Submitting a Proposal
Proposals must be submitted no later than 1:00 p.m. PST on Monday, March 28, 2022. Applicants are responsible for regularly checking ZoomGrants for any updates, clarifications, or amendments to this RFP. If an applicant has any trouble submitting its proposal through ZoomGrants, please email your proposal to DCHSContracts@kingcounty.gov before the due date and time.
Introduction & Background
The purpose of this RFP is to invest $5 million in support of Equitable, Community-Driven Affordable Housing Development located in the Skyway-West Hill (SWH) neighborhood.
King County and SWH residents are implementing strategies to decrease Displacement pressure and preserve and increase Affordable Housing options. Investing in new Affordable Housing development is a priority recommendation in the Skyway-West Hill and North Highline Anti-Displacement Strategies Report and in the Draft Skyway Subarea Plan.
Building on years of community organizing, Skyway advocates worked with Councilmember Zahilay to successfully secure $5 million in King County’s 2021-22 Biennial Budget in the Housing and Community Development Fund for Affordable Housing in SWH. This funding represents the first County investment in Affordable Housing in SWH in more than a decade.
In addition to this funding, multiple Anti-Displacement and Equitable Community-Driven Development efforts are underway in SWH, including but not limited to the disposition of Brooks Village (a site owned by King County), efforts to acquire a site for a new Skyway Community Center, and the acquisition of the U.S. Bank site for the Skyway Resource Center. Please note that the Skyway $5 Million Fund for Affordable Housing RFP is not tied to any specific project and welcomes any applicants that meet the Minimum Requirements listed below.
To guide the development of this RFP, King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) worked closely with SWH residents over several months to determine the fund’s uses and priorities. A Community Advisory Committee (CAC) composed of current and past SWH residents worked with DCHS to co-develop the RFP.
Primary Objectives for the Skyway $5 Million Fund for Affordable Housing:
- Invest in new Affordable Housing in SWH for residents vulnerable to Displacement and community members who have been displaced.
- Align new Affordable Housing investments with the Skyway-West Hill and North Highline Anti-Displacement Strategies Report
- Invest in Equitable and Community-Driven Development projects that build wealth and financial stability in historically underserved communities.
- Provide seed funding to community-driven, Affordable Housing projects in the early stages of development and support Community Based Organizations (CBO) conducting Predevelopment and Acquisition, and/or Construction
RFP Values
This RFP is intended for projects that align with the following values developed by the CAC:
Lead with Equity and Social Justice - DCHS and the CAC value efforts that honor the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest and BIPOC community members and will prioritize projects that are explicit about addressing systemic racism and the institutional barriers that exist for communities of color and other underrepresented communities, including but not limited to LGBTQ+, immigrants and refugees, and people with disabilities.
Center Families, Elders, and Youth - DCHS and the CAC support efforts which are most likely to bring improvements to the lives of families, elders, and youth impacted by Displacement and lack of opportunity. Affected communities deserve strong, accountable, accessible, transparent, and culturally appropriate solutions.
Uplift Projects that Support the Community's “Top Ten” Priorities – DCHS and the CAC respect the time and energy SWH residents have put into sharing their needs and priorities with King County. Affordable Housing projects working to compliment, support, or address the priorities identified by SWH residents in the “Community Top Ten Priorities” list as described on page 108 of the draft Skyway-West Hill Subarea Plan will be prioritized.
Community Empowerment – DCHS and the CAC believe in community power and self-determination and are committed to funding projects that are community-driven, build the SWH community’s capacity and leadership, and demonstrate long-term investment in SWH.
Build Infrastructure for Community Development – DCHS and the CAC believe in investing in projects that are powered by community vision and are working for systems change. It takes a lot to get a development project from concept to completion, and DCHS, and the CAC want this fund to contribute to a stronger ecosystem for Community-Driven Development in SWH by being an early investor in community-led solutions.
Community Benefit – DCHS and the CAC support projects working to maximize benefits to the residents of SWH. Projects that will employ people from the community, including opportunities for youth workforce development, are a priority.
Anti-Displacement Focused – DCHS and the CAC value projects creating Affordable Housing using an Anti-Displacement approach and will prioritize projects that Affirmatively Market to current SWH residents and those who have already been displaced from SWH.
Environmental Justice – SWH has long experienced exposure to toxic pollution, contamination, and environmental injustice. DCHS and the CAC value projects that will reduce environmental harm and create environmental improvements such as preserving and increasing trees and tree canopy, reducing emissions through green building techniques, and creating green spaces.
Communication about the RFP
Questions or Feedback about the RFP
Questions or feedback about the RFP can be submitted through the “Contact Admin'' tab in ZoomGrants, or by emailing the RFP Coordinator at DCHSContracts@kingcounty.gov. Questions or feedback should be submitted by the date and time indicated in the RFP timeline to ensure DCHS has enough time to respond. Answers will be posted as an RFP amendment on ZoomGrants so that all those interested in applying will have the same information.
Virtual Info Sessions for Live Questions & Answers
DCHS will host two virtual info sessions to provide potential applicants with information about the RFP and answer any questions. Use the links below to register for the info sessions:
Monday January 24, 2022 Wednesday January 26, 2022
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
https://bit.ly/3pNqsjE https://bit.ly/3pNqsjE
DCHS will post a written list of questions and answers, and recordings from the sessions, on ZoomGrants as an RFP amendment. Applicants are responsible for checking ZoomGrants often for any posted amendments to this RFP.
Technical Difficulties
If applicants experience technical difficulties with ZoomGrants, please follow up with ZoomGrants customer service by emailing questions@zoomgrants.com. If applicants’ technical difficulties are not resolved by the due date, please email your proposal to the RFP Coordinator directly before the deadline to avoid a late submission. Late proposals may be rejected.
Communications on the RFP
The RFP Coordinator is the sole point of contact for DCHS on this RFP. All communication from applicants regarding this RFP must be through ZoomGrants, Communities Rise grant writing consultants as detailed below, or emailed to the RFP Coordinator as follows:
Joanna Armstrong, RFP Coordinator
DCHSContracts@kingcounty.gov
Communication on this RFP with anyone other than the RFP Coordinator, ZoomGrants, or Communities Rise as detailed in this RFP may disqualify the applicant.
All communications from DCHS on this RFP will come from the RFP Coordinator. Any other communication will be considered unofficial and non-binding on DCHS. Applicants should rely only on written statements issued by the RFP Coordinator and posted to ZoomGrants or sent via email.
Proposal Submission Checklist
Complete proposals must have the following items in order to be evaluated nd considered for an award.
- Basic Information Section
- Narrative responses to Proposal Questions
- All Required Attachments, including related narrative questions in the templates