Active SLED Opportunity · CALIFORNIA · COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
AI Summary
San Mateo County seeks information from organizations interested in supporting a targeted homelessness prevention program. This RFI aims to assess capacity for a new countywide initiative to assist households at high risk of homelessness. Planning is scheduled for early 2026, with no funding awarded through this RFI.
Through this Request for Information (RFI), the San Mateo County Human Services Agency’s Center on Homelessness (COH) seeks to identify organizations interested in supporting a potential Targeted Homelessness Prevention program in San Mateo County. This RFI is part of a market research effort to assess the level of interest and capacity among organizations that could play key roles in implementing a new countywide targeted homelessness prevention initiative currently being designed through a community planning process. Information gathered through this RFI will help inform program design, planning, and potential future procurement efforts.
This RFI provides background information on the targeted homelessness prevention initiative and describes several potential roles that organizations could play in implementing the program. Responses to this RFI are for planning purposes only and do not obligate organizations to take any action in the future.
The County of San Mateo, through its Human Services Agency (HSA) Center on Homelessness (COH), oversees a coordinated homeless crisis response system designed to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness move toward stable housing. COH works countywide and collaborates with community-based organizations, public agencies, housing providers, and other stakeholders to strengthen the local homelessness response system.
COH serves a diverse population that includes families with children, seniors on fixed incomes, youth and young adults, survivors of domestic violence, people with disabilities, and individuals with behavioral health needs. National research indicates that more than half of Americans are one missed paycheck away from serious housing instability, underscoring the financial pressures facing many households.
San Mateo County faces particularly significant housing pressures. In 2025, the average monthly asking rent in the County was estimated at $3,463, and approximately 81 percent of extremely low-income households spent more than half of their income on housing costs. High rents and low vacancy rates increase the risk that financially vulnerable households may lose housing without timely intervention.
San Mateo County has made substantial investments in homelessness prevention programming. To further strengthen these efforts, the County is exploring a more targeted prevention strategy designed to identify and assist households at highest risk of imminent homelessness. A targeted approach has the potential to improve system effectiveness while complementing the County’s existing prevention programs.
The County has received a planning grant to develop this targeted prevention approach. Planning activities are expected to occur during the first three quarters of calendar year 2026.
The RFI response period will remain open until May 1, 2026. Instructions for submitting questions about this initiative are included in the RFI, and responses to all submitted questions will be posted in the OpenGov.
This RFI is issued solely for information-gathering purposes. No funding or contracts will be awarded through this RFI, and responses do not obligate organizations to participate in any future solicitation.
Informational Sessions:
COH will host two informational session(s) to provide an overview of the RFI, clarify objectives, and allow potential respondents to ask general questions regarding the requested information. Attendance is voluntary and not required for submission of a response to this RFI. Verbal questions may be asked during the session; however, all official questions must be submitted in writing in OpenGov in accordance with the RFI’s Question and Answer deadlines. Responses will be posted publicly.
Informational Session 1 - March 30th from 9:00am - 10:00am Microsoft Teams meeting – Link to Join https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/24990448083025?p=mCKkQT9LmuD5sBi0qP Meeting ID: 249 904 480 830 25 Passcode: uw2pY2dw +1 628-212-0105,,456694279# United States, Corte Madera Phone conference ID: 456 694 279#
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Informational Session 2 - April 13th from 3:00pm - 4:00pm Microsoft Teams meeting – Link to meeting join https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/23668825471367?p=jk40wa5tgXlHmLhIkr Meeting ID: 236 688 254 713 67 Passcode: LY6wt248 Dial in by phone +1 628-212-0105,,670811215# United States, Corte Madera Phone conference ID: 670 811 215# |
Attachment A has been edited slightly - the added language is in red font on the Attachment.
Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.
Power Point presentation from the information sessions.
Please see attachment.
Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.
Visit Attachments - Exhibit B to view the Q&A from the second RFI Informational session.
Proposals must be electronically received by 11:30 pm, on Friday, May 1, 2026 via the County's eProcurement system.
Allow sufficient time for the upload to complete by the Due Date and Time. Partial uploads will automatically terminate, and proposals will be rejected. The eProcurement system submission time will be the official submission time. The County will not be responsible for and may not accept proposals that are late due to slow internet connections or for any other failure of the eProcurement system.
NOTE: The County does not maintain the eProcurement system and is not liable for site failures or technical problems. To resolve technical issues, contact OpenGov Technical Support directly by using the real time chat located in the lower right hand corner of the screen, or via email at procurement-support@opengov.com
The County is currently working with community partners to plan a targeted homelessness prevention pilot program that would build on and expand existing homelessness prevention efforts in San Mateo County. This planning work is supported by funds from the national philanthropic initiative Right at Home. The program design will follow Right at Home’s 10 guiding principles while being locally developed and responsive to community needs and priorities.
Right at Home, an initiative of Destination: Home, seeks to substantially reduce the number of individuals and families who lose their homes while laying the groundwork for a future federal homelessness prevention strategy through a targeted prevention model. The initiative aims to prevent hundreds of thousands of families from losing their homes while developing a clear, evidence-based blueprint for a national homelessness prevention strategy.
The Right at Home targeted homelessness prevention model emphasizes:
If implemented, the proposed targeted homelessness prevention program would operate countywide and focus on households most likely to enter homelessness without intervention. The program would prioritize the rapid deployment of financial assistance so that resources can be delivered quickly when they are most needed. Coordinated service delivery across a network of community partners would also be a central component of the program. This effort is intended to complement and coordinate with existing prevention programs in San Mateo County.
COH anticipates that, if implemented, the program will be structured as a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) and evaluated by the Notre Dame Lab for Economic Opportunity (LEO). The evaluation would assess the program’s effectiveness in preventing homelessness and improving housing stability outcomes. Right at Home requires funded programs to operate as RCTs in order to strengthen the evidence base for effective homelessness prevention strategies.
Under this model, eligible households would be randomly assigned either to receive the targeted prevention intervention or to a control group that would remain eligible for other available services. Participating organizations would therefore have responsibilities related to RCT implementation, including enrollment procedures, communication with participants regarding assignment status, adherence to study protocols, and maintaining fidelity to the program model.
Organizations or individuals interested in responding to this solicitation must register online with the County of San Mateo at:
COH seeks to understand the range of entities with experience serving residents at high risk of homelessness and that may be interested in serving in one or more of the following roles:
Project Lead Organization
Lead Fiscal Agent
Service Partner
Outreach Partner
The County anticipates a multi-partner network model with clearly defined and complementary roles. The responsibilities described below are intended as a baseline and may evolve as program development progresses. Respondents may express interest in any number of these roles.
1. Project Lead
There is expected to be one Project Lead, serving as the central coordinating entity for the program network. This organization will oversee partner recruitment and onboarding, contract management, training, guidance dissemination, and consistent implementation across all partners.
Key responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
Ensure the network operates consistently with the locally designed program model and Right at Home’s 10 Guiding Principles, including adherence to the Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) design.
Establish scopes of work and onboard organizations to serve as Service Partners and Outreach Partners; may include soliciting and selecting partners.
Manage contracts with Service and Outreach Partners and potentially execute Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with non-formally contracted partners.
Convene the program network, organize meetings, trainings, and implementation updates, with support from County staff and technical assistance providers.
Lead network-wide communications, issuing program guidance, tools, updates, and implementation materials.
Coordinate closely with the Lead Fiscal Agent and County staff to ensure alignment across service delivery, outreach, financial processes, and data tracking.
Attend national convenings and meetings with other cohort communities as needed.
Interface with the evaluation partner on policy development and related RFP activities.
Collaborate with a portal developer, if a web-based portal or other software is created, to ensure local program needs are met.
2. Lead Fiscal Agent (Financial Partner)
There is expected to be one Lead Fiscal Agent, responsible for financial administration and the rapid deployment of direct assistance. This entity will ensure timely payment processing, fiscal oversight, documentation, and coordination with program leadership.
Key responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
Review financial assistance applications submitted by Service Partners or designated access points for completeness and alignment with program requirements.
Deploy cash assistance rapidly, with a standard turnaround of 72 hours and the capacity for expedited (e.g., 24-hour) response for urgent cases.
Track available funds, obligations, and spend-down to ensure responsible fiscal management.
Maintain financial documentation and reporting in accordance with program requirements.
Coordinate with the Project Lead to identify trends, implementation challenges, or recurring issues requiring policy clarification, process adjustments, or additional partner training.
Provide regular reports on spend-down, key performance metrics, and other program information as requested by the County and Lead Agency.
3. Service Partners
A network approach is anticipated, and multiple Service Partners may participate. Service Partners will engage directly with participants to screen, enroll, and provide supportive services, including RCT enrollment if applicable.
Key responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
Meet with individuals and households at imminent risk of homelessness and guide them through program screening and eligibility determination.
Serve as access points for households seeking targeted prevention services.
Assist eligible households in completing applications for financial assistance and securing required documentation.
Serve the general population or specific sub-populations (e.g., survivors of domestic violence, families with children, youth, seniors, immigrants, individuals with disabilities, or those with behavioral health needs).
Enroll participants in the RCT or communicate assignment to the control group according to program protocols.
Refer households who are ineligible or not enrolled in the RCT to alternative resources (e.g., Emergency Financial Assistance, diversion services, or other supportive programs).
Participate in required trainings, technical assistance sessions, and program briefings.
4. Outreach Partners
Multiple Outreach Partners are anticipated to identify and connect households at high risk of homelessness to targeted prevention resources.
Key responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
Proactively connect with households at high risk and refer them to Service Partners or access points.
Develop outreach and referral systems to reach target populations effectively and equitably.
Assist households in understanding program requirements and preparing applications or securing documents.
Integrate information about available targeted prevention services into existing programs and service touchpoints (e.g., food distribution sites, childcare centers, community clinics, public benefits offices, behavioral health settings).
Incorporate proactive housing instability screening questions into existing intake or assessment processes where appropriate.
Participate in program updates or review implementation briefings to stay informed about program developments and eligibility requirements.
Together, these roles create a coordinated, responsive, and data-informed prevention infrastructure. If funding is secured, services are anticipated to begin in early 2027, with planning and ramp-up activities potentially starting in late 2026.
The Right at Home program is part of a national research study led by the Wilson-Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) and will operate as a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT). Providers selected to implement the program in San Mateo County will collaborate with LEO and its subcontractors to support study activities.
Study Activities Include:
Program enrollment staff participate in training on study enrollment, informed consent, and random assignment procedures.
Program enrollment staff follow study protocols for enrollment, consent, and random assignment.
Data and Research Components:
Depending on their role, providers must log client interactions in HMIS (locally, Clarity). At minimum, data collection will include:
Program enrollment details
Participant identifiers (name, address, date of birth, etc.)
Project entry and exit dates
All eligibility-related factors
Financial assistance disbursements: date, amount, and type (e.g., back rent, security deposit)
Extent and type of supportive services provided
Required Documents
Documents requested in the RFI
Electronic Submissions
Responses must be submitted via the eProcurement website, allowing sufficient time for the upload to complete by the Due Date and Time. As noted above, the eProcurement portal submission time will be the official submission time, and partial uploads will automatically terminate, and responses will be rejected. Contact eProcurement Portal with technical questions regarding this site.
Conflicts between Certain Requirements
It is recommended that organizations complete this registration as soon as possible. The County will not be responsible for and may not accept proposals that are late due to a failure to timely register with the eProcurement system.
Errors in Proposals
The County will not be liable for any errors in proposals. Proposals may be rejected as unresponsive if they are late, incomplete, missing pages or information, or cannot be opened for any reason. The County may waive minor irregularities, but such waiver will not modify any remaining RFI requirements.
San Mateo County faces significant housing instability pressures driven by high rents, limited housing supply, and economic vulnerability among low-income households. A substantial share of extremely low-income households are severely cost-burdened, placing them at heightened risk of eviction and homelessness. As these housing pressures persist, there is an opportunity to complement and strengthen existing prevention efforts through a more targeted homelessness prevention strategy focused on households at the highest risk of entering homelessness imminently.
The County seeks to design a targeted homelessness prevention system that:
Identifies households most likely to enter homelessness without assistance
Deploys financial assistance rapidly (e.g., within 72 hours)
Provides supportive services alongside financial assistance, as needed
Coordinates outreach, service delivery, and fiscal processes across partners
Measures program impact through rigorous evaluation
The project roles described above are intended to work together to prevent households at the highest risk from entering homelessness. For example:
The Project Lead would coordinate the overall network, promote consistency in implementation, and ensure alignment across participating partners.
The Lead Fiscal Agent would support the rapid and accountable deployment of financial resources to stabilize housing in time-sensitive situations.
Service Partners would conduct screening and enrollment and provide direct supportive services to ensure eligible households receive timely assistance and appropriate referrals.
Outreach Partners would proactively identify households at high risk of homelessness and connect them to appropriate access points for services.
COH may or may not follow-up with organizations responding to this RFI via email or virtual meeting to further discuss interest and capacity to fulfill one or more of the designated program roles. No presentations will be requested as part of this RFI.
Organizations interested in providing a response shall complete Attachment A - Letter of Interest and upload here.
The LOI should provide brief, high-level information about your organization’s experience, service capacity, geographic coverage within San Mateo County, populations served, and areas of expertise related to the roles outlined in this RFI (Project Lead, Lead Fiscal Agent, Service Partner, Outreach Partner). For questions requiring more than a Yes/No response, please limit your answers to 500 words per question. Responses exceeding this limit may be truncated or not fully considered. When attaching the LOI please title the file LOI – [Organization Name].
Q (No subject): For out-of-state firms, can the City clarify which California licenses, registrations, or local business license requirements must be in place at the RFQual stage versus after selection for a future program specific contract.
A: This is not an Request for Qualifications and at this time, the County is seeking information through this Request for Information. Should the County issue an RFP in the future, all program/services requirements would be included in that solicitation. The qualification required of all, at a minimum, would be proposers needs to be registered and in good standing with SAM.gov.
Q (No subject): Does the City require a local office in California at the RFQual stage, or would a combination of remote administration and local subcontractor support be acceptable for future assignments?
A: This is a Request for Information issued by the County of San Mateo Human Services Agency. Please review Attachment A and the Scope of Work in this RFI to understand what the requirements are/what the County is seeking at this time.
Q (No subject): For future program specific opportunities, will the City issue mini competitions to all pre-qualified firms, or will the City selectively invite only certain firms from the pool based on the specific program type or funding source?
A: If the County issues a solicitation, it would be via a formal, open, Request for Proposals in OpenGov.
Q (No subject): Can the City clarify whether compensation for future work is expected to be hourly, per-file, per-application, monthly fixed fee, cost reimbursement, or another pricing structure depending on the program?
A: This is a Request for Information to help the County inform a future program or solicitation if issued. At this time that information has not been identified, however typical County payment terms do include fixed fee, cost reimbursement, deliverable based, etc.
Q (No subject): For future federally funded assignments, does the City anticipate the contractor serving only in an administrative support role, or as the entity directly responsible for payment disbursement and fiscal controls?
A: This is a Request for Information that will help the County gather information about potential providers based available to serve in the various roles. Any specific federal funding requirements would be included a Request for Proposals if issued in the future. Please read the Scope of Work to understand the responsibilities of each of the roles.
Q (No subject): Can the City clarify whether multilingual support must be provided directly by the prime contractor, or whether qualified subcontractors or third-party language-access resources are acceptable?
A: The County is seeking to understand the level of experience providers have in fulfilling the roles listed. The question is asking about a future program requirement that hasn't been idetermined yet. The responses received will inform any future solicitation and program.
Q (No subject): Will future program specific solicitations identify estimated application volume, projected payment volume, and expected turnaround times for review and processing?
A: If a solicitation is issued in the future, and the County has historical data and estimates for workload/volume of work, the County would likely include that information.
Q (No subject): Will the City permit one firm to qualify for both rental assistance and business assistance program opportunities, even if the firm intends to use different subcontractors or staffing structures depending on the assignment?
A: This is a Request for Information in which the County is seeking information from potential providers. Please read Attachment A to determine if you wish to provide information. Any specific future program information has not been determined/finalized as this RFI would help inform the future program/solicitation.
Q (No subject): If you submitted a LOI before the addenda, do you need to complete the newer one as well?
A: You are not required to resubmit for this RFI.
Q (Recording of Informational Session):
A: Would be possible to obtain a recording of the informational session for the RFI on Targeted Homelessness Prevention Services? The informational session was not recorded, but the slides and notes were posted.
Q (Cash Assistance Funding & Fiscal Lead Mechanics): Can the County clarify how funding for the flexible cash assistance component is expected to work operationally under the Lead Fiscal Agent role? • Will funds be advanced (e.g., revolving fund model) or reimbursed after disbursement? • Are there preliminary assumptions around per household caps or average assistance levels, or will those be determined during program design? • What fiscal controls are anticipated to balance rapid deployment with accountability?
A: This question relates to operational and fiscal elements of the program that have not yet been finalized. At this stage, the County has not determined the specific funding structure for the flexible cash assistance component, including whether funds would be advanced (e.g., via a revolving fund model) or reimbursed following disbursement. Similarly, the County has not established assumptions regarding per-household caps or average assistance levels, which are expected to be defined through the program design process. The County anticipates that appropriate fiscal controls will be necessary to ensure accountability while enabling timely and effective distribution of assistance; however, specific control mechanisms have not yet been determined. Through this RFI, the County is seeking input from respondents on effective models for administering flexible financial assistance, including funding flow structures, approaches to setting assistance levels, and best practices for balancing rapid deployment with strong fiscal oversight. Respondents are encouraged to provide detailed information on their experience and recommended approaches in these areas. Additional detail may be provided in any future solicitation.
Q (RCT – Frontline Operational Implications): Beyond HMIS participation, are there anticipated operational requirements related to the randomized controlled trial (e.g., staff training, consent processes, participant scripts, or randomization protocols) and/or other research plan activities that partners should be aware of?
A: The information gathered through this RFI will inform any future solicitation and program design. The elements referenced in this question relate to program components that have not yet been determined. At this stage, the County has not established specific operational requirements related to a randomized controlled trial or other research activities. Proposers are directed to Question 7 of the RFI Attachment, which is intended to solicit input on research and evaluation considerations. Respondents are encouraged to provide relevant experience and any recommendations regarding operational requirements associated with such efforts. Additional detail may be provided in any future solicitation.
Q (Workforce Development Integration): While workforce development is not explicitly included in the RFI roles, does the County envision employment or income stabilization services becoming a future component of the Service Partner scope as the program design evolves?
A: This question relates to potential future program components that have not yet been defined. At this stage, the County has not determined whether workforce development, employment, or income stabilization services will be included within the scope of Service Partner responsibilities. The County is using this RFI to gather information to help inform the potential evolution of program design. Respondents are encouraged to provide input on this topic via Q8 on the RFI Attachment, including whether and how such services could be incorporated into a Service Partner scope, as well as any relevant experience delivering similar services. Additional detail regarding program components and scope may be provided in any future solicitation.
Q (Project Lead Authority vs. County Oversight): How does the County currently envision responsibility being divided between COH and the Project Lead? For example, would the Project Lead only coordinate partner activity and reporting, or will the Project Lead have an active role inworkflow design, performance monitoring, and day to day operational decisions?
A: This question pertains to elements of the program design that have not yet been finalized. Proposers are directed to Section 2.2 of the RFI for a description of anticipated roles, as well as the RFI Attachment (specifically Questions 4 and 8), which are intended to solicit input on these topics. Through this RFI, the County is seeking information from the market to help inform the potential structure and allocation of responsibilities between the County and a Project Lead. Respondents should complete the RFI Attachment and clearly indicate the roles and responsibilities they are able to provide, those they are not, and any additional recommendations regarding program design and the role of a Project Lead. Further detail regarding roles and responsibilities may be provided in any future solicitation.
Q (Organization Type): The Letter of Interest form asks respondents to identify their organization type as either a Non‑Profit or Public Agency. Could the County please clarify whether it is also interested in hearing from private organizations with relevant experience delivering, coordinating, and fiscally administering large‑scale public and human services programs? Our organization is a private firm with extensive experience supporting government‑led social services initiatives and multi‑partner program models, and we would like to ensure we are responding in a manner consistent with the County’s intent.
A: Yes, private providers are welcome, feel free to designate this in the RFI attachment if responding.
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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