701,664; and 2) Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and the Hungry (ACCHH) $1,066,792. Based on the cost analysis for the City and County to manage the facilities, the City and County contribution for 9-months is $1,063,035.
To continue the ongoing management of homeless services at the Empowerment Center, the Gainesville City Commission and Board of County Commissioners are expected to each contribute matching funding in the amount $350,832 (GMSCF), $533,396 (ACCHH) or $531,518 (City/County) .
Based on the City Commission’s ranking, a budget needs to be established by the City and County for the top ranked firm (ACCHH) in the amount of $1,066,792.
The City and County performance and obligation to provide matching funding for homeless services at the Empowerment Center is contingent upon specific appropriations by the Gainesville City Commission and the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.
Recommendation
The Gainesville City Commission request that the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners: 1) reaffirm the Gainesville City Commission’s ranking of the proposals to manage homeless services at the Empowerment Center; and 2) authorize County staff to amend the Interlocal Agreement between the City and the County for funding for Homeless Services at the Empowerment Center.