Deadline: 1-Feb-21
The City of Bellevue is seeking applications for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant funds (CDBG-CV) that were authorized under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The City will receive $897,287 in CDBGCV funds as part of HUD’s third round of allocations.
The city is seeking proposals for public services projects that explicitly prevent, prepare for, or respond to the coronavirus. Applicants must indicate a clear connection to the coronavirus in their application. The City is only accepting proposals for the following activities:
- Rental Assistance;
- Food Assistance;
- Behavioral Health.
Requirements
All proposed projects must meet the following minimum requirements:
- NATIONAL OBJECTIVES: Projects must meet one of the national objectives established for the Community Development Block Grant program per 24 CFR 570.208
- ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES: A project must be an eligible activity per 24 CFR 570.201 and must prevent, prepare for, or respond to the coronavirus.
- ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: CDBG projects must be implemented by a nonprofit organization or public agency. The City will assess applicants’ verifiable history of receiving and administering CDBG funds as part of the application review process.
- APPLICANT AUTHORIZATION: Applications submitted by nonprofit organizations must be submitted by an authorized representative, e.g. Executive Director, as authorized by the board of directors.
- ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Projects which are awarded CDBG funds are subject to the federal environmental review requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). These requirements are in addition to any local requirements under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The City’s environmental review of projects must be completed prior to funds being committed to a project or any choice-limiting action has been taken.
- COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT: Agencies that use CDBG funds to purchase goods or services, including consultant services and construction services, must select the vendor, consultant or construction firm based on a competitive process. Agencies shall take all necessary affirmative steps to assure that minority firms, women’s business enterprises and labor surplus area firms are used when possible.
- AUDIT: Agencies receiving CDBG funding are required to submit an independent audit on an annual basis. Agencies that spend $750,000 or more in federal funds in a given year must meet federal financial single audit requirements
- INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS: Agencies will be required to provide evidence of general liability and property insurance to the City as an additional insured and as a loss payee under their policy. Other additional insurance requirements may apply. If this requirement presents a barrier to submitting an application.
Guidelines
Funding requests will be evaluated under the following guidelines:
- Need for the project or activity: Has the applicant sufficiently documented the need for the project?
- Expenditure of funds: Does the proposal show the ability to expend CDBG-CV funds in a timely manner?
- Need for involvement by the City: Is it appropriate and important for the City to become involved financially in this project?
- Realistic development, maintenance and operating budgets: Has the applicant shown that the project can be developed and resulting operations sustained with reasonable revenue assumptions in future years (if applicable)?
- Applicant experience and capacity: Does the applicant have sufficient successful experience (or have access to such expertise) to efficiently and effectively follow through on the project and all requirements associated with CDBG-CV funding?
- Benefit to low- and moderate-income persons: Does the project benefit low- and moderate-income residents of Bellevue? Note: The project must be able to clearly document that at least 51% of participants benefiting from the project are low- or moderate-income.
- Project readiness: Is the project ready to be implemented immediately if funded?
- Project Objectives: Does the project conform to the City of Bellevue’s Consolidated Plan objectives, as well as other locally developed priorities?
- Populations served: Does the project clearly serve populations that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, including older adults and BIPOC residents?
For more information, visit https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/parks/community-services/human-services/community-development-block-grant