On April 13, 2020 DHCD received one response that included six (6) questions regarding the Community Land Trust Consultant RFP. Below are the six questions and the Department’s response:

1. Page 10 of the RFP states that the anticipated term of the agreement will be for a minimum of twelve (12) months with options to extend for two (2) additional six-month terms. Does DHCD have a preferred timeline and an anticipated start date?

See schedule to page 10 of the DHCD Community Land Trust Consultant RFP for the preferred timeline. DHCD anticipates approval of a consultant contract no later than the June 24, 2020 Board of Estimates meeting and negotiating the terms of the Contract immediately following announcement of an Award.  The selected consultant would be expected to begin work upon approval of their contract by the Board of Estimates.

2. Are there any funding or budget constraints related to this RFP that respondents should be aware of?

DHCD has allocated finds to sufficiently cover the scope of work described in the RFP.

3. Are there any additional adjustments to the scope or background information given the COVID-19 pandemic? For example,  could any of the funding currently allocated for this project or for CLTs in general through the housing trust fund be re-allocated elsewhere?

Community Land Trusts were identified as a priority in the Affordable Housing Trust Spending Plan that was approved in January 2020.  Any changes to spending priorities will be subject to approval by the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Commission.

Link to spending plan:
https://dhcd.baltimorecity.gov/sites/default/files/AHTFAllocation%20Plan%20Revised%201-31-2020.pdf

4. Page 4 of the RFP refers to six established community-based organizations with established land trusts. What are the names of the six organizations?

The six (6) Community Land Trust organizations referred to in this RFP are:

1. North East Housing Institute
2. Curtis Bay in Collaboration with the Greater Baybrook Alliance
3. Cherry Hill Community Development Corporation
4. Westport Community Economic Development Corporation
5. Charm City Land Trust
6. Remington Housing Working Group

5. Page 5 of the RFP lists tasks 3.3 as “evaluate capacity and business plans of the City’s existing community land trusts”. Has the city confirmed that the six community land trusts plus SHARE have current business plans? If not, would providing the CLT with support to produce a business plan be a part of this overall scope?

SHARE Baltimore is working with the above-listed land trusts to develop business and strategic plans. At this time, it is not DHCD’s intent to provide technical assistance to the CLT developers through this RFP.

6. Will the extent of the City’s relationship with each of the CLT organizations be as a funder or will there be other agreements or restrictions enacted?

The Department’s relationship with each of the above-mentioned land trusts will be as a funder.