Label
Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program
Dept. of Housing and Community Development
Clemens (x3647)
Title
Extending the waiver of the competitive bidding requirements of TMC Chapter 187; authorizing the Mayor to enter into an extended agreement(s) with Benevate, Inc. dba Neighborly Software for the continued operation and development of an online portal(s) for rental and mortgage assistance program; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
This ordinance requests to extend the authorization to waive the competitive procurement requirements of TMC Chapter 187 as initially authorized by Ordinance 114-21 in order to continue the use of a portal(s) for the emergency rental and mortgage assistance programs through the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Benevate Inc. is the producer and sole source vendor of Neighborly Software’s Housing, Economic and Community Development hosted software platforms. 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.
The City entered into an agreement with Benevate, Inc. on April 14, 2021, for the purpose of developing and implementing a customized online application and program administration portal for City of Toledo Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (EMAP), funded with CDBG-CV2, and the Toledo Lucas County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (TLCERAP), funded with U.S. Department of Treasury Stimulus funding.
The Department of Housing and Community Development is satisfied with the platform and its ability to efficiently streamline the application process and award of assistance to eligible beneficiaries.
Continuing to contract with Benevate, Inc. will allow the City and its partners to continue the administration of both programs without interruption through the period of performance for each program.
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 annual agreement(s) with an amount not to exceed $75,000 for continued service, operation, and development of the emergency mortgage assistance portal and emergency rental assistance portal for a period not to exceed three (3) years.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds and determines it is in the best interest of the City to extend the waiver of 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 the efficient and accessible application and administration of the mortgage and rental assistance programs.
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 maintain the current operation and administration of this portal(s) to assist with the administration of the CDBG-CV2 and U.S. Department of Treasury Stimulus funds for emergency mortgage and rental 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