Label
Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program
Dept. of Neighborhoods
Clemens (x3647)
Title
Waiving the competitive bidding requirements of TMC Chapter 187; authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement(s) with Benevate, Inc. dba Neighborly Software for the development of an online portal(s) for rental and mortgage assistance program; and declaring an emergency
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
This ordinance requests authorization to waive the competitive procurement requirements of TMC Chapter 187 in order to begin immediately developing and implementing a portal(s) for the rental and mortgage assistance program through the Department of Neighborhoods.
Benevate Inc. is the producer and sole source vendor of Neighborly Software’s Housing, Economic and Community Development hosted software platforms. Benevate Inc. has experience developing and customizing online participant platforms for beneficiaries and subrecipients. Their online platforms allow for the efficient intake, review, funding and administration of federally assisted housing and community development programs. These online platforms are tailored to meet eligibility and compliance requirements of federal funding, allow for assigning of internal and external reviewers to score and make funding decisions, incorporate automated email and letter response features, provide reporting and mapping of program beneficiaries, contain multiple language features; and can be accessed via smart phone, tablet or a computer. Benevate Inc. is committed to expediting the customization of an online portal for the pending Emergency Mortgage Assistance program (Round 2) funded with CDBG-COVID 2 and pending Emergency Rental Assistance program funded with Treasury Stimulus funding. Contracting with Benevate will allow the City and partners to launch both programs no later than March 2021.
The fiscal impact of this ordinance is as follows:
- The total amount of funds requested: $0
- The expenditure budget line item: n/a
- New revenue generated (operational revenue, grants, if any):n/a
- Are funds budgeted in the current fiscal year (yes/no)? n/a
- Is this a capital project (yes/no)? no
- If yes, is it new or existing (new/existing)? new
- What section of the City’s Strategic Plan does this support?
o Excellence in Basic Services (yes/no): yes
o Quality Community Investment (Livable City, Development) (yes/no): yes
o Workplace Culture & Customer Service (yes/no): no
o Environment (yes/no): no
Summary
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That subject to approved appropriations the mayor is authorized to enter into an agreement(s) with an amount not to exceed $30,000 for development of the emergency mortgage assistance portal and $113,000 for development of the emergency rental assistance portal.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds and determines it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding requirements of TMC Chapter 187 for the reason that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused housing instability for many Toledo residents and time is of the essence to structure efficient and accessible programs for mortgage and rental assistance.
SECTION 3. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency and shall be in force and effect from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that this ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property of the city and for the further reason that this ordinance must be immediately effective in order to launch this portal(s) to assist with the administration of the CDBG-COVID 2 and Treasury Stimulus funds for emergency mortgage and assistance.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas _____, nays _____.
Passed: _________________, as an emergency measure: yeas _____, nays _____.
Attest: ________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: _____________________ __________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance passed by Council ________________________.
Attest: ________________________
Clerk of Council