July 2024 Case Study: Procurement for the Operation of a Homeless Services Center

JULY 2024 GOAL OF THE MONTH: SDGs 1, 2, 13, 16 & 17 - SPECIAL FOCUS - HLPF (High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development)

CASE STUDY: PROCUREMENT FOR THE OPERATION OF A HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER

PROCUREMENT METHOD: Request for Proposals (RFP)

COUNTRY: United States of America

ORGANIZATION/ENTITY: Loudoun County, Virginia 

SOLICITATION TITLE: OPERATION OF THE HOMELESS SERVICES CENTER 

SUMMARY:

The purpose of the RFP is to solicit proposals from qualified contractors to manage the Loudoun County Homeless Services Center which serves distinct client populations, including single men, single women, families, and individuals at risk of hypothermia.

SDGs 1, 2, 13, 16, 17 AND TARGETS:

 Goal 1. NO POVERTY: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

• 1.1 By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $2.15 a day 
• 1.2 By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions 
• 1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable 
• 1.4 By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance 
• 1.5 By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters 
• 1.A Ensure significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources, including through enhanced development cooperation, in order to provide adequate and predictable means for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, to implement programmes and policies to end poverty in all its dimensions 
• 1.B Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions 

Goal 2. ZERO HUNGER: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

• 2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round
• 2.2 By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons
• 2.3 By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment
• 2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality
• 2.5 By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed
• 2.A Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least developed countries 
• 2.B Correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets, including through the parallel elimination of all forms of agricultural export subsidies and all export measures with equivalent effect, in accordance with the mandate of the Doha Development Round 
• 2.C Adopt measures to ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets and their derivatives and facilitate timely access to market information, including on food reserves, in order to help limit extreme food price volatility 

Goal 13. CLIMATE ACTION: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

• 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries  
• 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning 
• 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning 
• 13.A Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible 
• 13.B Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities

Goal 16. PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

• 16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere   
• 16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children 
• 16.3 Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all 
• 16.4 By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime   
• 16.5 Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms 
• 16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels 
• 16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels  
• 16.8 Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance 
• 16.9 By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration 
• 16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements 
• 16.A Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime
• 16.B Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development 

Goal 17. PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

• 17.1 Strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through international support to developing countries, to improve domestic capacity for tax and other revenue collection  
• 17.2 Developed countries to implement fully their official development assistance commitments, including the commitment by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of ODA/GNI to developing countries and 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries ODA providers are encouraged to consider setting a target to provide at least 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries  
• 17.3 Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources 
• 17.4 Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing, debt relief and debt restructuring, as appropriate, and address the external debt of highly indebted poor countries to reduce debt distress   
• 17.5 Adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries  
• 17.6 Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism 
• 17.7 Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed 
• 17.8 Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology  
• 17.9 Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the sustainable development goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation 
• 17.10 Promote a universal, rules-based, open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization, including through the conclusion of negotiations under its Doha Development Agenda 
• 17.11 Significantly increase the exports of developing countries, in particular with a view to doubling the least developed countries’ share of global exports by 2020 
• 17.12 Realize timely implementation of duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting basis for all least developed countries, consistent with World Trade Organization decisions, including by ensuring that preferential rules of origin applicable to imports from least developed countries are transparent and simple, and contribute to facilitating market access
• 17.13 Enhance global macroeconomic stability, including through policy coordination and policy coherence
• 17.14 Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development
• 17.15 Respect each country’s policy space and leadership to establish and implement policies for poverty eradication and sustainable development
• 17.16 Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries
• 17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
• 17.18 By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts
• 17.19 By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building in developing countries

HOW DOES THE PROCUREMENT SOLICITATION/REQUIREMENTS ALIGN OR CONTRIBUTE TO SDGs 1, 2, 13, 16 AND 17?

The RFP contributes to SDG 1 by providing a comprehensive set of services to the homeless population, focusing on immediate needs as well as long-term solutions to help individuals escape poverty and achieve self-sufficiency. 

1. Supporting the Most Vulnerable: The RFP focuses on providing essential services to the homeless population, which is one of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in society. By addressing their immediate needs for shelter, food, and clothing, the RFP contributes to the alleviation of poverty.

2. Comprehensive Services: The RFP requires the contractor to provide a range of services including emergency shelter, permanent supportive housing, case management, and assistance with accessing mainstream benefits. These services are designed to help individuals escape homelessness and poverty by addressing the underlying causes of their situation.

3. Job Skills and Training: The RFP emphasizes the importance of providing life skills training and assistance with employment readiness, search, and placement. By equipping individuals with the necessary skills to secure employment, the RFP aims to help them achieve financial independence and escape poverty.

4. Community Engagement: The RFP encourages the contractor to develop linkages and coordinate services with critical organizations to ensure high-level information, referral, and follow-up. This collaborative approach can lead to better outcomes for individuals and families in poverty by connecting them with a broader network of support.

5. Funding and Support: The RFP acknowledges the importance of fundraising activities and in-kind donations to supplement the operational budget. This approach leverages community resources to support the homeless population, which is in line with SDG 1's call for multi-stakeholder partnerships to achieve poverty eradication.

6. Preventing Poverty: The RFP's focus on rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing is aimed at preventing long-term homelessness and the deepening of poverty among those at risk. By providing stable housing options, the RFP contributes to breaking the cycle of poverty.

While the RFP's primary focus is on providing services to the homeless population, its provisions related to food and nutrition support the objectives of SDG 2 by ensuring access to nutritious meals and promoting food security for those in need.

1. Nutritional Meal Provision: The RFP specifies that the contractor must provide ingredients for nutritional meal preparation and serve at least one hot nutritious meal each day. This ensures that the homeless population has access to food that meets their nutritional needs, helping to combat hunger and malnutrition.

2. Food Accessibility: The RFP's requirement for the operation of a Drop-In Center includes providing access to food, ensuring that unsheltered individuals have the opportunity to meet their basic nutritional requirements.

3. Supportive Services: The services provided under the RFP, such as case management and assistance with mainstream benefits, can help individuals and families escape poverty and hunger by connecting them with resources that support food security.

4. Community Engagement: The RFP encourages the contractor to develop linkages with critical organizations, which may include food banks, soup kitchens, and other food providers. This coordination can enhance the availability of food resources for the homeless population.

5. Holistic Approach: By addressing the broader needs of the homeless population, including shelter, clothing, and case management, the RFP contributes to the overall well-being of individuals, which is essential for improving nutrition and achieving food security.

6. Education on Nutrition: The RFP's emphasis on life skills training could include education on nutrition and healthy eating habits. This can empower individuals to make informed choices about their diet, contributing to improved nutrition outcomes.

The RFP also contributes to SDG 13 by prioritizing the protection of vulnerable populations from the impacts of climate change, promoting sustainable energy practices, and fostering environmental responsibility. These actions are critical in building a more resilient and sustainable community that can adapt to and mitigate the effects of a changing climate. 

1. Cold Weather Shelter Program: The RFP includes the operation of a Cold Weather Shelter program, which is directly aimed at preventing hypothermia-related illnesses and deaths among the homeless population during the winter months. This program is particularly relevant to SDG 13 as it addresses the immediate health impacts of extreme weather conditions on vulnerable populations.

2. Emergency Preparedness: The RFP requires the contractor to establish and maintain professional work environments, health and safety procedures, and emergency response plans. These measures are essential for ensuring the safety of residents, staff, and visitors during adverse weather events or other emergencies related to climate change.

3. Energy Conservation: The RFP includes a section on facilities and maintenance that specifies the contractor's responsibility for operating the facilities in accordance with energy conservation requirements. This aligns with SDG 13's objective to promote sustainable energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Environmental Stewardship: By requiring the contractor to maintain the landscaped areas, remove snow and ice, and keep the premises clean and safe, the RFP encourages environmental stewardship. These actions contribute to the overall well-being of the environment and the community's resilience to climate-related challenges.

5. Adaptation and Mitigation: The RFP's focus on maintaining facilities and programs that support the homeless population during extreme weather conditions is an example of adaptation to climate change. Additionally, by promoting energy conservation and a clean environment, the RFP contributes to mitigation efforts aimed at reducing the causes of climate change.

Furthermore, the RFP contributes to SDG 16 by promoting inclusive and non-discriminatory services, upholding ethical standards in public contracting, ensuring accountability and transparency, and supporting the rule of law and conflict resolution mechanisms. These aspects help in building a more just, peaceful, and inclusive society.

1. Inclusive Services: The RFP requires the contractor to provide services in a fair and non-discriminatory manner, ensuring access to justice and promoting inclusive societies by serving the homeless population regardless of their background.

2. Rule of Law: The RFP includes terms and conditions that must be adhered to by the contractor, which helps in upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the services are provided in a manner that is accountable and transparent.

3. Non-Discrimination: The RFP explicitly states that the contractor must not discriminate based on various criteria, including race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. This promotes equality and reduces discrimination.

4. Ethical Standards: The RFP includes provisions related to ethics in public contracting, which aligns with the goal of building effective and accountable institutions. It ensures that the contracting process is conducted with integrity and fairness.

5. Conflict Resolution: The RFP outlines a process for handling contractual disputes, which contributes to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and promotes justice by providing a mechanism for addressing grievances.

6. Background Checks: The RFP requires background checks for all personnel working at the center, which helps in ensuring that individuals with felony convictions are not employed, thus supporting the integrity of the services provided.

7. Confidentiality: The RFP includes confidentiality clauses that protect sensitive information, which is important for maintaining trust and ensuring that personal data is handled responsibly, contributing to the goal of effective institutions.

8. Public Procurement: The RFP is part of a public procurement process, which is a key aspect of accountable governance. It ensures that public funds are used effectively and transparently to deliver services to the community.

In addition, the RFP contributes to SDG 17 by promoting partnerships and collaboration among various stakeholders, leveraging resources from the community and private sector, and ensuring effective coordination and information sharing to support the delivery of services to the homeless population. 

1. Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: The RFP encourages the contractor to establish linkages with critical organizations to provide high-level information, referral, and follow-up services. This fosters partnerships among various stakeholders, which is essential for achieving SDG 17.

2. Fundraising Requirement: The RFP requires the contractor to engage in fundraising activities to supplement the program delivery budget. This not only leverages community resources but also promotes public-private partnerships in support of the services provided.

3. In-Kind Contributions: The RFP acknowledges the importance of in-kind donations, which can include food, clothing, and other essential items. This encourages a collaborative approach to meeting the needs of the homeless population, aligning with the goal of revitalizing global partnerships.

4. Public Procurement: The RFP is a part of the public procurement process, which is a mechanism for governments to engage with the private sector to deliver public services. This contributes to the partnership aspect of SDG 17.

5. Volunteer Engagement: The RFP requires the contractor to recruit, select, train, and supervise volunteers. Volunteerism is a form of partnership and collaboration that brings together individuals from different backgrounds to work towards a common goal.

6. Continuum of Care Coalition Meetings: The RFP mentions the contractor's responsibility to attend the Continuum of Care Coalition meetings and serve on appropriate subcommittees. This promotes collaboration and coordination among service providers, which is crucial for effective implementation of services.

7. Data Sharing: The RFP requires the use of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for data collection and case management. Sharing data and information is a key aspect of partnerships and collaboration, enabling better coordination and outcomes.

IS THE SOLICITATION IN ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER SDGs?

The RFP contributes to or aligns with several other SDGs beyond the ones discussed previously. Here are some additional SDGs and how the RFP aligns with them: 

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The RFP's focus on providing shelter, food, and case management services to the homeless population directly contributes to improving their health and well-being.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• While not directly focused on formal education, the RFP's requirement for life skills training and educational groups can contribute to improving the knowledge and skills of the homeless population, which is related to the broader goal of quality education.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The RFP's non-discrimination clauses ensure that services are provided without bias, promoting gender equality among the homeless population.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The RFP's emphasis on case management and assistance with employment readiness aligns with efforts to promote decent work and economic opportunities for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• By providing essential services to the homeless population, the RFP helps to reduce inequalities within the community, particularly for those who are most vulnerable.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The RFP's operation of facilities that serve the homeless contributes to the goal of making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by addressing the needs of all residents.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The RFP's energy conservation requirements and focus on reducing waste through proper facility maintenance align with the goal of promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The RFP's requirement to maintain landscaped areas and ensure the cleanliness of the facility premises contributes to the goal of protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of land.

The RFP's alignment with these SDGs demonstrates a holistic approach to addressing homelessness and its underlying causes, contributing to a more sustainable and equitable society.

VISUAL REPRESENTATION:

Figure 1: Summary Table

1. Immediate support to the homeless population	Long-term solutions aiming at poverty, hunger, and inequality
   Housing Security The RFP immediately addresses housing needs for the homeless, providing emergency shelters that directly align with SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being by ensuring basic residential safety and health security.	Economic Opportunities The RFP requirements include job training and placement services, aligning with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. By empowering individuals with skills and employment,  it provides long-term economic independence and reduces poverty.
   Food and Nutrition The services include meals and nutrition programs, directly supporting SDG 2: Zero Hunger. Providing essential sustenance helps in the immediate alleviation of hunger and undernourishment among the homeless.	Education and Skill Development Educational programs and skill-building initiatives contribute to SDG4: Quality Education. Providing education and training helps break the cycle of poverty and enables self-sufficiency in the long run.
   Health Services Access to healthcare and mental health support addresses SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being offering medical services, health screenings, and psychological support to improve the immediate health of the homeless population.	Social Inclusion Programs designed to reduce inequality and promote social inclusion support SDG 10: Reduced Inequality. These initiatives work towards integrating the homeless population into mainstream society and providing equal opportunities.
   Safety and Protection Immediate safety measures in homeless shelters align with SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions by providing a secure environment, free from violence and exploitation, ensuring safety for vulnerable individuals.	Sustainable Housing The emphasis on developing affordable and sustainable housing solutions aligns with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, ensuring long-term housing security and urban sustainability.