The City of Fremont will award approximately $979,000 in Social Service Grant Funds and $100,000 in Opioid Settlement Funds to non-profit organizations in FY 2022-2025 (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025). The grants are awarded on a three-year funding cycle. Agencies funded through this Request for Proposals (RFP) process will receive funding for FY 2025-2026. These agencies will also receive funding in FY 2026-2027 and FY 2027-2028, pending availability of funds, satisfactory mid-year evaluations, Senior Citizen Commission (SCC) or Human Relations Commission (HRC) recommendations, and City Council approval.

FY 25-26 FUNDING BREAKDOWN

The City of Fremont supports social services designed to foster the independence of service recipients/clients and prevent the need for services in the future. It also supports organizations that assist persons in crisis and those who lack the basic necessities of life. This support is reflected in the Scope of Services matrix below. Each category represents a service the City has recognized as a priority for funding.

SOCIAL SERVICE GRANT FUNDS

Note: The service types shown under each category are only examples and are not exclusive or limiting.

OPIOID SETTLEMENT GRANT FUNDS

Note: The service types shown under each category are only examples and are not exclusive or limiting.

SECTION 1:  FUND CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA

1. Human Service Grant Category

The Human Relations Commission (HRC) is a City Council-appointed advisory body charged with promoting the creation of a community environment in which all men, women, and children, regardless of race, religion, national origin, sex, or disability, may live, learn, work, and play in harmony and community.

One facet of the HRC's role is to encourage the coordination of and advocate for human services and work to improve the quality and availability of those services. The Commission is responsible for reviewing and recommending grant funding for Human Service Grant proposals to the Fremont City Council. 

Target Population

Human Service grants are targeted to children, youth, and adults who may benefit from the services offered. Examples of Human Service grants include but are not limited to, childcare, education and training, programs for the homeless and hungry, childcare for persons with disabilities, programs for abused children and adults, and programs for persons with behavioral healthcare needs and/or to address the impact of Opioids on the community.

Criteria

For FY 25-28, the HRC has determined that the following criteria will be used to evaluate funding proposals:  

1. The agency program will produce outcomes that meet a priority community need
2. The agency demonstrates effective service and management capability
3. The agency or parent organization demonstrates good fiscal strength
4. The agency successfully leverages City funding to bring funding to Fremont
5. The agency or program has a substantial presence in the Fremont community
6. The agency has local support and community ownership
7. Agency collaborates with the City and other social service agencies to improve service delivery

B. Opioid Impact Grant Category

The City is a recipient of national Opioid Settlement funding. The purpose of this funding is to (1) address the misuse and abuse of opioid products, (2) treat or mitigate opioid use or related disorders, or (3) mitigate other alleged effects of, including on those injured because of, the opioid crisis. To ensure the funding has a broad reach into the community and expands local capacity to address the impact of Opioids on the community, a new Human Services grant category is being established.

Target Population

Opioid Impact grants are targeted to persons 11 years and older who may benefit from the services.

Program Examples

Opioid Impact services include but are not limited to expanding substance use disorder (SUD) and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Distribution and Other Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Treatment and Recovery services; purchasing and distribution efforts to expand access to naloxone for opioid overdose reversals; intervention strategies to prevent drug addiction in vulnerable populations; training and resources for first and early responders and drug disposal programs; media/public awareness campaigns to raise awareness and prevent opioid use; training for medical providers to prevent over-prescribing and dispensing; and leadership, planning, coordination, and data sharing mechanisms to track and share trends and how funding is being spent.

 C. Senior Service Grant Category

The Senior Citizens Commission (SCC) is a City Council-appointed advisory body charged with promoting the creation of a social environment in which all senior citizens can live independent, healthful, and productive lives. The SCC reviews and recommends grant funding for Senior Service Grant proposals to the Fremont City Council.  

Target Population

Senior Service grants are targeted to persons 55 years of age and older who may benefit from the services. Examples of Senior Service grants include but are not limited to, meal delivery to homebound seniors, respite and daycare services, and health services.

Criteria

For FY 25-28, the SCC has determined that the following criteria will be used to evaluate funding proposals:

1. The agency program will produce outcomes that promote or maintain senior independence
2. The agency demonstrates effective service and management capability
3. The agency or parent organization demonstrates good fiscal strength
4. The agency successfully leverages City funding to bring funding to Fremont
5. The agency or program has a substantial presence in the Fremont community
6. The agency has local support and community ownership
7. Agency collaborates with the City and other social service agencies to improve service delivery

SECTION 2:  GRANT PROVISIONS 

A. Grant Awards Amounts

Staff estimates that approximately $1,079,000 in Social Service funds will be available in FY 25-26. Monies are made available from the City's General Fund, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Opioid Settlement funds. Approximately $950,000 will be available for Human Service Grants, and approximately $126,000 will be available for Senior Service Grants. Because of the uncertainty in Federal, State, and City budgets, these estimates may change. The minimum grant amount that agencies may apply for is $25,000. Grant awards for FY 24-25 Human Services grants ranged from $13,025 to $162,806, with an average award of approximately $50,160. Grant awards for FY 24-25 Senior Service grants ranged from $25,089 to $62,593, with an average award of approximately $42,267.

Applicants may apply for multiple grants.

B. Applicant Eligibility

Grants will be awarded to public entities such as county departments or organizations that qualify for tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or to secular service programs or ministries that are covered by the insurance of a tax-exempt non-profit religious organization. 

C. Shelter Requirementstax-exempt Providers Requirements

Shelter providers who are approved for funding under this RFP will be required to comply with the Alameda County Emergency Shelter Standards for Year-Round Shelters adopted in July 2017. All shelter providers are strongly encouraged to apply for CDBG funding to address any deficiencies their facility may have in complying with the Standards.

Shelters will also be required to participate in the County-wide Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) developed by the Continuum of Care Council for the Coordinated Entry System.

Domestic violence shelters are excluded from these requirements.

Substance Use (Opioid) Treatment Providers who are approved for funding under the Opioid Settlement funding will be required to comply with federal and state statutes, regulations, and guidelines for Opioid treatment and/or substance use disorder treatment. 

D. Audit and Internal Control Questionnaire Requirement

Agencies that receive City funds totaling $25,000 must submit an annual audit to the City on a yearly basis. IRS rules also require any agency receiving more than $750,000 in Federal funds from any combination of sources to submit to special audit requirements. If additional expenses are incurred related to audit requirements, the contractor may charge some or all of those expenses to the grant. Agencies that receive less than $25,000 in funding from the City of Fremont are required to submit an Internal Control Questionnaire detailing agency financial accountability systems on a yearly basis. In cases where an agency receives less than $25,000 in City funding but must submit to audit requirements from another funding source, an audit will be accepted in place of the Internal Control Questionnaire.

E. Insurance Requirement

Funded agencies must submit current Certificates of General Liability Insurance ($2,000,000 single limit) with the City of Fremont named as an additional insured. Agencies must also submit automobile insurance (single limit of $1,000,000) and current Worker's Compensation insurance. Agencies providing professional legal or counseling services as part of their service delivery must also submit proof of Professional Liability Insurance.

F.  Reporting Requirements

The Successful agency will be required to submit monthly or quarterly client and service information, including:

1. Number of clients served
2. Detailed client racial and ethnic information
3. Detailed client household income information based on HUD income levels of 30%, 50%, and 80% Annual Median Income.
4. Client female head of household information
5. For Opioid grants, the reach of public awareness/media campaigns
6. For Opioid grants, number of Naloxone kits purchased/distributed

G. Contract Dates

Subject to City Council approval, contracts will be funded beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2028. Contract extensions for each of the two subsequent years may be authorized by the City Council based on satisfactory performance and fund availability.

H. Contract Monitoring and Evaluation

Fully executed contracts will be monitored by the City of Fremont to ensure compliance. Funded agencies will be required to submit fiscal and program reports, along with minutes of agency board meetings.

SECTION 3:  RFP AVAILABILITY AND SELECTION PROCESS

A. RFP Availability

Request for Proposal materials will be available on ZoomGrants at https://www.fremont.gov/257/Social-Services-Grant-Program starting Friday, November 1, 2024.

While the City will make every reasonable effort to inform the community of this RFP, the City assumes no responsibility for failure to inform all interested parties of its availability. The City reserves the right to reject non-responsive proposals. This RFP is a solicitation of proposals only; no offer of contract is implied. Costs incurred by the respondent in the preparation and completion of this RFP are not the City's responsibility and may not be reimbursed through grant funds.

B.     Social Service Grant Program RFP Overview

Wednesday, November 6, 2024, the City of Fremont will hold an RFP Overview Webinar for all agencies and interested parties via Zoom. City Staff will review the RFP, the proposal timeline, criteria used to evaluate proposals and answer questions. Please RSVP for the Overview by Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. to Noelle Tolentino at ntolentino@fremont.gov. The Zoom link will be provided to agencies that RSVP for the Overview. The Overview is not mandatory.

RFP Overview Webinar:       

Date:               Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Time:               6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

C. Proposal Submission

1. Agencies should submit the Mandatory pre-application via ZoomGrants by Friday, November 29, 2024 (5:00 p.m. PST).
2.  Agencies must submit completed proposals via ZoomGrants by Friday, December 13, 2024 (5:00 p.m. PST). Proposals must include complete and accurate responses to all sections. No changes or additions will be accepted after the submission deadline. No faxes or emails will be accepted. Proposals may not be submitted without a pre-application.

D.  Proposal Review

The Human Relations Commission and the Senior Citizen Commission will review proposals in December 2024 and January 2025. After review of the proposals, Commissioners and Staff may develop questions for the applicant. Agencies should expect to receive questions by Friday, February 21, 2025. The City of Fremont must receive responses to questions via ZoomGrants by Monday, March 3, 2025. Responses to questions will be evaluated as part of the selection process. Applicants will be informed if there are any date changes.

E.     Proposal Interviews

Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the second and third weeks of March 2025. Applicants will be scheduled for an interview (in person) to be conducted by one of the Commissions or both if applying for funding from both the HRC and SCC. Interviews are limited to the author(s) of the proposal, with no more than three people from the proposal applicant agency participating.

F. Site visits

All applicants will participate in a site visit (virtual or in person) in years one and two of the three-year cycle. For currently funded agencies, the site visit will be part of the mid-year evaluation process. The site visits will take place from mid-February to early April.

G.  Commission Recommendations

Each Commissioner will independently evaluate and score the proposal using the attached rating criteria. Rating scores are guidelines for Commissioners to use. They will not, on their own, determine which agencies the Commissions will recommend for funding to the City Council. The appropriate Commission will also consider the breadth and diversity of services that the entire group of recommended projects will provide.  

• The Human Relations Commission is scheduled to finalize its recommendations on Monday, April 21, 2025.
• The Senior Commission is scheduled to finalize its recommendations on Friday, April 25, 2025.

H. City Council Funding Decision

The City Council is scheduled to review these recommendations and make its final funding decisions in May 2025.