ATTENTION: RFP Released for Bedford-Atlantic Armory

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) are seeking proposals  from qualified developers for the ground lease, development, and operation of approximately 50,000 square feet of available space within the historic 23rd Regiment (also known as “Bedford-Atlantic”) Armory.

The Armory is located at 1322 Bedford Avenue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Through this request for proposals (RFP), the EDC is seeking developers who:

(i) enhance the surrounding community’s access to the Drill Hall through potential neighborhood-serving uses,
(ii) cause minimal impact to DHS’s active operation within the Armory Head House,
(iii) ensure that future Drill Hall uses are community-serving,
(iv) create a financially feasible and economically viable project,
(v) complete necessary capital improvements, and
(vi) contemplate and preserve the historic character of the facility.

The EDC plans to select a qualified developer on the basis of factors stated in the RFP which include, but are not limited to: economic impact on New York City, experience of key staff identified in the proposal, the proposed project’s financial feasibility, demonstrated successful experience in performing services similar to those encompassed in the RFP, and the proposed lease terms.

Respondents may submit questions and/or request clarifications from the EDC no later than 4:00pm on Friday, October 5, 2012. Questions regarding the subject matter of this RFP should be directed to BedfordAtlanticArmory@nycedc.com.

The EDC will be holding an optional Info Session in September. Those who wish to attend should RSVP by email to BedfordAtlanticArmory@nycedc.com by Friday, September 7, 2012.

DATE: Wednesday, September 12, 2012
TIME: 10:00am
LOCATION: 1322 Bedford Avenue
Crown Heights, Brooklyn

To access the RFP, please follow this link:  http://www.nycedc.com/opportunity/bedford-atlantic-armory-rfp. MWBE Companies who have been certified with the New York City Small Business Services are strongly encouraged to apply.

CM James Submits FOIL Request to ACS for EarlyLearn NYC RFP Information

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
May 15, 2012

Contact Simone Hawkins at (212) 788-7081 or shawkins@council.nyc.gov


Council Member Letitia James Submits FOIL Request to ACS for EarlyLearn NYC RFP Information
The New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) released a concept paper and Request for Proposal (RFP)– EarlyLearn NYC- that aims to improve educational standards, raise supports for families, strengthen professional and instructional development for teachers, and encourage socio-economic diversity among participating centers.
On May 4, 2012, ACS released their recommended awardees for EarlyLearn NYC. The 149 selected sites are a combination of existing private and public early care and education services providers. The Administration for Children’s Services evaluated each proposal using three major criteria, which included multiple considerable factors: Demonstrated Quantity and Quality of Successful Relevant Experience (20%), Demonstrated Level of Organizational Capability (40%), and Quality of Proposed Approach (40%). These criteria were pre-approved by the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, better known as MOCS. 

“While I support ACS’ vision for EarlyLearn NYC, I believe the selection methodology and funding formulas set forth in the RFP is contrary to its goal and has ultimately led to the decimation of community staples formerly supported by the City. Centers that served communities for thirty plus years were not selected as ACS devalued a proposer’s relevant experience in the community and its commitment to diversity and culturally sensitive practices as only being worth a sixth of 20% of their total score.

Several centers in my district will be closed as a result of this RFP and many others have been significantly downsized as slots have been diverted to lesser known centers in and around the community. The citywide effect is even more detrimental. Over 6,500 children will be left without a slot come this November as a result of EarlyLearn. I believe something is extremely wrong with this picture and it is our time now to stand up and say enough is enough.

I requested under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Request for Records that ACS release any and all scored proposals to the EarlyLearn NYC RFP, justification for specific scores and its relative rank for each proposal, as well as, any and all records of the conduct of negotiations with Agency Chief Contracting Officer and the basis for every determination to continue or suspend negotiations. I expect to receive a response within five business days of ACS’ receipt of my request.

In the interim, I ask that all non-awarded centers request a debriefing date and appeal accordingly. I urge community members to attend the upcoming public hearing and families to participate in the parent forums. The salvation of our communities begins with us.”

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Department for the Aging-RFP Pulled!

Council Member James and Team Tish were happy to hear that the proposed Department for the Aging Request for Proposal (DFTA-RFP) was recently pulled. We have written on the blog about the RFP in the past (see here: http://teamtish.blogspot.com/2008/11/healthcare-and-you-part-ii-seniors-and.html) Here’s an excerpt that basically sums up what the RFP was:

“the Department for the Aging (DFTA) services RFP, [which] is an RFP that would centralize senior centers. The proposal calls for a 3% budget cut between FY08-09, a decrease in the number of senior center case managers (from 32 to 23); and the possible closings of some of the 323 senior centers in the City. Council Member James has joined many of her colleagues in calling for a delay of the RFP, and feels that modernization does not necessarily equal centralization, and that local centers are best equipped- when properly funded- to provide services for seniors. Furthermore, once these resources are absorbed, they may be lost to seniors in the future.”

Tish joined many of her colleagues in the New York City Council in opposing the DFTA-RFP on these grounds, and participated in Speaker Quinn’s “Protect Our Senior Centers” Initiative (where seniors and senior centers wrote their Council Member and the Mayor noting their objection to the RFP), receiving over 100 letters from seniors stating that the RFP would not serve their needs. We consider the pulling of the DFTA-RFP to be a victory for Council Member James, the City Council, and seniors throughout New York City.

HealthCare and You: Part II SENIORS AND YOUNG ADULTS

Two groups that Council Member James is particularly focused on are the youth and senior communities, who are often outside of the work force and therefore may have a harder time securing proper and affordable health insurance. Please note that the information below is meant to be a continuation of the prior healthcare information posted.

Seniors:

-I’m sure many of you are aware of the Department for the Aging (DFTA) services RFP, which is an RFP that would centralize senior centers. The proposal calls for a 3% budget cut between FY08-09, a decrease in the number of senior center case managers (from 32 to 23); and the possible closings of some of the 323 senior centers in the City. Council Member James has joined many of her colleagues in calling for a delay of the RFP, and feels that modernization does not necessarily equal centralization, and that local centers are best equipped- when properly funded- to provide services for seniors. Furthermore, once these resources are absorbed, they may be lost to seniors in the future. Anyone desiring further information on this matter should contact our City Hall office at (212) 788-7081, or call 311 to contact DFTA.

-In the meantime, Council Member James, Speaker Quinn, and other members of the City Council encourage seniors to contact both the Mayor's office and their local Council Member. To do so, please print and fill-out the letters below (click images to enlarge):





-Seniors should call their local senior centers, and ask to be kept abreast of information on how they will be affected by projected budget cuts or an RFP. Additionally, if you aren't sure where your local senior services can be accessed, please click the list below to view a working list of senior centers and institutions which provide senior services in the 35th District:



Resources:

-DFTA offers a number of different programs promoting healthy living, HIV/AIDS-support, blood pressure maintenance, exercise, etc; and the Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access (OCHIA) can let you know what public health insurance programs you’re eligible for, and give you additional information for applying to those programs. Note that healthcare programs are State-based, not City-based.

Also, please view the following information from Council Member James' Seniors Information packet (click picture to enlarge):



FYI- Anyone interested in having the Senior Information packet mailed to them should contact the District or City Hall office.

DFTA- http://nyc.gov/html/dfta/html/home/home.shtml
OCHIA- http://www.nyc.gov/html/hia/html/home/home.shtml

Youth:

-Youth are also more likely to have sporadic, insufficient, or no health care. Young adults aged 19-29 are likely to not have health insurance. Living uninsured among young adults (18-24) rose from 23% in 1987 to 31% in 2004. (National Institute for Health Care Management, A Young People's Health Care: A National Imperative) Ironically, young people have the lowest health expenditures, but the are the most uninsured.

-Young people may feel that they are "invincible" because they are relatively healthy, and see insurance as being unnecessary or too expensive. (New York Magazine, The Young Invincibles) Many young people neglect to look into more affordable choices for health insurance, like their senior counterparts. Young adults who are interested in their public health care options should also contact OCHIA through calling 311.

-For students, you may be covered under your guardian's insurance if enrolled at a college or university, and your school (if accredited) should have a health insurance option as part of your enrollment package, meaning you may not have to pay these fees out-of-pocket.

-Please click the pictures below to view additional health insurance options for students: