RFP for Employment Services for Adults Enrolled in Allegheny County Continuum of Care (CoC) Housing Projects

Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services, acting on behalf of the Homeless Advisory Board and the Continuum of Care, is soliciting proposals to deliver employment services to adults recently housed through CoC programs. The goal is to enhance participants’ access to stable employment and income by offering tailored, holistic support that addresses both practical and social-emotional barriers to workforce integration. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Bonfire portal by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 2, 2026, and must include a completed response form, a detailed one-year line-item budget with narrative, partner commitment letters if applicable, a W-9, and MWDBE or VOSB documentation. The contract does not have a publicly stated value, and no federal accounting identifiers or specific invoicing systems are specified; instead, contract administration will occur through the County’s MPER system. Evaluation is based on a best-value trade-off approach, weighing service model and delivery (80 points) most heavily, followed by organizational experience (25 points) and budget and administration (20 points). Proposals will be scored on a 0-to-5 adjectival scale across detailed sub-factors, including program design, staff qualifications, employer partnerships, and collaboration with other service systems. Compliance with MWDBE goals—13% for Minority Business Enterprises and 2% for Women Business Enterprises—is mandatory, requiring documentation of good faith efforts to engage certified firms and submission of waiver requests if targets cannot be met. Additional requirements include adherence to HUD regulations and the HEARTH Act, HIPAA and cybersecurity protocols, non-discrimination policies, and language accessibility for limited English proficient populations. Key personnel roles must be designated, including CEO, CFO, CIO, and contacts for MPER and contract processing, and proposers must demonstrate capacity to maintain employer relationships and provide post-placement support. There are no contract options, automatic renewals, or federal FAR clauses included; instead, special requirements are embedded in submission forms and guidelines, with rejection of all proposals reserved as a potential outcome. All work must be performed within Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.