MHSA Housing Program - RFP Questions

Updated October 5, 2007

Question: Given the current information available on the MHSA program, are you envisioning that the initial applications would come to the County on the State application form, or are you looking for the RFP respondents to develop a separate application?

Answer: We expect the development applications will be submitted to the County on the State application form. The County "RFP" will probably not be much more than a letter announcing the availability of funds and providing the State website were the application and program requirements can be downloaded. We expect the consultant to understand the State requirements and underwriting standards and insure the applications submitted to the County meet the minimum State requirements. The idea is that the County will submit a perfect application to the State and we won't waste a lot of time revising the application.

Question: Once the applications are received and reviewed, will there be an approval process with any County committees or the Board of Supervisors before the final application is submitted to the State?

Answer: All of the review details have not been finalized. At a minimum, the MHSA stakeholders group will be kept informed of what is happening. We want to maintain and encourage stakeholder involvement. Both Mental Health and Community Development staff will review (and possibly asked for revisions) the applications before they are submitted to the State. The applications will go to the Board, but I don't know yet exactly what action they will be asked to take. Since the State is holding the funds, I don't know if the Board approves the funding request, or just gives staff approval to submit the application to the State. We need the consultant to understand the State requirements and process.

Obviously, if a project is located in a City, we will want the City to be part of the process as well.

Question: Please clarify the due date for this RFP.

Answer: Tuesday, October 9th at 5 p.m.

Question: Is it the intention of the County to tie the application process for these funds with any other existing funding process such as the HOME or CDBG process? If so, has a time line been established for the issuance of a NOFA for these funds?

Answer: For the FY 2008/09 HOME and CDBG application process it is not possible to integrate HOME/CDBG with MHSA. The HOME/CDBG notice of funding availability was released today. We will not have a process for MHSA until we have a consultant to help us establish the process. It could be a consideration for future years to integrate the notices of funding availability. Another option would be to have MHSA available on an "open window" basis.

Question: Can you please clarify the respective roles and responsibilities of CCD and CCMH in regard to local MHSA housing efforts, the activities of the consultant, and the various stages of work outlined in the RFP.

Answer: CCMH has responsibility for the administration of the County MHSA funds. CCMH is the primary point of contact for the State Department of Mental Health (DMH) and the local stakeholders. CDD is providing technical assistance to CCMH specifically for affordable housing development issues. This includes evaluation of project feasibility with an emphasis on the financial plans. Consultant activities will be coordinated with CCMH and CDD staff.

Content provided by Contra Costa County Mental Health Division of Contra Costa Health Services.