RFP Emergency Solutions Grant Rapid Re-Housing and Homeless Prevention

Question:

Does this RFP includes HMIS Project funding or is specified for only RRH and HP?

Answer:

Yes, HMIS data collection is an ESG requirement therefore it is an allowable expense for the program.

Question:

Once in the past, we have received a letter form MFA stating they have received and approved our agency audit.  However, I do not see one for our most recent audit.  How can we obtain this from MFA?  Will these be sent out to current funded agencies to reduce application size and burden?

Answer:

If the current audit for your agency has already been approved by MFA, it is acceptable to send that notification in place of the audit.  Please contact Bonny Wells at 505.767.2218 if you need a copy.

Question:

For currently funded agencies of RAP CARES Act Funds, with a period ending 9/22, will they have these funds plus newly awarded funds or will balances be taken into account?  For example, will grantees need to spend current funds prior to working through funds expiring 9/22? 

Will any of those funds carry over or newly awarded agencies relinquish those funds to start this grant on the July 1st start date?

Answer:

CARES money expires on 9/30/2022 therefore no funds will be carried over unless HUD chooses to extend the grant period.  The grant for this RFP is an annual formula grant.  If a subrecipient has both grants, we would recommend spending down the one that expires first, keeping in mind that each grant may have slightly different eligibility requirements & regulations due to waivers granted by HUD.

Question:

I am having a hard time locating Section 1 2.3 that is referenced in Exhibit A and page 11.  Is this supposed to be section 1, 5?  Just want to ensure something is not missed.

Answer:

We apologize for the oversight.  A list of forms can be found in Section 29, page 17 of the RFP or on the RFP Checklist, Exhibit A.

Question:

I would like to apply, am I still eligible to apply? We can review video and move forward? 

Answer:

Yes, the RFP application submission deadline is March 21, 2022. Also, you can view the RFP training on MFA's website in the RFP section.

Question:

Exhibit A requests recent monitoring reports.  Do you also want monitoring reports from MFA or only external monitoring reports?

Answer:

You do not need to provide monitoring results letters from MFA.

Question: 

Exhibit C has only the available lines to write the responses and is not allowing for expansion of those lines.  Trying to determine if MFA limited these to obtain concise answers.  We do not want to lose points trying to limit our answers if MFA is unaware that the form will not allow additional text.  Does MFA only want the amount available on the forms used?

Answer:

Offerors may attach a separate sheet if they would like to include more information on a particular question.  There is not limit on the response.

Questions:

I was unable to attend the March 1 webinar, but viewed it online yesterday (March 16).  How can I documentation or credit for doing so for our application?

Answer:

In the RFP Documents section on MFA's website, housingnm.org, there is a link called "RFP Forms".  On p. 17 there is an RFP Training Webinar Affidavit, Schedule K, that you can complete and submit with the RFP.

Question:

How much funding is each applicant eligible for? What is the anticipated average award size?

Answer:

Awards are based on the RFP score, the counties that are awarded to each successful Offeror, and the poverty rate for those counties.  Awards can vary greatly depending on how many Offerors are awarded funding and the amount of funding available.  New subrecipients to the program will be capped at two counties for the first two years.  We expect that the program will be funded at approximately $1.7 million for 2022/2023.