Item - 2020.EC18.9

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to negotiate and enter into a new non-competitive contract with Neighbourhood Information Post for rent bank administration services in the amount of $1,098,348 gross and net $0 for the period of January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2023.

The purpose of this report is to seek City Council authority for the General Manager, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, to enter into a non-competitive contract with Neighbourhood Information Post to ensure ongoing Toronto Rent Bank administration services for the period of January 1, 2021 to March 31, 2023. The potential contract value for the Toronto Rent Bank administration services is $1,098,348 Gross and Net $0.

The Toronto Rent Bank provides interest-free loans to low income tenants in imminent danger of losing their homes due to rental arrears, and to low income tenants for first and/or last month's rent deposits who are moving to more affordable and/or stable housing. The Toronto Rent Bank consists of a Rent Bank Loan Fund, from which funding for loans is drawn and repaid loans are deposited, and Rent Bank Administration. Both components of the Toronto Rent Bank are provincially funded.

In 2015, Neighbourhood Information Post (NIP) was successful in Request for Proposal (RFP) Number 9121-14-7149 to provide Rent Bank Administration. NIP's contract for Rent Bank Administration ended on September 30, 2020 and a bridge contract for the period October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 is currently in process to cover requirements pending approval of this report. A review of the Rent Bank program commenced in 2019, with the objective of incorporating recommended program changes into the RFP for Rent Bank Administration in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the completion of the review was delayed and implementation was put on hold. As a result, the new competitive procurement process for Rent Bank Administration services did not proceed during this time.

At present, NIP continues to administer the Toronto Rent Bank, meeting current requirements at fair market pricing. Based on their ability to meet our requirements and provide specialized services, the delays in the Rent Bank review, and the impact of COVID-19 on the procurement process, a non-competitive procurement with Neighbourhood Information Post is required to ensure ongoing Rent Bank service delivery. The continuation of the Toronto Rent Bank under the administration of NIP for an additional two-year period will permit staff to complete the program review and plan a procurement process for Rent Bank services starting April 1, 2023 that will incorporate the results of the review, as well as consider additional service revisions related to the COVID-19 pandemic response.

City Council approval is required under Municipal Code Chapter 195 Purchasing, where the current request exceeds the Chief Purchasing Official's authority of the cumulative five-year commitment for each vendor, under Article 7, Section 195-7.3D of the Purchasing By-law or exceeds the threshold of $500,000 net of HST allowed under staff authority as per the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71 - Financial Control, Section 71-11A.