Housing Court Litigation Services

The Chelsea Housing Authority (CHA) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP BD-25-1488-CHA-CHA-129066) seeking qualified Massachusetts-licensed law firms to provide housing court litigation and associated legal services on an as-needed basis. The contract term is three years, beginning July 1, 2026, with an option to extend. The scope includes representation in eviction and summary process actions, responding to reasonable accommodation requests, advisory opinions, grievances, lease and policy reviews, and participation in monthly compliance meetings with CHA and Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) staff. Legal services are to be rendered primarily in Chelsea District Court and the Eastern Division of the Housing Court in Chelsea, MA. The contract requires prompt, high-quality legal response capabilities, particularly for emergency matters, under applicable Massachusetts laws, HUD regulations, and rules of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD). Proposals must be submitted in two sealed envelopes—one containing the Qualification Statement, Service Plan, and required forms (including HUD Forms 5369-A and 5369-B, Non-Collusive Affidavit, Insurance Requirements, and Tax Compliance Certification), and the other the Bid Form with a fixed hourly rate inclusive of expenses. Evaluation proceeds in two phases: initial qualification based on attorney experience (minimum five years public law experience including housing court litigation and MCAD cases) and ability to respond promptly, supported by references, followed by assessment of the Service Plan detailing case management, assigned personnel, and operational approach. The award process emphasizes technical merit over price, with fee proposals used as a tiebreaker among closely ranked submissions. The contract stipulates mandatory attorney assignment consistency, monthly reporting, and no retainer fee. All deliverables focus on effective litigation support, regulatory compliance, and resident reasonable accommodation handling, with performance oversight residing with the CHA at 54 Locke Street, Chelsea, MA. Proposals are due by May 26, 2026, 11:00 a.m., with submission limited to physical delivery; electronic submissions are not accepted.