The Assignment of Delinquent Municipal Tax & Sewer Liens of The City of West Haven

The City of West Haven is soliciting proposals to assign its portfolio of delinquent municipal tax and sewer liens under Connecticut General Statutes §12-195h, with the goal of transferring responsibility for collection, servicing, and potential foreclosure to a qualified private entity. The solicitation, identified as RFP #2026-33, requires proposers to submit a comprehensive proposal detailing their experience administering similar lien programs in at least three other Connecticut municipalities, their administrative systems for accounting and recordkeeping, and their legal compliance structure, including adherence to federal and state securities laws, anti-discrimination statutes, andFair Debt Collection Practices Act requirements. Proposers must also provide documentation verifying their legal standing in Connecticut, including a valid business license, IRS Form W-9, a disclosure affidavit, and a notarized corporate or LLC resolution, while affirming they have no pending litigation or legal disabilities. The assignment is to be made on a lump-sum basis, with bidders submitting an aggregate purchase price reflecting any premiums or discounts applied to the total outstanding lien amounts, as outlined in a City-provided Excel spreadsheet of delinquent accounts; no line-item pricing is allowed. The evaluation process prioritizes experience and qualifications (30 points), technical approach and proposal quality (25 points), cost proposal (25 points), and prior experience with Connecticut municipalities (20 points), totaling 100 points, with award to be made on a best value trade-off basis rather than lowest price technically acceptable. The contract term begins in fiscal year 2025–2026 and includes an option to renew for two additional one-year periods at mutually agreed rates, with the assignment and payment to occur within five days of award. The Assignee assumes full risk and responsibility for the lien portfolio on an “as is” basis, with no warranties or representations from the City regarding property condition or collectability, and is obligated to maintain abandoned properties using reasonable management practices. Strict prohibitions are in place against transferring, assigning, or securitizing the liens without prior written consent from the City, though conditional pledges to affiliates for financing are permitted, and affiliates may hold title to foreclosed properties. All proposals must be submitted in hard copy—seven total sealed copies—and electronically via the City’s website is expressly prohibited. Failure to include any required certifications or misrepresentations can result in immediate disqualification, and the Assignee must indemnify the City against all claims, liabilities, or legal actions arising from lien servicing