Community Development Planning Consultant

Post InformationPosted At:Tue, Aug 8, 2023 12:00 PMSealed Bid Process:Yes (Bids Sealed / Pricing Sealed)Private Bid:No1. Introduction1.1. SummarySeminole County’s Community Assistance Division is the recipient of CSBG funds from the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)/Florida Commerce. As a requirement for the CSBG funding, each Community Action Agency is mandated to complete a Community Needs Assessment as part of the Organizational Standards. The plan will be updated every three years. Seminole County is to complete a Five-Year Consolidated Plan and Housing Equity Plan ( Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice), for the County's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency· Solutions Grant (ESG) Program for Program Year (PY) 2025-2030. The Consolidated Plan will be updated every five years.1.2. BackgroundBackground: Community Needs Assessment (CNA) for County’s Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)The Community Services

Block Grant Program (CSBG) provides federal funds to designated local governments and nonprofit agencies called Community Action Agencies, also known as local agency providers, to assist eligible income-qualified households with attaining the skills, knowledge and motivation necessary to achieve self-sufficiency. The agencies may provide a variety of antipoverty services such as emergency health, food, housing, day care, transportation assistance; housing counseling; financial management assistance; nutrition programs including federal surplus food distribution, community gardening projects, food banks, job counseling, placement and training services and homeless prevention programs.Local control of Federal CSBG resources is predicated on regular comprehensive CNAs that take into account the breadth of community needs as well as the partners and resources available in a community to meet these needs. Regular assessment of needs and resources at the community level is the foundation of Community Action and a vital management and leadership tool that is used across the organization and utilized by the community to set the course for both CSBG and all department resources.Previous guidance on the definition of and intent behind requiring agencies to conduct a CNA comes from three main sources – the Community Services Block Grant, the Office of Economic Opportunity Instruction, and Information Memorandum 49. Key language from each of those three sources includes:The Community Services Block Grant Act, Section 676(b)(11) that requires “[A]n assurance that the State will secure from each eligible entity in the State, as a condition to receipt of funding by the entity through a community services block grant made under this subtitle for a program, a community action plan...that includes a community-needs assessment for the community served, which may be coordinated with community-needs assessments conducted for other programs.”The Office of Economic Opportunity Instruction (1970) that states “CAA(s) must develop both a long-range strategy and specific, short-range plans for using potential resources...In developing its strategy and plans, the CAA shall take into account the areas of greatest community need, the availability of resources, and its own strengths and limitations.”Information Memorandum 49 (2001) issued by the Office of Community Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that states:1. The entity and its Board complete regular assessments of the entity’s overall mission, desired impact(s) and program structure, taking into account:the needs of the community and its residents;the relationship, or context, of the activities supported by the entity to other anti-poverty [and] community development services in the community; andthe extent to which the entity’s activities contribute to the accomplishment of one or more of the six national ROMA goals.2. Based upon the periodic assessments described above, the entity and its Board has identified yearly (or multi-annually) specific improvements, or results, it plans to help achieve in the lives of individuals, families, and/or the community as a whole;3. The entity organizes and operates all its programs, services, and activities toward accomplishing these improvements, or outcomes, including linking with other agencies in the community when services beyond the scope of the entity are required. All staff is helped by the entity to understand the direct or in direct relationship of their efforts to achieving specific client or community outcomes.Background: Consolidated Plan and Housing Equity Plan (Analysis of Impediments of Fair Housing Choice)The purpose of the Consolidated Plan is to assess the housing and community development needs for Seminole County and the housing needs for communities included in the CDBG eligible areas. The Consolidated Plan for the Seminole County generally shall provide a comprehensive five-year strategy designed to:Increase and maintain the supply of affordable and supportive housing for low-income and special needs populations, including the homeless;Create a suitable living environment through neighborhood revitalization and improvements in the public facilities and services; andExpand economic opportunities for lower income households.In addition to providing a strategic plan to guide public investments and activities implemented by Seminole County, the Consolidated Plan is also a requirement for participation in federal programs funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These programs include but are not limited to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) along with other federally funded grants.Seminole County is a County government operating within the State of Florida and has been designated an entitlement community for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Seminole County is a participating jurisdiction for the HOME program. The Community Development Division of the Community Services Department the administrator and fiduciary for the CDBG, HOME and ESG programs. HUD requires communities that receive an annual allocation of CDBG funds to create a Five-Year Consolidated Plan for the purpose of (1) identifying the socioeconomic needs of Seminole County's low and moderate income households and (2) guiding the allocation of CDBG, HOME and ESG resources to those activities that will address these needs.1.3. Contact InformationMichael HallSenior Procurement Analyst 1301 E. Second Street Sanford, FL 32771 Email: mhall02@seminolecountyfl.govPhone: (407) 665-7115Department:Community Services - Community Development1.4. TimelineRelease Project Date:August 8, 2023Question Submission Deadline:September 6, 2023, 5:00pmProposal Submission Deadline:September 13, 2023, 2:00pm