The City of Hartford (the City), acting through its Department of Management and Budget, Office of Central Grants Administration, is requesting proposals from qualified firms (Consultant) to undertake the development of the City of Hartford’s FY20-24 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and FY20 Year One Annual Action Plan for Housing, Community Development, and Economic Development. Both plans must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) no later than May 1, 2020 (subject to any written guidance from HUD received by the City on or after the date of contracting with the Consultant), after a 30-day public review and comment period. The Consolidated Plan (Consolidated Plan) and Annual Action Plan (Annual Plan) shall encompass the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnership (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunity for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs and fulfill HUD regulatory requirements regarding the receipt and potential receipt of HUD funds. The Consultant must use the HUD e-Con Planning suite for submission of the Consolidated Plan and Annual Plan.

The Consolidated Plan combines the planning and application requirements of certain Federal statutes and includes a Needs Assessment and Market Analysis outlining levels of relative need in the areas of affordable housing, homelessness, special needs, and community development. The Consolidated Plan is also anticipated to include the City’s plans to meet its priorities through all available programs available through and recommended by HUD and other Federal agencies, including NRSA designations, 108 Loans, and Opportunity Zone financings. The Consultant will be expected to gather the information through a number of methods, including consultation with City administration, local agencies, public outreach (and expert guidance to the City regarding the manner and extent of public outreach), a review of demographic and economic data sets, and a housing market analysis. The Needs Assessment activities will result in the basis of a Strategic Plan detailing how the City of Hartford will address its priority needs. The Consultant will also be expected to advise, engage with, and consult with staff from the City’s Office of Central Grants Administration and its Department of Development Services, as well as the City’s Fair Housing consultant and to incorporate as appropriate the findings of the Fair Housing Consultant with regard to an Assessment of Impediment to Fair Housing conducted on behalf of the City.

The period of the Consolidated Plan will be July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025. The Consolidated Plan must meet all requirements of Federal regulations and must follow HUD guidance for use of the e-Con Planning Suite.