2024 DCF State Unified Contract Competition
Award Notification
The Florida State Office on Homelessness, through the Department of Children and Families (DCF), has made funds available under the Unified Homelessness Grant Program (Florida). Within this contract, applicants were given the opportunity to apply for Challenge Grant, Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Opening Doors Northwest Florida and staff, we are pleased to award direct service funds under the State Unified Homelessness Grant (See chart below). The award period is from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Through this RFP, Opening Doors NWFL non-profit partners will provide services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or those at risk of becoming homeless in the Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties in the State of Florida.
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
| Rank | Organization | Project Type | Score | $ Approved | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not Ranked | Opening Doors NWFL | Administration | Not Scored | $11,426.06 | Renewed |
| 1 | FavorHouse | Emergency Shelter | 95 | $45,886.93 | Accepted |
| 2 | Catholic Charities | Homeless Prevention | 80 | $101,336.77 | Renewed |
| 3 | Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola | Emergency Shelter | 71 | $31,078.40 | Accepted |
| 4 | Lutheran Services | Street Outreach | 70 | $21,339.58 | Accepted |
| 5 | Overflow | Rapid Rehousing | 67 | $45,943.53 | Accepted |
| 6 | Bright Bridge | Emergency Shelter | 60 | $26,137.50 | Renewed |
| 7 | E-Comfort | Street Outreach | 54 | --- | Not Accepted |
| 8 | New World Believers | Multiple | 35 | --- | Not Accepted |
| Total | $283,148.77 |
Challenge
| Rank | Organization | Project Type | Score | $ Approved | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FavorHouse | Housing, Program, and Service Needs | 93 | $106,834.80 | Accepted |
| 2 | Catholic Charities | Housing & Program Needs | 84 | $106,834.80 | Renewed |
| 3 | Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola | Housing Need | 76 | --- | Not Accepted |
| 4 | Bright Bridge | Housing Need | 57 | --- | Not Accepted |
| Not Ranked | Opening Doors NWFL | Program, and Service Needs | Not Scored | $150,000.00 | Accepted |
| Total | $366,669.60 |
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
| Rank | Organization | Project Type | Score | $ Approved | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not Ranked | Catholic Charities | Homeless Prevention | Not Scored | $36,893.19 | Renewed |
| Not Ranked | Opening Doors NWFL | Administration | Not Scored | $1,106.81 | Renewed |
| Total | $38,000.00 |
SPECIAL NOTICE
5/24/2024
Opening Doors has been informed by the Department of Children and Families that our community is tentatively set to receive new Challenge Grant funding. This funding has the potential to support 2-3 projects with up to $200,000 each. This is separate from the funding mentioned in the section below labeled FY 2024 Reallocation of DCF Funds.
The CoC intends to use this funding to develop emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, and rapid rehousing programs with supportive services.
Potential applicants should submit a letter of intent by the deadline of May 30th to be considered for any Challenge funding.
Opening Doors will provide further details on the actual award amount once we receive this information from DCF.
We apologize for the short notice.
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We thank you for your continued patience throughout the 2024 State Unified RFP submission process. We understand the importance of ensuring that your proposal is thoroughly prepared and comprehensive, and we want to provide you with adequate time to finalize all the necessary details.
Given the technical issues with the RFP Application, we are extending the submission deadline to Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 5:00 PM CST.
Completed Requests for Proposals and documentation must be submitted at https://forms.gle/hXJzx4ucNG5LSfyw5. We apologize for any setbacks and will continue to resolve technical issues as they arise. Given the current status, we do not anticipate further extending the deadline.
For applicants that have no yet started the State RFP submission process, we encourage you to begin this process as soon as possible to ensure that you can meet the new submission deadline. Last-minute submission attempts may result in delays and issues and the CoC Lead does not anticipate granting special extensions. Please ensure to allow yourself enough time to review and submit the application and address issues that arise.
Troubleshooting
If you are experiencing issues with the RFP Materials and Online Application:
1. Review the RFP Guide (“L. Submission Information” and “CoC Grant Preparation Checklist”) to identify materials and the submission process.
2. Notify the CoC’s Grant Liaison, Martika Baker, at martikab@openingdoorsnwfl.org or 850-466-5379.
FY 2024 Reallocation of DCF Funds
Challenge Grant / Emergency Solutions Grant
Opening Doors Northwest Florida will reallocate up to $ 55,834.80 in carryover Challenge Grant funds and $ 102,929.29 in carryover Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds. These funds will be provided for eligible activities identified in the 2024 Continuum of Care Plan. An informational session for interested organizations was held at Opening Doors NWFL, 1020 N. New Warrington Road, Pensacola, FL 32506 on April 19, 2024. Attendance at the informational session is not a requirement to receive funds.
The Request for Proposals period for FY 2024 reallocated Challenge and ESG funds opens Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
The required letter of intent deadline is Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 8 PM CST. Late letters of intent will not be accepted.
The deadline for proposals for FY 2024 reallocated Challenge and ESG funds is June 10, 2024, at 8 PM CST. Late proposals will not be accepted.
Challenge Grant Funding
Challenge funds are used locally to assist homeless individuals or households at risk of becoming homeless. The funds may be used to assist those clients defined as homeless and at imminent risk of homelessness by the 2023 Florida Statutes (24 CFR 578.3 “Homeless”). The grant intends to help implement the local homeless assistance plan and help the community reach the goals and objectives outlined in the CoC plan. Challenge Grant allowable activities include housing, program, and service projects.
Emergency Solutions Grant Funding
ESG funds provide funding to (1) engage homeless individuals and families living on the streets through outreach contacts; (2) improve the number and quality of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families and help operate these shelters; (3) provide essential services to shelter residents, (4) prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless, and (5) rapidly re-house literally homeless individuals and families. These funds may be used to assist program participants defined as homeless under the HEARTH Act of 2009 (24 CFR 578.3(1)(i-iii). Subrecipients awarded ESG funds in the CoC catchment area must adhere to the written standards established by the Continuum of Care for coordinated services in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.
CoC Membership
As CoC membership of your organization is required for participation, please click here to learn about CoC membership, if you're not already a member.
Become a MemberQ&A
Applicants shall submit all questions concerning the scope of services, eligibility and/or programmatic requirements of this funding opportunity in writing by email only to grants@openingdoorsnwfl.org no later than 72-hours prior to the RFP Submission Date. To ensure a fair and open process, all questions submitted and answers replied will be posted below.
Question 1
New Allocation or Reallocation
Wed, May 22, 2024 at 11:26 AM by Phone
Are the current Challenge funds in the RFP a part of the new allocation from DCF for the July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 fiscal year?
Answer
Wed, May 22, 2024 at 11:26 AM by Phone
No. These funds are reallocated from a current Challenge recipient from fiscal year July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024.
Question 2
New Letter of Intent
Wed, May 22, 2024 at 11:26 AM by Phone
Do applicants need to submit a new letter of intent if they already sent one before the release of the RFP?
Answer
Wed, May 22, 2024 at 11:26 AM by Phone
Yes. Applicants should send a new letter of intent before the new deadline to comply with the standards of the RFP.
Question 3
CoC Membership
Wed, May 29, 2024 at 3:10 PM by Phone
Please provide the details about joining the CoC Membership and upcoming meetings.
Answer
Wed, May 29, 2024 at 3:10 PM by Phone
We will put a link to the CoC Membership page on the competition page.
That link has been added here and above: https://openingdoorsnwfl.org/getinvolved/membership
2023's Question 1
Printable Application for Drafts
Fri, Apr 28, 2023 at 5:51 PM by Email
I was wondering if you have an electronic printable version of the application, so we can draft our responses before we put them into the system?
Answer
Mon, May 1, 2023, 10:51 AM by Email
A PDF version of the application has been added to the competition downloads list and can be found at https://openingdoorsnwfl.org/web/assets/download/2024-FL511-RFP-Application-For-Prep-Only-NOT-FOR-SUBMISSION.pdf
2023's Question 3
Character Limits
Wed, May 24, 2023 at 4:23 PM by Phone
Is there a character limit on the long paragraph answer questions in the Google Form application? The form told us in the short answer box that there was a character limit but I didn't know if it had one for the long answers.
Answer
Wed, May 24, 2023 at 4:23 PM by Phone
The long answer boxes do not have a character limit.
2023's Question 4
Key Staff
Thu, May 25, 2023 at 3:30 PM by Email
For this item – “Attach a list of key staff and job descriptions of persons who will be performing work for the grant program(s), if awarded.” – are you looking for a list/job descriptions of staff of members who will be administering the grant (such as myself) or are you looking for staff who will be working in the shelter? What if none of our employee salaries will be paid with these funds?
Answer
Tue, May 30, 2023 at 10:50 AM by Email
Great question! We are looking for job descriptions and a list of staff who will be administering the grant and working with eligible program participants at the shelter. If a staff position is being created and the staff member has not been selected, please speak to the position that will be created and what the job duties will be for this future staff member.