Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Three-Year Agreement with Nossaman LLP to Provide Grant Funding Development, Grant Proposal Writing, and Grant Funding Follow Up, in an Amount not to Exceed $72,000 with the Option of Two Three-Year Extensions, for a Nine-Year Amount Not to Exceed $216,000. (City Manager 2110)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Grant funding is critical to the City of Alameda (City) being able to serve the community. Since 2013, Nossaman LLP has been providing the City with grant fund development, grant proposal writing, and grant funding follow-up. At this time, staff is asking the City Council to approve a new three-year agreement, with the option of two three-year extensions, based on Nossaman’s proven performance and an ongoing need for identifying, writing, applying for, and following up on grant funding opportunities for the City. The total not to exceed compensation for the initial three-year agreement is $72,000.
BACKGROUND
Since 2013, Nossaman has worked in partnership with the City to secure over $12 million in grant funding. These successes include:
• Securing over $200,000 for Estuary Park through the Housing Related Parks Program for the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD);
• Submitting an application with ARPD for the Active Transportation Program to fund the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Cross Alameda Trail, successfully securing over $2.2 million;
• Working with ARPD to submit an application for funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and were successfully awarded $2 million for the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Phase A;
• Working with the Transportation Department to submit an Active Transportation Program application for Central Avenue and successfully secured over $7.3 million;
• Securing $124,000 for the Littlejohn Park playground through the Housing Related Parks Program for ARPD; and
• Submitting a grant application for a Climate Adaptation plan and successfully secured $236,000 to outline climate adaptation implementation strategies.
Nossaman LLP wrote additional grant applications, such as to CalFire for Urban Forest expansion, and provides independent review of grant applications written by staff. Even though not all grants were successful in this highly competitive area, Nossaman staff follow up to connect City staff with grant program staff to discuss how future grants can be improved to be more successful. Nossaman LLP also meets each year with Department Heads to review priorities and regularly emails updates and information on available grant funding sources.
Staff recommends awarding a three-year contract to Nossaman LLP in the amount of $72,000. The contract also permits two three-year extensions of the contract, for up to six additional years, and up to $216,000 total compensation for the contract, at the sole discretion of the City Manager, based upon satisfactory performance of all aspects of the contract and subject to budgetary approval.
DISCUSSION
City staff and Nossaman LLP recently worked together on the following grant proposal:
• Hellman Foundation LAUNCH Grant: The City is working with several partners to expand the College of Alameda FabLab and open it to all community members. This grant could provide up to $100,000 a year for three years. The application was submitted on April 1, 2019.
Nossaman continues to seek grant funding for the following programs areas:
• Homelessness - for enhanced social services and community based transitional housing
• Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter - for spay, neuter, and other services
• Energy Efficiency - for solar and Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure
• Stormwater and Sea Level Rise - for infrastructure and other initiatives
The team at Nossaman has experience securing tens of millions of dollars in state funding for local projects, and has the ability to assist the City in the continued development of competitive proposals that will provide grant funding for priority projects. Nossaman’s services include:
• Meet with City representatives to discuss the priority projects for which we are seeking grant funds;
• Develop a strategic plan to seek grant funding for the City’s priority projects that outlines the opportunities, timing, and probability of securing funds;
• Provide timely updates regarding upcoming grant opportunities;
• Coordinate meetings with grant making agencies and organizations to review potential City projects;
• Review grant applications and related materials and provide feedback on approach;
• Coordinate support for grant applications from legislative representatives;
• Maintain regular communication with City representatives and the grant making agency regarding the progress of the grant review process; and
• Assist the City with any follow up needed once the grant funds have been secured.
ALTERNATIVES
• Approve a 3-year agreement with two options with Nossaman.
• Approve a 3-year agreement without options.
• Approve a 1 year agreement and request an RFP for 2020-2021.
• Do not approve the agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
For the above scope of services, Nossaman will continue to receive a monthly retainer of $2,000, terminating on May 31, 2022. For grant writing services, a flat fee per application will be negotiated once an opportunity has been identified. Over the last four years, the annual amount paid in flat fees has ranged from $3,850 to $13,650, based on the grant applications’ scope of work. These flat fees are paid from the appropriate department budgets, who are applying to those grants. The budget for this contract is included in the General Fund non-departmental program.
|
Contract |
Amount Proposed |
Expended to Date |
|
Original Contract |
$72,000 |
$0 |
|
Potential 1st Amendment |
$72,000 |
$0 |
|
Potential 2nd Amendment |
$72,000 |
$0 |
|
Total |
$216,000 |
$0 |
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is in conformance with the Alameda Municipal Code and all policy documents.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not subject to environmental review as the activity is not a "project" for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is an organizational or administrative activity of the City that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. CEQA Guidelines, section 15378(b)(5).
CLIMATE IMPACTS
There are no climate impacts from authorizing this agreement for grant writing services.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute a three-year agreement in an amount not to exceed $72,000 with Nossaman LLP to provide grant funding development, grant proposal writing, and grant funding follow up, with the option of two three-year extensions, for a nine-year amount not to exceed $216,000.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends approval to execute a three-year agreement in an amount not to exceed $72,000 with Nossaman LLP.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Henry, Public Information Officer
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit
1. Contract
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager