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• Licensed Mold Professional for Government Funded Purchase and Rehabilitation Projects
• Homebuyer Education and Training Services

Licensed Mold Professional for Government Funded Purchase and Rehabilitation Projects

1. Introduction

Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. and Better Housing for Tompkins County, Inc. (collectively known as “INHS”), is seeking to procure licensed mold professional services related to government funded purchase and rehabilitation projects. These projects are predominately single-family homes. The purpose of this RFP is to obtain proposals from qualified firms to provide mold assessment and remediation project scopes for a period of three years. These services are more fully described in Section 2 of this RFP. Proposals must be submitted by 4:00PM on Monday, May 8, 2023.

2. Scope of Services

The scope of services identified below is intended to help INHS identify specific mold hazards that may be encountered at individual project sites assisted by government funds, to help protect people and the structure, and to ensure that INHS is in compliance with applicable regulations. Applicable regulations and procedures are referenced or set forth in the following publication from the Housing Trust Fund Corporation Office of Community Renewal (OCR) and any other applicable funder regulations, which may be amended as funders require:

• Rehabilitation Standards for One- to Four- Unit Structures: https://hcr.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/10/home-rehab-standards-9.14.20-w-mold.pdf

Task 1 – Mold Assessment

The consultant will conduct a mold assessment, according to the aforementioned NYS standards, for each individual project site identified as having a potential mold hazard, and will make a recommendation for any necessary remediation. Assessments may be required for the interior, exterior, or both of a subject property.  All assessments  must comply with OCR regulations and procedures.

3. Deliverables

Deliverables for Task 1 – Mold Assessment

• Prepare and submit site-specific assessments for each identified purchase and rehabilitation project that include any recommendation for remediation. The consultant will provide a summary of findings Submitting a scope of work to INHS for the work to be completed.
• Submit a letter of determination based on those findings. The letter must be signed by a licensed mold professional as defined by New York State Department of Labor.

4. Proposal Format

Proposals may be mailed, dropped off at INHS’s main office or provided electronically as a Portable Document Format (pdf).

Proposals shall be submitted in the following format and sequence. All pages should be consecutively numbered.

Executive Summary

Provide an overview of the firm and how it will approach the project. List the contact information for the person responsible for submitting the proposal and responding to any questions.

Project Experience & Capacity

Describe how the firm has the experience and capacity to complete the tasks in a professional and timely manner. Summarize relevant prior work experience and provide contact information for previous clients. Clearly describe any subcontracting or partnering arrangements.

Key Personnel

Identify all key personnel involved in performing the work for each task. Attach resumes and professional qualifications and certifications for key personnel including subcontractors and partners. At minimum, key personnel shall include the overall project manager and a licensed mold professional as defined by Mold Frequently Asked Questions | Department of Labor (ny.gov).

Approach & Methodology

Provide a clear and straightforward work plan that demonstrates an understanding of the NYS Home Rehabilitation Standards for One- to Four- Unit Structures pertaining to mold, policies and procedures, and applicable state and federal environmental laws and regulations. Proposed schedules for completing each task once a request is received from INHS.

MWBE or SDVOB

If the firm is a New York State-certified MWBE or SDVOB firm, provide documentation evidencing registration. If the firm is partnering or subcontracting with an MWBE or SDVOB firm, clearly describe the relationship and provide documentation for the firm.

Price

Provide a price proposal in a table format that clearly demonstrates that the firm is providing the best value for INHS and INHS clients. The actual number of projects varies from year-to-year. The following estimates can be used as a guide:

Unit/individual price shall be provided for the Mold Assessment. The proposal must clearly demonstrate how and why the price proposal provides the best value for INHS clients. All prices must be fixed for three years beginning March 27, 2023. INHS is currently working with purchase and rehabilitation funding for Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties. Because our service area is quite large and individual projects within this scope of work may vary, we understand that there may be additional charges in some cases. Please indicate under what circumstances you would add mileage or other fees and provide your standard unit charge for each.

Submission Deadline

Proposals must be submitted by 4:00PM on Monday, May 8, 2023. Any proposals received after this time will not be reviewed.

Submit to:
Delia Yarrow

INHS
115 W. Clinton St.
Ithaca, NY 14850

dyarrow@ithacanhs.org
(607) 277-4500 ex. 208

5. Proposal Evaluation

INHS will evaluate each proposal and select the firm that is the “best fit” for INHS and the proposed work. Proposals will be checked against minimum qualifications. Proposals meeting the minimum requirements will be scored against the following selection criteria which will be used to guide the selection process:

INHS reserves the right to not award any contracts, award contracts to multiple firms, or only award contracts for certain Tasks. The target date for selection is May 15, 2023.

6. Questions

Questions related to this RFP should be directed to Delia Yarrow at dyarrow@ithacanhs.org.

HOMEBUYER EDUCATION and TRAINING SERVICES

Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS), a nationally acclaimed not-for-profit housing corporation, is seeking proposals from independent consultants to plan and implement a pre-purchase homebuyer education program.  This program has a goal of providing first time homebuyers with the knowledge, skills and contacts that they need to successfully navigate the complex process of buying a home.  It works in conjunction with other INHS services offered to homebuyers, including financing, counseling and technical assistance with home improvement projects.

This program involves the completion of the following tasks:

1. Curriculum Development – The homebuyer education curriculum must meet the National Industry Standards for Homebuyer Education and Counseling and HUD’s Housing Counseling Program. It must provide at least eight hours of classroom training that covers a comprehensive list of homebuyer education topics.  The curriculum must include presentations by guest lecturers who represent professions that are involved in the residential real estate industry, including Realtors, bankers, attorneys, and home inspectors. Mandatory topics are: (1) renter rights; (2) the home buying process; (3) how to maintain a home; (4) budgeting; (5) fair housing; (6) identifying and reporting predatory lending practices; (7) rights for persons with disabilities; (8) and the importance of good credit; subject to change at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and NeighborWorks America’s direction.
2. Supplemental Educational Opportunities – INHS also provides supplemental classes on home inspection, wills and estates, seasonal maintenance, selling a home, and managing major home repairs. There are no standards for these classes, but they must be designed to provide useful and relevant information to prospective homebuyers and current homeowners.  For the home inspection classes, consultant must arrange for the classes to be held in actual homes where walkthroughs can be held.
3. Scheduling Classes – The consultant must schedule a minimum of eight classes a year. Previous classes have been scheduled in either four 2-hour sessions or two 4-hour sessions during either evenings or Saturdays.  The majority of the classes are held in a space owned by INHS in Ithaca, classes are also scheduled in adjacent counties and in a live online format.  Remote classes require the identification and reservation of appropriate meeting spaces.  The schedule must cover a program year that begins January 1.  The scheduling of classes also includes the scheduling of guest presenters.
4. Marketing – A marketing plan must be developed to recruit potential program participants. Marketing may include paid advertising, INHS web site, presentations to Realtors, lenders or other real estate professionals and brochures.
5. Administration – The consultant will be responsible for managing all aspects of the training program, including taking reservations for the classes, accepting payments, tracking attendance and communicating with participants both before, during and after classes.
6. Teaching – The consultant will have primary responsibility for teaching and managing the classroom education sessions.
7. Reporting and Compliance – The consultant will be responsible for collecting data about class participants and entering data in an online reporting system called CounselorMax. This data is used for reporting to two national data collection systems: NeighborWorks America and the S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
8. Tracking Successful Homebuyers – The consultant will monitor the success of class participants in buying homes and will obtain verification of purchase. This may be done through direct contact with homebuyers or through research of public records.  This information must be entered into the reporting databases.
9. Preparation of Class Materials – The consultant shall prepare PowerPoint presentations, classroom materials and course notebooks that are provided to the participants.
10. Coordination and Communication – The consultant will work independently but must coordinate activities with INHS Director of Homeownership.

Qualifications

1. Required: At least three years of experience working in a professional capacity in a for-profit or not-for-profit organization that is involved in real estate, housing development, lending or counseling services.
2. Required: At least two years of teaching experience in adult classroom education.
3. Desired: Specialized training in homebuyer education, homeownership counseling, fair housing, lending, real estate sales or similar fields related to homeownership.
4. Required: Must provide own transportation to classroom training sites.
5. Required: Must be able to successfully provide live online classes.

Compensation

The consultant will be compensated at an hourly rate agreed to by INHS and the consultant.  The consultant is responsible for all costs associated with travel and incidental business expenses.  Other expenses, such as the cost of advertising, printing, snacks, honorariums, etc. will be borne by INHS upon the submission of appropriate reimbursement documentation. The consultant will not be an employee of INHS and will be responsible for payments of personal taxes and related payroll expenditures.

Duration

The contract will cover a period of three years.  It may be renewed for additional one-year increments.

Submission of Proposals

Proposals shall be submitted in writing to

Delia Yarrow, Director of Homeownership
Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
115 West Clinton St.,
Ithaca, NY 14850

Or via email at dyarrow@ithacanhs.org.

All proposals must include the following:

1. Documentation of qualifications.
2. Estimates of hourly time involved in completing each of the tasks outlined above.
3. Hourly rate for compensation.