Project PATH - Practical Assistance through Transitional Housing

The City of Umatilla is engaging this Request for Proposals (RFP) to obtain submittals from qualified organizations to develop and implement Project PATH, a program designed to provide Practical Assistance through Transitional Housing (PATH). The intent of this program is to bring together various services to assist individuals and families facing homelessness with the objective to move them into and through transitional housing to permanent housing. An integral part of Project PATH will be the suite of services that will be available to participants within the Hermiston, Umatilla, Echo, and Stanfield (HUES) area. A major component of Project PATH will include a facility on property owned by Umatilla County within the City of Umatilla to create a safe space for overnight or longer stays with support services available onsite. The chosen organization will be the designated entity responsible for planning and delivering services for transitional housing and related support services to move an individual from homelessness to permanent housing. The selected contractor will be responsible for management of the Project PATH facility that includes a general building with offices, indoor common area(s), showers, and meal facilities; initially a minimum of 12 sleeping huts that can accommodate one to two people; and outdoor common areas in a secured fenced area. One entity is being sought to coordinate all services.

Project PATH is funded primarily through the Oregon Department of Administrative Services with funds from House Bill 4123 (2022) and the City of Umatilla expects to subcontract with the selected provider for these services. The revenues allocated for these services shall be granted contingent on the availability of funds. The programs funded are contingent on an approved budget by the Oregon State Legislature and a fully executed Intergovernmental Agreement between the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and Umatilla County for the period ending June 30, 2024. Future funding is anticipated to come from a variety of sources including funding from the Contractor, funds obtained through various granting opportunities, general fund sources of the partner agencies, and other funding sources identified to support the variety of services that will be offered. All provider agreements shall be reviewed annually based on fund availability, continued need for the service, priority needs as established by the City of Umatilla, performance and evaluation reviews, and contract compliance.

FAQ

1. What is meant by ‘food pantry’? At the warming station, we have provided items such as cups of noodles, microwavable soup, instant oatmeal, granola bars, coffee, tea, cocoa, water, etc.  These are not full meals but they provide some nourishment and warmth. These items are provided for immediate consumption on site. To me, a food pantry implies a stock of food items that people can come and get and carry away. Generally, that has been the function of food banks such as Agape House. Might a clarification be provided as to the meaning/purpose of the food pantry as it relates to this proposal?  What you described is what is meant by a food pantry.  The facility will keep stocked some very basic foods that the residents can have and/or cook.  They will have access to the small kitchen to warm foods or make small personal/individual meals.  They would be items that usually have a very long shelf life and are to be consumed on-site (though, they could be taken off-site for lunch if they wanted).  They would be items like you mentioned: cups of noodles, granola bars, instant oatmeal, cans of corn, cans of green beans, etc.  The idea is that there will always be something minor they could eat.
2. How expansive are you envisioning the transportation? If it is provided for training/education, work, appointments, etc... That is pretty extensive. Is that the vision?  Our preference would be to have the organizations that are providing the training/education come to the facility so that more than just one resident might be able to attend.  But, for specific off-site training/education, we would expect the residents to take advantage of what will be a free bus pass.  Taxi rides can also be arranged, but in order to keep expenses under control, we likely would need to implement a maximum number of rides per month policy.
3. A community kitchen is mentioned. Is your vision to have people cooking meals on their own from the start? Within the sleep center? Within the Navigation Center? That introduces several health and safety issues and if the navigation center is where counseling, connections, etc are going to occur it would be a challenge to have folks going in and out making meals, etc. in that building. What do you have in mind?  The community kitchen referenced here is nothing more than the kitchen that will exist inside the navigation center (general area).  Residents will be allowed to cook themselves modest meals using the kitchen on-site (or cook for a few residents at a time).  The operators of the facility will not be cooking any meals.  But, the kitchen will be available for those who wish to prepare a simple meal.  They could use anything from the food pantry or use their own food that they bought.  There will be designated rooms for counseling, appointments, etc.  The kitchen is its own place and will be available.  We likely may need to develop operational use policies of the kitchen, like times of use, frequency, etc.
4. The city service standards are mentioned in the RFP. Where might we find a copy of those?  If you are referring to Section 11, those standards have not yet been developed.  That is something that will be developed by the partners with input from other community stakeholders.  Once those standards are developed, the contractor will be required to maintain such standards.
5. What items are negotiable? Or are things non-negotiable?  Everything mentioned as a Minimum Requirement in Section 9 will be a required service to be provided by the contractor.  Proposers may suggest alternatives to achieve what each of those requirements are, but the intended result of each requirement must be provided.  I would say that the requirements are non-negotiable, but how one goes about providing that need is certainly negotiable... it would need to clearly demonstrate meeting the requirement.
6. May the food pantry and the community kitchen be located in a separate general building rather than the navigation center?  Sure.  But, the City has procured just one manufactured home that will be refurbished for PATH.  This building already has wiring/plumbing for a kitchen, restroom, and showers.  The building can be refurbished as the partners (cities and contractors) believe is best.  PATH must provide showers, a kitchen, restrooms, and a general indoor area for the guests of the facility.  PATH must also provide space to provide the other required services of the RFP.  It is up to the proposer to provide their preferred method to achieve this, knowing that the City has one manufactured home available to be refurbished.
7. Where on the city website are responses posted?  Where we list our RFP documents at this site here: Project PATH - Practical Assistance through Transitional Housing | Umatilla, Oregon (umatilla-city.org).
8. May the showers be housed separately from the general/navigation building?  Sure.  See answer above.
9. Might we get some information on the size and layout of the double-wide? The manufactured home is approximately 1,100 sq. ft. (41’x27’).  It currently has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room.  The bedrooms are anticipated to be converted into office space, but that will ultimately be determined after the contractor is onboard.  It likely makes the most sense to keep at least one of the bathrooms so that staff has a restroom in the same location they are working.  The rest of the space is also open to potential remodel, if necessary.