Program Development, Management and Administrative Support Services

The City of New Haven is seeking proposals from one or more qualified professionals and/or firms with the capacity and capabilities to support the Economic Development Administration with program development, management, analysis and administrative support (the “Consultant(s)”). Through this solicitation, the City aims to build a technical team that can take a wide lens across various programs and enhance public services through improved alignment laterally across programs and consistently vertically through project implementation.

New Haven is both the regional center of Southern Connecticut and the home of an economy based in higher education, health care, life sciences, food services, manufacturing and innovation. In recent years, the City has led Connecticut in overall economic recovery and the development of new mixed-income housing with over 3,500 permits issued since 2020. There is a strong pipeline for future growth based on economic sectors of global significance and the City’s focus on a public infrastructure for economic development together with a citywide commitment to social and racial equity. In addition to traditional entitlement programs, the City is working toward implementation of $100+M in discretionary grants across major governing platforms. Some of the more notable initiatives at this time include,

o Affordable Housing (Citywide)

o Quantum & Life Sciences Innovation Cluster

o Downtown / Wooster Square

o Mill River: Imagine Next

o Long Wharf Responsible Growth Plan

o Downtown

o Neighborhood Commercial

o Armory Redevelopment

The selected Consultant(s) will be tasked to support one or more of these programs, specific projects within these programs or support other needs as may be necessary to maintain cadence, flow of work and gaps in internal technical experience.

SCOPE OF SERVICES: The City and selected Consultant shall develop a task-based scope of work along within the framework of the following scope of work,

1. On-Call Technical Assistance. Provide on-call technical assistance to support programs, developments and specific projects including grant applications, financial, technical and impact analysis. This work may include housing, real estate development and business development programs and related functions.
2. New Program Development. Assist the EDA with review and potential relaunch of specific projects, namely Façade Improvement Program, Leasehold Program, Commercial/Industrial Assistance Program, Small Business and Cultural Equity Plan.
3. LISHTA Program Assessment. Assist EDA with a more comprehensive review of the low-income housing tax program taking into consideration related City programs for assessment deferral and inclusionary zoning.
4. Development Project Assistance. Assist EDA with major development project reviews financial analysis and economic impact analysis including but not limited to major projects related to affordable housing, port area and economic development.
5. Grants / Subsidies. Assist the EDA with responsive and timely information, financial analyses and other due diligence as may be required to support the successful launch of new partnerships such as with the Connecticut Municipal Development Authority.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: For a consistent and timely review process, please follow Purchasing Department protocols and submit all materials and required forms via open.gov. Be sure to use current forms and template. Please organize the technical response in the following manner,

1. Cover Letter.
2. List of Personnel Available for this Project, including experience, credentials and hourly rates.
3. Work Experience, including detail of work performed and as available sample of program administered and sample of development project review together with fees associated with such work.

CITY REQUIRED FORMS: In addition to all required forms which need to be submitted as per this RFP at time of submission, emphasis is placed on disclosure as an ongoing matter. The City works with the federal and state government and any number of partners. Throughout the term, the Consultant(s) shall be required to maintain as current the City’s Disclosure form for transparency and disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. The City will consider conflict waivers on a case-by-case basis.

SELECTION PROCESS: The City shall establish a selection committee consisting of the Economic Development Administrator (or designee), the Director of Management and Budget (or designee) and additional city staff as may be needed to assist with the evaluation and selection process. The committee will use the following weighted score criteria,

• Quality of work as evidenced by written submissions, references and in-person interview (50%).
• Experience in urban development as evidenced by client listing, federal/state program understanding and understanding of needs and strategies as set forth in City’s Vision 2034 comprehensive plan and federal five-year Consolidated Plan (30%)
• Fees, based on sample work products relative to fees and hourly rates submitted (20%).

Depending on amount and term of agreement, Board of Alders approval may be required as per City Ordinance.