[Notice issued 12/8/17; Answers to Questions posted 12/27/17]
The Alabama Department of Insurance (DOI) hereby gives notice of the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for qualified respondents to provide the DOI with the following professional fundraising services for the Strengthen Alabama Homes Program.
Contracts are contemplated to be awarded for the two-year of period May 1, 2018, through April 30, 2020. Responses to the RFP must be received not later than January 12, 2018, at 3:00 PM CST. Each response must include one original unredacted response in binder form plus three (3) identical electronic versions in PDF format on Compact Disc (CD or DVD) or USB drive.
The RFP is listed in the State of Alabama Accounting and Resource System or STAARS. More information is available about STAARS at the following address: http://vendors.alabama.gov/. Access the STAARS Vendor Self Service portal at the following address: https://procurement.staars.alabama.gov/webapp/PRDVSS1X1/AltSelfService
A copy of the RFP is also available by clicking here: http://www.aldoi.gov/PDF/Legal/SAH-2018-001.pdf.
State law requires a Disclosure Statement to be submitted with every proposal. The form can be accessed from the Attorney General’s Web site at the following address: http://www.ago.alabama.gov/Documents/File-AL-Vendor-Disclosure-Statement.pdf.
For the procedures and forms for foreign corporations to qualify to do business in the State of Alabama, please visit the web page for the Alabama Secretary of State at the following address: http://sos.alabama.gov.
REVISIONS TO THIS NEWS RELEASE AND RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS WILL BE POSTED BELOW:
1. Can we schedule aconference call to review these questions, sayon Thursday, Dec. 21st?
Answer: No, there is not time to organize a conference call with all potential respondents.
2. Under “Purpose and Scope,” what is meant by “communications groups?”
Answer: This would be industry groupsthat could serve as “amplifiers” to help us getthe Strengthen Alabama Homes Fund raisingmessaging out to a broader audience ofpotential donors.
3. For purposes of developing the campaign target fund raise, please clarify how many applications are pending in the backlog?
Answer: There are currently approximately 5,000 active applications that have been processed that are awaiting funding. There are approximately 4,000 additional applications expressing interest in obtaining a grant, but no action has yet been taken to qualify these applications due to lack of funding.
4. Processing capabilities: If additional funding is secured (say $20m) what is the maximum feasible increase in SAH’s capability to process more homes eachyear? Will they be able to process2-3000home retrofits per year, assuming no funding constraint?
Answer: Yes, existing staff is capable of processing approximately 2,500 applications a year. If additional funding became available, we could add staff to accommodate the workload.
5. (a) For purposes of assessing the financial needover the next 2-3 years, what does SAH anticipate as the number of applicants per year over the next three (3)?
Answer: Assuming funding is available, in the next year SAH would like to issue grants to the 5,000 active applications and at least 1,500 of the 4,000 unprocessed applications. SAH could then accept applications in years 2 and 3 that match the funding capacity.
(b) Does SAHplan to keep themoratorium in existence on any new applicants until SAH processes/retrofits all of the currentbacklog?
Answer: Yes, but SAH would be able to lift the moratorium within 1 year if sufficient funding is available. However, if donations are received that are targeted to specific homeowners (e.g. employees of a donor employer), the moratorium would be lifted for those specific potential applicants.
6. How long willALDOI hold off expanding the SAH program to other counties beyond Mobile and Baldwin?
Answer: SAH will focus giving grants only to Mobile and Baldwin Counties for the foreseeable future with respect to undesignated funds. However, if donations are made that are specifically designated for homes in other counties (e.g. employees of a donor employer), applications for those targeted homeowners would be accepted.
- Section 6. RFP Questions and Responses mentions that the DOI will post its responses on the DOI website as an amendment to the RFP posting. Will the posting identify all the questions received?
Answer: Yes, although similar questions may be combined.
- Section 6. RFP Questions and Responses mentions that the DOI will post its responses on the DOI website as an amendment to the RFP posting. Will the posting identify the names of the respondents providing questions on the RFP?
Answer: No.
- Section 7.12 Delivery format. Refers to the submission of one original unredacted response in binder form plus three (3) identical electronic versions in PDF format on Compact Disc (CD or DVD) or USB drive. For the electronic versions are you requesting three Compact discs or USB drives? Or three identical electronic versions (files) on one Compact disk or USB drive?
Answer: We request three separate disks or drives, which will be distributed to the members of the Scoring Committee for review of the proposals.
10. Section 7.4 refers to “examination services”, would you please clarify withinthe context of this RFP?
Answer: This is a typographical error and should be a reference to “fundraising” services.
11. Is there an existing strategic plan for the long-term goals and vision of Strengthen Alabama Homes that we could review? If not, is creating a strategic plan assumed to be part of the consultant’s pre-campaign work?
Answer: Over the next 20 years SAH would like to provide grants to fortify at least 50,000 homes in Mobile/Baldwin Counties, averaging approximately 2,500 homes per year at a minimum. The consultant will need to develop a plan to raise funding to achieve that goal.
12. Will a nonprofit foundation or other entity be formed to receive charitable contributions, or is there an existing nonprofit partner that will serve as a recipient and/or granting agent?
Answer: No. We have determined that donations to the DOI, as a state agency, are tax deductible, and therefore formation of a non-profit is not necessary for receiving donations. The DOI will provide sufficient documentation to donors confirming receipt of their donations.
13. What volunteer leaders (e.g., board members, advisory council, etc.) are currently associated with Strengthen Alabama Homes? What are their roles?
Answer: There are currently no volunteers involved; only DOI staff is involved as of now.
14. Does Strengthen Alabama Homes have staff in place, or a plan for future staff to serve in a fundraising capacity?
Answer: SAH currently has 6 staff members. All SAH staff must devote all or a vast majority of their time to grant-making. The SAH Director would be available occasionally to assist in fundraising activity (e.g. presentations to potential donors) as a technical expert in mitigation and the grant program details.
15. (a) What is the total anticipated need for funding to sustain/complete the goals of Strengthen Alabama Homes?
Answer: $500 million would be needed over the next 20 years to mitigate 50,000 homes, or about $20M annually over-and-above the $5M annually that the DOI will fund.
(b) Are the funds envisioned to be spent on a current-use basis or held in an endowment?
Answer: Funds would be spent as received to the extent staff has the capacity to process the grant applications.
16. Has the program received any private funding to date and/or are there any established corporate partnerships?
Answer: The only partnerships are with the Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association (aka Alabama Windpool), which has donated $2M per year for the last 2 years, and the FHLB-Atlanta, which committed $1M in 2017. Continuation of funding from both organizations is under discussion.
17. What sources of funding have enabled the program to make grants since its inception? How much funding has been distributed to date?
Answer: The DOI has funded $5M to date and the Alabama Windpool $4M to date. Virtually all of the funding has been distributed. DOI will fund another $5M in 2018.
18. Our firm does not currently participate in eVerify but should we be selected for this project, we would agree to enroll and participate as required. Is this amenable?
Answer: Yes.
19. The vendor disclosure references “any State Agency/Department” in a few places. Does this phrase imply only State of Alabama agencies/departments?
Answer: Yes, for purposes of the vendor disclosure form. However, for your answer to the question in paragraph 7.4 of the RFP, “any state agency” is not limited to the state of Alabama but should include agencies of other states as well.
20. Is there a 501c3 entity identified with the project, i.e. a foundation? If so, does that entity have a web site other than the one mentioned in the RFP, which has to do solely with the grant application process?
Answer: No. We have determined that donations to the DOI, as a state agency, are tax deductible, and therefore formation of a non-profit is not necessary for receiving donations. The DOI will provide sufficient documentation to donors confirming receipt of their donations.
21. If so, can we assume that it has a board of trustees or directors? Could we have a list of its members?
Answer: Not applicable.
22. If not, is there an informal group or committee of volunteers who are sponsoring the project? If so, who are its members?
Answer: There is no informal group nor committee of volunteers.
23. Items 4.3 and 4.5 would appear to be redundant. Put another way, can the same institution or organization be cited in response to each?
Answer: Yes, the same institution may be cited in both items.
24. Item 4.4 asks for a “Proposed Campaign Strategy” ………”of how the firm proposes to execute the project.” Do you mean “Proposed Study Strategy?” (We ask because the design of the campaign plan will be informed by the proposed study and will not emerge until the study is completed.)
Answer: We do not know how the Study versus the Campaign differ, thus would consider them together as one.