Relocation Counseling Services Panel – Blue Buffers Program

The Center for NYC Neighborhoods is seeking qualified organizations and professionals to join a non-exclusive roster (the "Panel") to provide relocation counseling and housing navigation services. These services support property owners and tenants who must relocate as part of a voluntary buyout program funded by the New York State Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 Key responsibilities for Panel providers include: Intake and Needs Assessment: Evaluating household composition, affordability, accessibility, and specific risk factors. Housing Search and Navigation: Identifying viable replacement housing and coordinating with landlords, brokers, and housing authorities. Application Support: Assisting households with rental applications and documentation. Case Coordination: Developing housing plans aligned with relocation deadlines and providing warm handoffs to supportive services (e.g., legal aid or disability services) where necessary. Documentation: Providing milestone reporting and case closure documentation (e.g., executed leases). Eligibility and Qualification Requirements Respondents must demonstrate their capability through the following criteria: Experience: Proven track record in housing navigation, relocation counseling, and successful placements. Market Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of local housing markets and existing relationships with housing providers in the regions they propose to serve. Target Populations: The ability to effectively serve the targeted populations of the program. Operational Capacity: Adequate staffing, supervision models, and a robust language access plan. Compliance Readiness: Preparation to meet bond-funded documentation, privacy, audit, and insurance requirements. Specific Regions: Respondents must identify the counties they serve, with immediate needs noted in Suffolk and Broome counties. Business enterprises awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years: None Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) This opportunity is reserved for SDVOBs only. SDVOB Goal: 6.00% Minority / Women Business Enterprise contracting goals (MWBE) MBE Goal: 15.00% WBE Goal: 15.00% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise contracting goals (DBE) DBE Goal: 6.00%