June 24, 2025
Community Development
DATE: June 24, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
Jesus M. Morales, Housing Manager
Subject: On-Call Vendor List for Services in Support of Unhoused Richmond Residents
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The on-call services will be mostly funded through the City’s ~$9.33 million Encampment Resolution Fund
Round 3 grant (ERF–3R) and/or the Housing Division’s
Unhoused Interventions budget allocation. Approval of
the On-Call Vendor List will not result in an additional appropriation of funds. Payment resources will be
identified prior to engaging any on-call vendor. Each
vendor contract will be for one year with an optional one- year extension. The payment limit shall not exceed
$3,000,000 per vendor.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Community Development is requesting authorization to
establish an On-call Vendor List for Services in Support of Unhoused Richmond Residents to expedite the
contracting of as-needed services for eligible ERF-3R
and citywide homeless services. The on-call list would
authorize Community Development to enter into service
contracts with listed vendors to provide as-needed
services in support of unhoused Richmond residents,
thereby saving time and costs associated with issuing
individual Requests For Proposals (RFPs) to select by
project service providers.
AGENDA
REPORT
June 24, 2025
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution approving eight (8) vendors to
provide on-call homeless services, on an as needed
basis, for an amount not to exceed $3,000,000 per
vendor, for a term beginning July 1, 2025, to June 30,
2026, with an additional one-year optional extension -
Community Development Department (Lina Velasco/
Jesus M. Morales 510-620-6649).
DISCUSSION:
On March 12, 2025, the Community Development Department issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for on-call Services in Support of Unhoused Richmond Residents.
The RFQ was issued via the City’s BidsOnline System, and 1,338 vendors were notified (see BidsOnline Report in Attachment 2). Of the vendors that were notified, 33 vendors downloaded the RFQ, and nine (9) vendors responded to the RFQ by submitting their Qualifications. Eight (8) of the nine (9) vendors who submitted qualifications are recommended for the on-call list (Attachment 1).
These vendors are:
1. Beautiful Gate
2. HTA
3. FS Global
4. GRIP
5. RCF Connects
6. Richmond Labor of Love
7. Hope Solutions
8. Safe Organized Spaces (SOS) Richmond
Qualifications were rated based on the vendor’s technical qualifications and experience, qualifications and experience of key personnel and sub-consultants, service/project approach and understanding, and fees for each of the Service Categories they would provide (Attachment 2). One vendor was disqualified due to their submittal lacking information regarding cost of services specific to their proposed service proposal specified in their qualification packet. Community Development anticipates issuing the RFQ again in 6 months to continue to build the list of qualified vendors
RFQ-Services Areas
The RFQ had seven (7) service categories that respondents could submit qualifications for. All recommended vendors responding to the RFQ were determined qualified to provide the specific service category specified in their qualification packet .
The service categories and the vendors that are qualified to provide that Servic e Category are as follows:
June 24, 2025
Service Category 1 – Operation and Management of Emergency Intervention Shelter
1. FS Global
2. Safe Organized Spaces (SOS) Richmond
3. GRIP
Service Category 2 - Storage for Encampment Residents
1. FS Global
Service Category 3 - Employment Programs
1. Safe Organized Spaces (SOS) Richmond
Service Category 4 - Hygiene Interventions
1. Safe Organized Spaces (SOS) Richmond
Service Category 5 - Training, Technical Assistance, Individuation and Program Development
1. HTA Consulting
Service Category 6 - Street Outreach
1. Safe Organized Spaces (SOS) Richmond
Service Category 7 - General Homeless Services
1. Beautiful Gate
2. RCF Connects
3. Richmond Labor of Love
4. Hope Solutions
5. Safe Organized Spaces (SOS) Richmond
The resolution, if adopted, would authorize Community Development to execute service contracts with any of the vendors on the on-call list to provide as-needed services for an amount not to exceed $3,000,000, over a one-year period, with an additional one-year option to extend term. Vendors on the on-call list will be selected to perform specific project-related work based on their service category and availability. On-call service contracts will allow the City to provide as needed services in support of unhoused Richmond residents in an efficient and timely manner and meet the ERF–3 grant contract obligation and expenditure deadlines. These contracts will reduce staff costs by eliminating the three to four-month process required to select homeless service providers on a project-by-project basis. No work is guaranteed to be provided by the City to any vendor listed on the on-call list. The on-call list also recognizes the urgency in getting services secured timely when determined needed.
June 24, 2025
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
On May 23, 2023, the City Council adopted the Homelessness Strategic Plan to provide short-term and long-term steps to address homelessness. Approval of the on-call list and authorization to enter contract with these vendors for as-needed services is aligned with the below short term and immediate action steps within the Strategic Plan:
Short-term Action Step 1.1 and 1.4: Expand case management and other care-related individualized services directly in encampments to build connections for unsheltered individuals to have access to an expanded array of opportunities and resources for personal development, wellness and health, and financial means to secure and sustain housing, and ongoing support for long-term stabilization.
Short-term Action Step 4.1: Expand workforce development services and employment focused case management that prioritizes employment of unhoused individuals
Short-term Action Step 5.2 and Priority Action Step 6 - Strengthen collaboration between the City, County and community-based organizations to improve data collection, implement this Strategic Plan, provide services in the city, and apply for funding opportunities. The dedicated City staff person would determine frequency and format of interagency collaboration, which could include systems level partner meetings, a local data workgroup, or direct service coordination.
CONCLUSION:
City staff recommend the City Council adopt the resolution authorizing on-call Services in Support of Unhoused Richmond Residents contracts with eight (8) vendors for as- needed homeless services, in an amount not to exceed $3,000,000 per vendor, for a term beginning July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with an additional one-year option to extend the term (Attachment 3).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – BidsOnline Report
Attachment 2 – Rating Matrix
Attachment 3 – Resolution Authorizing On-Call Vendors In Support of Unhoused Richmond Residents