Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Technical Assistance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wayne County committee approves expanded contract with TDA Consulting for housing program support after procurement concerns
Summary
The Economic Development Committee approved an amendment increasing TDA Consulting LLC’s contract to provide technical assistance on affordable housing and HUD programs, while commissioners raised procurement and local subcontracting concerns and recorded one abstention.
The Wayne County Economic Development Committee approved an amendment to a three-year professional services contract with TDA Consulting LLC to continue providing consulting and technical assistance for the county’s affordable housing programs, but commissioners pressed staff to follow up with procurement and the CEO’s office about the procurement process.
Lucius Anthony, assistant director for Economic Vitality, said TDA was awarded an initial contract after an RFP and has helped with formation of the Wayne County Housing Commission and with policies and underwriting for HUD-funded programs. Betsy Palazzola, division director for Community Development, said TDA has provided federal and local experience, helped shore up administrative capacity and advised on underwriting, policy development and recent rental development and rehabilitation RFP work.
Anthony and other staff said the original contract was for $125,000 over three years and that TDA’s services will be needed to help stand up administration for newly awarded disaster recovery funding and HOME/ARP programs. Staff said TDA will assist with program design, compliance and other administrative tasks tied in part to a recently awarded roughly $70,000,000 community development disaster recovery grant.
Commissioner Wilson and others questioned the size of the contract amendment and whether procurement rules were followed. At one point a commissioner noted a roughly $685,000 difference between the existing $125,000 contract and an $815,000 total figure discussed in the conversation; county counsel advised that the amendment being proposed adds $640,000 to the original $125,000 and that the scope and time period of the contract were not being changed. Counsel said the procurement ordinance expects reasonably anticipated needs to be disclosed and argued the original small-dollar award for a three-year scope merited review.
After discussion, a motion to approve the amendment passed with one recorded abstention. The motion included a caveat that staff meet with procurement and representatives in the CEO’s office to review the intent and application of the county’s procurement ordinance and to reduce recurrence of similar issues. Commissioner Wilson asked that his abstention be recorded, saying he did not have sufficient information to make an informed determination.
