ORDINANCE approving and authorizing Various Vendor Agreements between City of Houston and 1) BAYTOWN MEALS ON WHEELS, 2) BAKERRIPLEY, 3) CITY OF JACINTO CITY, TEXAS, 4) CITY OF LA PORTE, 5) CITY OF SOUTH HOUSTON, TEXAS, 6) EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, 7) INTERFAITH MINISTRIES FOR GREATER HOUSTON, 8) NORTHWEST ASSISTANCE MINISTRIES, 9) THE SALVATION ARMY, 10) YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF HOUSTON, 11) BLACK EMERALD TRANSPORTATION, INC, and 12) GREATER HOUSTON TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, respectively, for Nutrition and Transportation Services to senior adults provided through the Harris County Area Agency on Aging of the Houston Health Department; providing maximum contract amounts - 1 Year with four one-year options - $55,407,437.00 - Grant and Health Special Revenue Fund

Request for Proposals Received on September 17, 2020 for S10-T29595 – Approve an ordinance awarding contracts to (1) City of Jacinto City, (2) City of La Porte, (3) City of South Houston, (4) Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, (5) Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center (6) BakerRipley, (7) The Salvation Army of Pasadena, (8) Baytown Meals on Wheels, (9) Black Emerald Transportation, Inc., (10) Northwest Assistance Ministries, (11) Youth Women’s Christian Association Houston, and (12) Greater Houston Transportation Company, respectively; providing a maximum contract amount not to exceed $55,407,437.00 for nutrition and transportation services for senior adults provided through the Harris County Area Agency on Aging for the Houston Health Department.

Specific Explanation:

The Director of Houston Health Department and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that City Council approve an ordinance awarding one-year contracts with four one-year options to twelve (12) contractors for a maximum amount of $55,407,437.00 for nutrition and transportation services to senior adults provided through the Harris County Area Agency on Aging for the Houston Health Department.

The scope of work requires contractors to provide all required supervision, labor, materials, tools, equipment, insurance, transportation and expenses necessary to provide hot or other appropriate congregate or home-delivered meals and transportation services to eligible clients (60 years of age or older) within eight (8) service areas of Harris County.  Contractors are to meet homebound eligibility criteria in accordance with 40 TAC 85.302, and shall meet the required assurances, licenses, certifications, and rate setting documents, as applicable.  In addition, Contractors shall conduct  assessments for home-delivered meals to participants, make home visits, document the intake information and on units of service provided to participants, develop policies regarding grievance and contribution procedures, conduct nutrition risk surveys, develop annual written plans for nutrition education to homebound participants, provide a nutrition outreach program, and conduct site management training.

Harris County Area Agency on Aging (HCAAA) administers this program designed to promote the development of a comprehensive and coordinated service delivery system to meet the needs of older individuals.  HCAAA also provides a mechanism for the creation of an individualized network of community resources accessible to a program in compliance with guiding policies of the Older Americans Act of 2965 (OAA),  Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), and the Area Agency on Aging access and assistance guidelines.

This project was advertised in accordance with the requirements of the State of Texas bid laws.  Twenty-eight prospective proposers downloaded the solicitation document from SPD’s e-bidding website, and as a result, proposals were received from Royal Carriages Limousine, Inc., City of Jacinto City, City of La Porte, City of South Houston, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, BakerRipley, The Salvation Army of Pasadena, Baytown Meals on Wheels, Black Emerald Transportation, Inc., Northwest Assistance Ministries, Youth Women’s Christian Association Houston, and Greater Houston Transportation Company.  The evaluation committee was comprised of two evaluators from Houston Public Works and three evaluators from Houston Health Department.  The proposals were evaluated based upon the following criteria:

Technical Capability:

•     Program Design & Delivery
•     Financial Stability
•     Evaluation & Quality Management
•     Technical Requirements & Compliance
•     Collaborative Initiatives & Relationships
•     Executive Summary
•     Legal Judgements
•     Price: (Reasonableness of Budget Proposal)

City of Jacinto City, City of La Porte, City of South Houston, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, BakerRipley, The Salvation Army of Pasadena, Baytown Meals on Wheels, Black Emerald Transportation, Inc., Northwest Assistance Ministries, Youth Women’s Christian Association Houston, and Greater Houston Transportation Company all were deemed highly qualified and meeting all requirements.  However, Royal Carriages Limousine, Inc. was deemed as “non-responsive” for failing to submit the required “Offer & Submittal Letter” and technical requirements (specifications).

 M/WBE Participation:

M/WBE participation zero-percentage goal document approved by the Office of Business Opportunity.

Pay or Play Program:

The proposed contract requires compliance with the City’s ‘Pay or Play’ ordinance regarding health benefits for employees of City contractors.  In this case, BakerRipley, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, Northwest Assistance Ministries, City of South Houston, City of Jacinto City, Greater Houston Transportation Company, The Salvation Army of Pasadena, and City of La Porte will all provide health benefits to eligible employees in compliance with City policy, and that Baytown Meals on Wheels and Black Emerald Transportation, Inc. have both elected to pay into the Contractor Responsibility Fund in compliance with City policy.  Youth Women’s Christian Association Houston has elected to provide benefits for some employees but will pay into the Contractor Responsibility Fund for others, in compliance with City policy.

Hire Houston First:

The proposed contract requires compliance with the City’s ‘Hire Houston First’ ordinance that promotes economic opportunity for Houston businesses, while supporting job creation.  In this case, BakerRipley, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, Northwest Assistance Ministries, Youth Women’s Christian Association Houston, Greater Houston Transportation Company, Baytown Meals on Wheels, Black Emerald Transportation, Inc. are all designated HHF companies, but  were successful awardees without application of the HHF preference, and that The Salvation Army of Pasadena did not meet the requirements of Hire Houston First, and no local firms were within three percent of the proposed contract fee.  City of Jacinto City, City of La Porte, and City of South Houston are all municipalities within Harris County.

Fiscal Note:

Funding for this item is included in the FY2022 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in Financial Policies.

$54,357,437.00

Federal State Local, Pass Through Fund

Fund No. 5030

$1,050,000.00

Health Special Revenue Fund

Fund No. 2002

$55,407,437.00 - Total