SLED Opportunity · GEORGIA · COUNTY OF DEKALB, GA

    Constituent Financial Empowerment Services (Three (3) Year Multiyear Contract with One (1) Option to Renew)

    Issued by County of DeKalb, GA
    countyRFPCounty of DeKalb, GASol. 237552
    Closed
    STATUS
    Closed
    due Mar 19, 2026
    PUBLISHED
    Feb 16, 2026
    Posting date
    JURISDICTION
    County of
    county
    NAICS CODE
    624190
    AI-classified industry

    AI Summary

    County of DeKalb, GA seeks proposals for a three-year contract to provide constituent financial empowerment services including homeownership counseling, financial literacy, credit counseling, and small business technical assistance.

    Opportunity details

    Solicitation No.
    237552
    Type / RFx
    RFP
    Status
    open
    Level
    county
    Published Date
    February 16, 2026
    Due Date
    March 19, 2026
    NAICS Code
    624190AI guide
    State
    Georgia
    Agency
    County of DeKalb, GA

    Description

    The County of DeKalb, GA (the "County"), is soliciting sealed responses for Constituent Financial Empowerment Services (Three (3) Year Multiyear Contract with One (1) Option to Renew). Responses are to be submitted via the County's eProcurement Portal via https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/dekalbcountyga PRIOR TO 3:00 pm on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Late responses will not be accepted.

    Project work includes homeownership counseling, financial literacy and credit counseling, and facilitation of technical assistance for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

    Background

    DeKalb County, Georgia is a diverse and economically dynamic jurisdiction within the Atlanta metropolitan region. Despite sustained population growth, expanding employment opportunities, and a strong base of small businesses and institutions, many County residents and entrepreneurs continue to face structural barriers to long-term financial stability, wealth creation, and economic mobility. Homeownership counseling, financial literacy and credit counseling, and small business technical assistance represent proven, evidence-based strategies for addressing these challenges in a coordinated and cost-effective manner.

    Project Details

    • Reference ID: 2026-006-RFP
    • Department: Purchasing & Contracting
    • Department Head: Michelle Butler (Chief Procurement Officer)

    Important Dates

    • Questions Due: 2026-03-02T22:00:20.975Z
    • Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-02-24T19:30:15.158Z — https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jO5p2OhNRQOgacQI4JmR8Q

    Meetings & Milestones

    EventDateLocation
    DeKalb First LSBE Meeting (Responders must attend 1 meeting on either of the dates listed.) *(attendance required)*https://www.dekalbcountyga.gov/purchasing-contracting/general-information

    Addenda

    • Addendum #1 (released 2026-03-18T19:46:33.141Z) —

      Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.

    • Addendum #2 (released 2026-03-18T20:02:46.285Z) —

      Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.

    • Addendum #3 (released 2026-03-24T18:49:25.413Z) —

      Questions and Answers Report attached.

    Evaluation Criteria

    • Technical Approach (15 pts)
      • Responders are required to describe the procedures and methods that will achieve the required outcome of the project as specified herein;
      • Include a listing of the County’s responsibilities and the Responder’s responsibilities required to complete the project; and
      • Provide a project schedule at the task level starting with the receipt of the Notice to Proceed and ending with project completion. 
      • Sample Curriculum and Course Examples: Responders shall submit representative samples of curriculum materials, course outlines, or instructional content relevant to the services proposed under this RFP, including but not limited to homeownership counseling, financial literacy and credit counseling, and/or small business technical assistance. Samples may include agendas, learning objectives, participant materials, or workshop outlines. 
    • Project Management (15 pts)
      • Describe how the project will be organized and managed;
      • Describe progress reporting procedures for the project;
      • Include the anticipated use of subcontractors or vendors; and
      • Describe the resources necessary to accomplish the purpose of the project.
    • Personnel (15 pts)
      • Identify the individuals who will be part of the project team and indicate the specific task level at which each will contribute;
      • Include any outside personnel, such as subcontractors; and
      • Provide detailed resumes of team members and subcontractors who will be directly working on the project, including documentation of required certifications, as applicable.
    • Organizational Qualifications (20 pts)

      Describe Responder’s experience, capabilities, and other qualifications for this project.

      • Minimum five (5) years of relevant experience providing homeownership counseling, financial literacy, credit counseling, and/or small business technical assistance.
      • Qualified staff with appropriate certifications, training, and professional credentials, including at least one (1) HUD-Certified Housing Counselor, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), must be assigned to deliver housing counseling services. Other related certifications are preferred but not mandatory.
      • Experience serving diverse and underserved populations including participation in community-based outreach or engagement efforts.
      • References and/or identification of prior or existing consulting clients, partners, and/or partnership engagements.
      • Capacity to deliver services within DeKalb County.
      • Strong data tracking, performance measurement, and reporting capabilities.
    • Financial Responsibility (10 pts)
      • Responder must provide financial statements for the last three (3) years that evidences the responder’s financial capabilities to perform the scope of work. (Audited statements are preferable but a minimum of balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement may be accepted.); and
      • Provide year of incorporation/establishment.
    • References (5 pts)
      • Responder shall provide three (3) references for projects similar in size and scope to the project specified herein using the Contractor Reference and Release Form attached hereto as Attachment F; and
      • Provide three (3) references for each subcontractor proposed as a part of the project team.  The references shall be for the same or similar types of services to be performed by the subcontractor (including LSBE-DeKalb and LSBE-MSA firms) on projects similar in size and scope to the project outlined in this RFP.  Use Attachment G, Subcontractor Reference, and Release Form.  Make additional copies as needed.
    • Local Small Business Enterprise Participation (10 pts)
    • Cost Proposal (10 pts)

      Responders shall complete the Cost Proposal Form in its entirety. All costs shall be stated in U.S. Dollars. Failure to complete all required sections of this Cost Proposal Form, including the annual cost, will result in the proposal being deemed non-responsive.

    Submission Requirements

    • Submittal of Technical Proposal (without Cost) and Required Documents (required)

      Please Upload your COMPLETE response, including any and all required forms listed in the solicitation and the corresponding attachments.

      (Do not upload cost information in here)

    • Submittal of Separate Cost Proposal (required)

      Confirm that your fee proposal is not attached in your Proposal and is attached separately here.

    • I certify that I have read, understood and agree to the terms in this solicitation, and that I am authorized to submit this response on behalf of my company. (required)
    • Pricing (required)
      • Choose Option 1 when you have set line items, for example:
        • This is a quote for goods or commodities.
        • This is a public works bid, with a pricing table that can be uploaded into OpenGov Procurement from an Excel spreadsheet.
        • Seeking services for hourly rate schedules.
      • Choose Option 2 when you need vendors to provide you with the line items. 
    • Evaluation Committee? (required)

      Will there be an evaluation committee to review the proposals and score them based on weights and multiple criteria?

    • Procurement and/or Project Contact

      Select the information you would like display.

    Questions & Answers

    Q (National Industry Standards): Must the Agency be an Adopter of The National Industry Standards?

    A: Please refer to Addenda #3 for response.


    Q (Scope of Work): The scope of work outlines the following limitations to the # of sessions/services per individual: I am wondering about the following: Contractor shall offer up to four (4) sessions per resident but shall be limited to three (3) sessions per individual, per service category. Is this an error in the RFP? If an individual needs 4 services in only one area, can they have 4 sessions or are they limited to 3?

    A: Please refer to Addenda #3 for response.


    Q (Questions for organization): For homeownership counseling, are you expecting 1:1 counseling only, group workshops, or a defined mix? Any required ratios? What’s the expected volume: projected number of constituents served annually (by service type)? Are there eligibility rules (income, residency, priority populations, documentation required) beyond basic County residency? Do you require in-person delivery, virtual, or hybrid? Any minimum in-person presence by location? Do you have preferred languages and interpretation requirements? Will the County provide space for counseling/workshops, or should the Prime secure locations? If space is provided: what sites, hours, equipment (computers, printers), and any security/badge requirements? Are there constraints for evening/weekend programming? What counts as a “small business served” (intake only, completed coaching plan, attended a workshop, received 1:1 hours)? Are there preferred partners (SBA, SBDCs, chambers) the County wants integrated? Are there specific business TA topics the County prioritizes (licensing, capital readiness, bookkeeping, procurement readiness)? For the required HUD-certified housing counselor certification, do you require it for all housing counselors or just lead staff? Are background checks, insurance limits, or other county compliance requirements expected at award (beyond what’s in the RFP package)? Any required data privacy/security standards (HIPAA-like, CJIS, encryption, retention schedules)? How will referrals flow—County intake → Prime, or will the Prime do outreach and intake directly? Who are the key County stakeholders we coordinate with (department contacts, community partners)? Are there existing County programs we must align with to avoid duplication? What system do you want reporting in (County template, Excel, Salesforce, HMIS-like system, custom portal)? What is the required quarterly reporting format and who approves it? What are the target outcomes you care most about (credit score improvements, debt reduction, mortgage readiness, business revenue growth, access to capital)? Do you want baseline + follow-up measures at specific intervals (30/60/90 days, 6 months)? Do you have preferred curriculum standards (HUD modules, NFCC-style, FDIC Money Smart, etc.) or is proposer-designed acceptable? Are you expecting curriculum samples to be final deliverables or illustrative examples? Should materials be branded with the County? Budget and pricing assumptions (to protect your cost proposal) Is the contract budget capped or do you have a target range? Are certain costs allowable/non-allowable (client incentives, credit reports, interpretation, travel, facility rental)? Is the lump sum tied to a minimum service volume (i.e., will scope adjust if demand exceeds projections)? When is the expected start date and how fast do you want “go-live”? Is there an incumbent provider? If yes, will the County facilitate a transition (data handoff, warm referrals)? Are there LSBE participation goals for this procurement, and how will they be evaluated? What documentation does the County expect for LSBE compliance during performance (monthly reporting, payroll, subcontractor utilization)?

    A: Please refer to Addenda #3 for responses.


    Key dates

    1. February 16, 2026Published
    2. March 19, 2026Responses Due

    AI classification tags

    Frequently asked questions

    SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.

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