Posting Language
Title
Authorize a contract for design, implementation, administration, and management services of a family stabilization grant program for the Management Services Department with FII-National, for an initial term of one year with up to two one-year extension options, for a total contract amount not to exceed $3,900,000. Funding: $1,300,000 is available in the Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund.
Body
Lead Department
Financial Services Department.
Client Department(s)
Management Services.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $1,300,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund.
Purchasing Language:
Professional Service.
MBE/WBE:
This procurement was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this procurement, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department - Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500.
Additional Backup Information:
This contract will provide design, implementation, administration, and management of a family stabilization grant program for the Office of Equity and Inclusion. The Family Stabilization Grant Program builds upon the success of the Guaranteed Income Pilot completed in September 2023, as well as the current Family Stabilization Grant Program. In fiscal year 2023-2024, Council issued a budget amendment for $1.3 million to create the Family Stabilization Grant Program as an extension of the Guaranteed Income Pilot to address the urgent need to support low-income families amid Austin’s affordability crises. The program includes direct investment in families, the opportunity to strengthen the families’ social networks, strengthen the existing resources in the communities, and gather insight and data to assist with uplifting the families in the communities. This program also helps inform programmatic investments City-wide in alignment with the City’s strategic priorities.
FII-National is a national organization that invests in historically undervalued communities and amplifies their true lived experiences. They have the capacity to accomplish implementation quickly, while also having access to the communities of interest identified by the Office of Equity and Inclusion. This has been demonstrated through their previous partnership with the City as well as local philanthropic foundations such as St. David’s Foundation.
The recommended contractor is the current provider of these services. The requested authorization amount was determined based on the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund Appropriations.
If the City is unable to secure a contract, the City will not have a reliable source for the design, implementation, administration, and management of the Family Stabilization Grant Program, the gap in service could create an impact, and significant knowledge will be lost and substantial time and resources would be required to familiarize a new contractor.