City of Rochester
Request for Qualifications
Tax Foreclosure Outreach Improvement
Submissions to be received by 1:00 PM
(5/1/25)
Submit electronically to: John Fornof, City Treasurer
John.fornof@cityofrochester.gov
585-428-7451
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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
The City of Rochester is seeking submissions from qualified Consultants (“Consultant(s)”) to identify their
qualifications for a future project intending to improve the City foreclosure process through the following
services: (a) identification of phone numbers and/or email addresses for owners of properties in tax
foreclosure (otherwise known as “skip tracing”), and (b) providing physical notice at the physical address
of properties that are in tax foreclosure (such services hereafter referred to as the “Project”).
Examples:
1. Utilize proprietary search databases or skip tracing capabilities to identify potential phone
numbers or email addresses for owners of properties in tax foreclosure. Return results in an
electronic format (.xml, xls) that is importable to our tax foreclosure CRM database.
2. A onetime physical posting of a tax foreclosure notice to each property sometime in September
or October.
While the City is seeking such submissions from Consultants, the 2025-26 Budget of the City is still under
development and no funds have been formally set aside for the Project as of the date of publishing this
RFQ. The City is interested in identifying firms that are qualified to perform work of this type and have
the capacity to quickly mobilize to meet the needs of the City in the event that funding is secured through
the formal budget process.
BACKGROUND
In April of each year, the City of Rochester commences a tax foreclosure action under Article IX,
Part E of the City Charter, against any property in the City that is more than one (1) year delinquent on
its City property tax payments. The vehicle for commencing such action is the filing of the “List of
Delinquent Taxes” with the State Supreme Court in Monroe County, and such initial filings usually
contain thousands of properties. After commencement, the City continues to accept redemption
payments from property owners until a specific redemption deadline, usually taking place in October.
The foreclosure action is taken in rem against the properties in question, rather than against property
owners personally. After the City makes a motion and the Court grants a foreclosure judgment to the
City, the City holds an in rem foreclosure auction.
The auction is typically held in early November and is the culmination of nine months of work by
several City departments (Treasury, NBD Real Estate, and Law). Unlike surplus auctions, which are run
exclusively by NBD/Real Estate for properties that the City owns, In Rem tax auctions are for properties
that the City does not own, but for which their respective owners have delinquent taxes one year or
greater. Properties can be residential, vacant lots, parking lots, mixed use, commercial, or any other
designation type. There are no pre-qualification requirements for bidders (unlike the surplus auctions),
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but winning bidders must make a deposit of $5,000 at the auction and must pay the remaining balance
by the following week.
The starting bid is the outstanding balance due to the City on all receivables systems. Property
owners receive several letters throughout the nine month process notifying them as the City’s action
progresses. Public notice in local newspapers is also provided at several points in the process.
The list of properties is subject to change until the auction takes place, as property owners are
given ample opportunities to pay their taxes, sign up for tax agreements, or file for bankruptcy.
The City’s goal in carrying out the Project is to reach property owners who may not otherwise be
reached by its legally-required foreclosure mailings so that they can redeem properties before the City
makes a motion for judgment or holds an auction selling their properties. Ultimately, the City’s interest
is in recovering its taxes, and seeks only to sell properties as an absolute last resort. While the in rem
process is an efficient means of foreclosing on properties and collecting taxes, the City’s preference is to
recover taxes from owners rather than sell their properties at auction. Accordingly, the City hopes that
carrying out the Project will help the City to reach more property owners than otherwise may be
reached by mailings and publication.
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Activity
RFQ Release
Deadline for questions
Response for questions submitted
Submissions due
Consultant Selection and Award
Notification
City Council Approval of agreement
with Consultant
Agreement Start Date
Agreement End Date
Timeline
Time
1:00 p.m.
Date
3/31/25
4/15/25
4/22/25
5/1/25
5/15/25
7/22/25
9/1/25
11/30/25
The dates shown above may be subject to change within the City of Rochester’s sole discretion and
upon written notification as set forth herein.
Communications
All communications by parties who have indicated an intent to submit or have submitted a submission in
response to this RFQ (“Respondents”), including any questions or requests for clarifications, submission of
the submission, requests for status updates about the submission selection process and any other
inquiries whatsoever concerning this RFQ shall be sent, in writing electronically, to the following City
staff person (“City Contact”):
John Fornof
John.Fornof@cityofrochester.gov
No contact is permitted with any other City staff member with regard to this RFQ during the RFQ
process unless specifically authorized in writing. Prohibited contact may be grounds for disqualification.
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To ensure that all Respondents have a clear understanding of the scope and requirements of this RFQ, the
City will respond to all timely questions submitted via e-mail to the City Contact by the question deadline
stated above. Questions and the responding answers will be sent via e-mail to all Respondents who have
provided an e-mail address to the City Contact and will be posted on the City’s web page for this RFQ. The
City’s failure to timely respond or provide responses to any questions shall not delay or invalidate the
City’s right to make a decision to award an agreement pursuant to this RFQ.
The City will make every reasonable effort to keep Respondents informed about the RFQ process.
Notifications about Timeline date changes, amendments to the RFQ and other information about the
RFQ will be sent by e-mail to Respondents who have provided an e-mail address to the City Contact and
will be posted on the City’s website for this RFQ. The City’s failure to provide such information shall not
delay or invalidate the City’s right to make a decision to award an agreement pursuant to this RFQ.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The City is seeking the services of a Consultant to perform the following services to implement the Project.
Respondent’s submission shall address each of the following services, with a separate cost and timeline
for each identified task. The submission shall address each of the requested services, using the same
identifying language, including any paragraph or section numbers or letters as used in the RFQ.
Activity
Electronically receive the City’s
tax foreclosure preliminary list at
1.
(including SBL number, Physical
Address, Mailing Address, Owner
Name)
Identify phone numbers or email
2.
addresses for owners of
properties in tax foreclosure
Return results from #2 above in
3.
an electronic format (.xml, xls)
that is compatible with import to
our delinquent accounts database
Electronically receive the City’s
tax foreclosure list at time of final
4.
judgement (including SBL
number, Physical Address,
Mailing Address, Owner Name)
Physically post tax foreclosure
5.
notice on all properties (~500
properties)
Date or Date Range for completion
9/15/25
9/16/25 – 10/1/25
10/2/25
10/8/25
10/9/25 – 10/23/25
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
