RFP-DV-2026-035 — Housing Education Consulting Services

CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE
NEW YORK
OFFICE OF PURCHASING & SUPPLY
515 NORTH AVENUE
NEW ROCHELLE, NY 10801
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
HOUSING EDUCATION CONSULTING SERVICES
RFP-DV-2026-035
DATE OF ISSUANCE: AUGUST 25, 2026 at 5:00PM
QUESTIONS DUE BY: AUGUST 31, 2026 at 10:00AM
ANSWERS POSTED BY: SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 at 4:00PM
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 at 3:00PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I: Bidding Procedures & Legal Core
Notice to Respondents ...................................................................................................... NTR-1
Instructions to Respondents .................................................................................................................. ITR-1
o Includes: Submission Rules, Addenda Workflow, and the Cone of Silence
General Terms and Conditions ............................................................................................................. GTC-1
o Includes: Indemnification, Termination Protocols, and FOIL Disclosures
PART II: Project Specifications & Required Submissions
CRITICAL NOTICE TO RESPONDENTS: All forms in this section must be fully executed, signed, and returned in a
sealed envelope to constitute a responsive submission. Failure to include any of these completed forms at the time
of the public opening represents an uncurable fatal defect.
Schedule A: Project Overview, Scope of Work, & Fee Proposal Schedule
o Project Overview & Scope of Work .......................................................................................... S-1
o Proposal Price Sheet / Fee Schedule ............................................................................... S-5
Schedule B: Insurance Requirements ..................................................................................................... S-7
o Includes: General Liability, Professional Liability, Cyber Liability, and NYS Statutory Mandates
Schedule C: "No Bid" Response Form ........................................................................................ S-9
Schedule D: Non-Collusive Bidding Certification (NYS GML 103-d) ................................................ S-10
Schedule E: Statement of Respondent's Qualifications ...................................................................... S-11
Schedule F: Vendor Responsibility Form & Questionnaire ................................................................. S-12
Schedule G: Sexual Harassment Policy Certification .......................................................................... S-15
Schedule H: Iran Divestment Act Certification (NYS GML 103-g) ............................................. S-16
Schedule I: Certification Under Executive Order No. 16 ........................................................... S-17
Schedule J: Final Attestation & Notarized Execution ............................................................... S-18
PART III: Exhibits
Exhibit A: Federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program - Compliance Requirements .......... EX-A
Exhibit B: Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Terms .......................................... EX-B

NOTICE TO RESPONDENTS
CITY OF NEW ROCHELLE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that separate, sealed proposals for HOUSING EDUCATION CONSULTING SERVICES,
Specification Id No. RFP-DV-2026-035, will be received by the Office of Purchasing & Supply, located at 515 North
Avenue, New Rochelle, NY, 10801, until 3:00 PM local time on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, logged in publicly
by the purchasing department; qualitative scoring will follow via the evaluation committee.
1. DESCRIPTION OF WORK / GOODS
The City of New Rochelle is seeking qualified consultants, non-profit organizations, or training professionals
("Consultant") to design and deliver a comprehensive community education program focused on housing stability,
rental tenants' and property owners' rights, and financial awareness of housing economics, including homeownership
and mortgage lending. The selected Consultant will design and facilitate a training curriculum comprised of three (3)
distinct modules: (i) the Property Owners Training Module; (ii) the Rental Tenant Training Module; and (iii) the Financial
Readiness Training Module, each as more particularly described in Schedule A: Project Overview, Scope of Work, &
Fee Proposal Schedule.
2. OBTAINING RFP DOCUMENTS
Specifications, exhibits, and proposal forms may be examined and obtained on or after August 25, 2026 by the
following methods:
* Digital Download (Preferred): Documents can be accessed via the City of New Rochelle's bid posting
portal at https://www.newrochelleny.gov/bids.aspx.
* In-Person Pick Up: Printed copies may be obtained at the Office of Purchasing & Supply during regular
business hours (8:30 AM to 4:30 PM) upon payment of a non-refundable deposit of $10.00 per set. Checks
must be made payable to the City of New Rochelle.
3. PROPOSAL SECURITY & SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked on the outside with the Proposal Title,
Specification Number, and the Name and Address of the Proposer. Proposals submitted via facsimile or email will
not be accepted.
4. LEGAL & COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS
The Consultant will be required to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, including but not limited to
the following:
* Non-Collusion: Respondents must execute a Non-Collusive Bidding Certification in accordance with NYS
GML Section 103-d.
* Tax Exemption: The City of New Rochelle is exempt from federal, state, and local sales taxes, and such
taxes must not be included in the bid price.
* Federal Funding Compliance: This procurement may be funded, in whole or in part, through the federal
HOME Investment Partnerships Program ("HOME Program") and is therefore subject to the federal
procurement, equal opportunity, and administrative requirements set forth in Section 4 of the General Terms
and Conditions and in Exhibit B.
5. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
RFP-DV-2026-035 NTR-1

The City of New Rochelle reserves the right to waive any informalities, minor irregularities, or technical defects in the
proposals received, to reject any or all proposals, or to accept any proposal or part thereof which it deems to be in
the best interest of the City of New Rochelle.
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
DATED: AUGUST 24, 2026
BY: ADAM F. ROSS, DEPUTY FINANCE COMMISSIONER
RFP-DV-2026-035 NTR-2

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS
1. DEFINED TERMS & FORMAT OF PROPOSALS
1.1 The term "Respondent" or "Proposer" shall mean any person, firm, corporation, or non-profit organization
submitting a proposal for the services detailed herein. The term "Consultant" shall mean the Proposer selected
for contract award. The term "Owner" or "City" shall refer to the City of New Rochelle.
1.2 All proposals must be submitted on the forms attached hereto, including Schedules A through I. All blank
spaces must be legibly filled in using ink or typewritten. Digits must be written both in words and numbers
where requested. In the event of a discrepancy between written words and numbers, the written words shall
govern.
1.3 Proposals must be signed in ink by an authorized principal of the Proposer. If a corporation, the corporate
seal must be affixed, and the title of the signing officer must be stated.
2. DELIVERY OF PROPOSALS & MASTER TIME CLOCK
2.1 Proposals must be enclosed in a securely sealed envelope, addressed to the City of New Rochelle, Office
of Purchasing and Supply, and clearly endorsed on the outside with the Specification Number, Proposal Title,
and the Name and Address of the Proposer. Please provide one (1) hard copy and one (1) digital (USB Flash
Drive) version.
2.2 Proposals must be physically received by the designated office prior to the time and date specified in the
Notice to Respondents . The time-date stamp machine located in the Purchasing Office shall serve as the
official master timepiece.
2.3 Proposals received after the exact time and date specified will not be considered and will be returned to
the Proposer unopened. The Proposer assumes all responsibility for timely delivery, regardless of the method
of shipment chosen (including courier services, USPS, or hand-delivery).
3. INTERPRETATION OF DOCUMENTS & ADDENDA
3.1 No verbal interpretation of the meaning of the specifications or other contract documents will be made to
any Proposer. Every request for interpretation must be made in writing, addressed to
idroese@newrochelleny.gov and received at least five (5) business days prior to the date fixed for the
submission deadline.
3.2 Any and all such interpretations, along with any supplemental instructions, will be issued in the form of
written Addenda to the specifications. Addenda will be posted to the municipal purchasing website and/or
emailed to all prospective Proposers of record no later than three (3) business days prior to the submission
deadline.
3.3 Failure of any Proposer to receive any such addendum or interpretation shall not relieve them from any
obligation under their proposal as submitted. All addenda so issued shall become a formal part of the contract
documents.
3.4 Failure of any Proposer to acknowledge receipt of any issued Addenda on the designated execution sheets
within Schedule J shall constitute a material, non-curable fatal defect, and the proposal submission shall be
immediately rejected as non-responsive.
RFP-DV-2026-035 ITR-1

4. THE CONE OF SILENCE
4.1 Establishment of the Cone: A formal blackout period, hereby designated as the Cone of Silence, is officially
established for this solicitation. The Cone of Silence shall become effective immediately upon the public
advertisement and issuance of this RFP packet and shall remain in strict effect until the date the Governing
Board passes a formal resolution awarding the contract, or until the City officially rejects all proposals.
4.2 Prohibited Contact: Except as explicitly provided in this Section 4, no Proposer-including its corporate
principals, employees, agents, or hired lobbyists-shall communicate, either directly or indirectly, regarding
any aspect of this active procurement with any elected official, department head, municipal employee,
evaluation committee member, or board representative of the City of New Rochelle.
4.3 Permitted Exceptions: The Cone of Silence shall not apply to regular, transparent communication
workflows specifically designated within these contract documents, restricted exclusively to:
The submission of formal, written questions or clarification requests directed solely to the designated
procurement official via idroese@newrochelleny.gov .
Publicly noticed pre-proposal conferences or interview presentations explicitly scheduled by the
Purchasing Department.
Standard administrative communications initiated directly by the Purchasing Department to clarify a
Proposer's submission details or verify vendor responsibility checks.
4.4 Penalties for Violation: Any unauthorized verbal, written, electronic, or backdoor communication by a
Proposer or its agent that violates the terms of this section shall be logged by the Purchasing Department. A
verified violation of the Cone of Silence constitutes a material breach of the procurement process and shall
result in the immediate disqualification of the offending Proposer's submission as non-responsible.
Furthermore, the violating firm may be subject to a temporary or permanent debarment from participating in
future municipal solicitations.
5. MANDATORY CERTIFICATIONS & RESPONSIVENESS
5.1 To be considered a responsive proposal, the submission must include fully executed, signed, and
completed copies of the following standard statutory certifications and background forms contained within this
packet:
Schedule A: Project Overview, Scope of Work, & Fee Proposal Schedule
Schedule B: Insurance Requirements
Schedule C: "No Bid" Response Form (if applicable)
Schedule D: Non-Collusive Bidding Certification
Schedule E: Statement of Respondent's Qualifications
Schedule F: Vendor Responsibility Form & Questionnaire
Schedule G: Sexual Harassment Policy Certification
Schedule H: Iran Divestment Act Certification
Schedule I: Certification Under Executive Order No. 16
Schedule J: Final Attestation & Notarized Execution
5.2 Failure to submit these executed documents at the exact time of the proposal opening is a fatal defect that
cannot be cured after the fact, and the proposal shall be deemed non-responsive.
RFP-DV-2026-035 ITR-2

6. WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSALS & AWARD PROCESS
6.1 Any proposal may be withdrawn by written request, signed by the Proposer, and received by the City prior
to the scheduled time for the proposal opening.
6.2 No Proposer may withdraw a proposal within ninety (90) days after the actual date of the submission
deadline, consistent with the binding period stated in the Transmittal Letter requirement of Schedule A.
6.3 The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive minor informalities or technical
irregularities, or to negotiate with the highest-ranked Proposer(s) if it is determined to be in the public interest.
7. Q&A TIMELINE
7.1 All inquiries regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing via e-mail to
idroese@newrochelleny.gov no later than 10:00 a.m. on August 31, 2026. Responses to any valid inquiries
will be posted to the City's website no later than 4:00 p.m. on September 3, 2026. The City reserves the right
to amend this RFP based on questions and issues raised at any time before the submission deadline.
RFP-DV-2026-035 ITR-3

PROPOSAL PREPARATION & FORMAT
REQUIREMENTS
1. GENERAL STANDARDS
1.1 To ensure a fair, consistent, and equitable evaluation process, all proposals must be submitted in the exact
format detailed below. Proposals that deviate from these formatting rules, exceed specified page limits, or omit
required sections may be deemed non-responsive and disqualified from evaluation at the sole discretion of
the City.
1.2 Paper and Margins: All physical copies must be printed on standard 8.5" x 11" paper, double-sided, with
margins of not less than 1 inch.
1.3 Font and Spacing: Text must be typed using a standard, highly legible font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, or Times
New Roman) of not less than 11-point size, with line spacing of not less than 1.15.
1.4 Page Limit: The maximum length of the qualitative proposal is thirty (30) pages (excluding required
statutory schedules, exhibits, cover sheets, resumes, and dividers/tabs).
1.5 This letter of transmittal must be signed by an officer authorized to bind the Consultant and must state that
the proposal is binding for ninety (90) days from the submission deadline.
2. TABBED STRUCTURE AND REQUIRED CONTENT
2.1 Proposers must organize their physical and digital submissions into the following seven (7) distinct, tabbed
sections:
TAB 1: Transmittal Letter & Executive Summary (Max 2 Pages) - Firm name, primary address, primary
telephone number, primary fax number, primary email, name and title of the primary contact individual,
number of employees, number of years in business, the firm's legal status, and Tax ID Number. State
under which the entity is organized. Awarded vendors must provide a copy of their New York State
Certificate of Incorporation with their proposal response; Proposers not incorporated in New York State
must produce a Certificate to Do Business in the State of New York from the New York Secretary of
State at the time of proposal submission.
TAB 2: Organizational Profile & Staff Experience (Max 6 Pages) - A comprehensive description of the
organization or Consultant, including mission, core competencies, and areas of specialization relevant
to this Scope of Work; demonstrated experience in housing policy, financial education, or community
training; qualifications, certifications, and resumes of key staff, including any proposed sub-consultants
or partner organizations.
TAB 3: Proposed Approach & Curriculum (Max 12 Pages) - A proposed curriculum for each of the
three (3) training modules described in Schedule A, including instructional framework, learning
objectives, and format; strategies for engaging diverse audiences, including tenants, prospective
homeowners, and property owners; the plan for multilingual delivery (at minimum English and
Spanish); the proposed schedule, delivery format (in-person, virtual, or hybrid), and outreach strategy.
TAB 4: Work Plan & Timeline (Max 3 Pages) - A detailed timeline outlining key tasks and milestones,
including curriculum development, stakeholder outreach, marketing or enrollment activities, training
delivery, and evaluation, with responsible parties and estimated completion dates.
TAB 5: Client References & Work Samples (Max 3 Pages) - Complete and enclose Schedule E
(Statement of Respondent's Qualifications), featuring a minimum of three (3) comparable municipal,
RFP-DV-2026-035 REQ-1

public agency, or non-profit clients serviced within the past three (3) years, together with representative
work samples relevant to the Scope of Work.
TAB 6: Fee Proposal (Sealed) - The Fee Proposal Schedule (Schedule A / Exhibit C) must be
submitted in a separate, sealed inner envelope clearly marked "FEE PROPOSAL - DO NOT OPEN
WITH TECHNICAL SUBMISSION."
TAB 7: Fully Executed Statutory Schedules - Enclose all signed, notarized, and witnessed mandatory
submission forms (Schedules B through J).
RFP-DV-2026-035 REQ-2

GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. INDEMNIFICATION & HOLD HARMLESS
The Consultant shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the City of New Rochelle, its officers, officials, employees,
and volunteers from any and all claims, demands, suits, actions, damages, liabilities, losses, or expenses (including,
but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees and litigation costs) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the
performance of the work, operations, or services provided under this Agreement, provided that any such claim is
caused in whole or in part by any negligent act, error, omission, or willful misconduct of the Consultant, any
subcontractor, or anyone directly or indirectly employed by them.
2. TERMINATION PROTOCOLS
2.1 Termination for Convenience: The City reserves the right to terminate this contract, in whole or in part, at
any time for its convenience upon thirty (30) days written notice to the Consultant. Upon receipt of such notice,
the Consultant shall immediately cease all work or deliveries, unless the notice dictates otherwise. The
Consultant shall be compensated for verifiable work satisfactorily completed up to the effective date of
termination but shall not be entitled to anticipated profits on unperformed work.
2.2 Termination for Cause: If the Consultant fails to deliver services within the timeframe specified, fails to
maintain required insurance coverages, complies poorly with applicable regulations, or breaches any material
provision of this Agreement, the City may issue a written five (5) day Notice to Cure. If the default is not
completely remedied to the City's satisfaction within that timeframe, the City may terminate the contract for
cause immediately.
2.3 Remedies for Default: In the event of a termination for cause, the City reserves the right to procure the
required services from alternative sources on the open market. The defaulting Consultant shall be held liable
to the City for any excess completion costs, administrative expenses, and legal fees incurred.
3. STATUTORY COMPLIANCE & PUBLIC RECORDS (FOIL)
3.1 Public Access to Records: All proposals, contracts, and supporting documentation submitted to the City
are subject to public inspection under the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).
3.2 Proprietary Markings: If a Consultant considers specific financial information, proprietary curriculum
materials, or trade secrets exempt from disclosure, it must explicitly identify and label those specific pages or
sections upon submission. A blanket marking of the entire document as "confidential" will not be honored. The
City reserves the final right to determine disclosure compliance under statutory guidance.
3.3 Independent Contractor Status: The Consultant is, and shall perform all duties as, an independent
contractor. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to create an employer-employee, partnership, or joint-
venture relationship.
3.4 Participant Data & Privacy: Any personally identifiable information, demographic data, or attendance
records collected from training participants shall be maintained by the Consultant in a secure manner and
used solely for purposes of program administration, reporting, and evaluation as required under this
Agreement, subject to applicable state and federal privacy laws.
4. FEDERAL FUNDING COMPLIANCE (HOME PROGRAM)
4.1 Source of Funds: This procurement may be funded, in whole or in part, with funds provided through the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's HOME Investment Partnerships Program ("HOME
Program"). Accordingly, the resulting contract shall be subject to all applicable federal statutes, regulations,
RFP-DV-2026-035 GTC-1