QUESTION
When will the next Request for Proposals (RFP) for older adult centers be released, and what plans are there for extensions?
0:51:25
·
3 min
The RFP for older adult centers will see its existing contracts expire in December 2024, with plans for extensions to align with fiscal year timings and to address funding shortfalls.
- Contracts are currently set to expire in December 2024.
- The Department of the Aging plans to extend these contracts initially by six months to transition to a fiscal year timeline.
- Following the initial extension, there's potential for another year's extension, contingent on funding availability.
- During this period, the Department will also explore addressing funding shortfalls for the RFP.
- The impact of funding reductions on the scope of services for older adult centers and future RFPs is acknowledged and under review.
Crystal Hudson
0:51:25
When will the next RFP for older adult centers be released?
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:51:29
They go through July.
Jose Mercado
0:51:33
Right.
0:51:33
So they're actually they're expiring in December of 2024.
0:51:37
4.
0:51:38
That's when they expire.
0:51:39
Our goal is to extend them.
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:51:40
To extend them.
Jose Mercado
0:51:41
And extend them forward to journey for a year.
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:51:44
So that we could then have go back to a fiscal year rather than a calendar.
Jose Mercado
0:51:50
And at the same time, to your point, is basically look at the funding shortfalls and seeks start advocating for additional funding for the RFP.
Crystal Hudson
0:51:59
You would extend them for a a year or a
Jose Mercado
0:52:01
So the idea would
Crystal Hudson
0:52:02
be sorry.
0:52:03
6 months a year to get you to the fiscal
Jose Mercado
0:52:05
6 months, extend it for 6 months, and then it would basically be on the fiscal year.
Crystal Hudson
0:52:09
Right.
Jose Mercado
0:52:09
Alright.
0:52:09
But it would be then is to then if, again, do another year extension, if possible, funding is not available.
Crystal Hudson
0:52:16
Okay.
0:52:17
You'll do a year extension after the 6 month?
Jose Mercado
0:52:20
Yeah.
0:52:20
Right.
0:52:20
Mhmm.
0:52:21
Yeah.
0:52:21
From between now and then, we make give out years fixed or not, and that's when we'll be looking
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:52:26
at this.
Crystal Hudson
0:52:27
And what about the impact that the funding reduction will have on the parameters or scope of services?
0:52:35
And the next RFP?
Jose Mercado
0:52:38
Well, I I think, for example, I mean, it would basically impact the programs in this, if the funding is not restored.
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:52:45
I'm lost in the conversation here.
Jose Mercado
0:52:47
She's talking about that here.
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:52:48
She's talking about 27.
Crystal Hudson
0:52:50
Correct.
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:52:50
Yeah.
0:52:50
Alright.
Crystal Hudson
0:52:51
I mean, well, technically, all of the years, but I know you're specifically referring to
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:52:56
Yeah.
0:52:56
2425 You're saying you're good.
Jose Mercado
0:52:58
In 26 weeks,
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:53:00
there'll be no major impact.
Crystal Hudson
0:53:02
Right.
Jose Mercado
0:53:02
We're good in 26.
0:53:03
We're concerned with 27 and beyond.
Crystal Hudson
0:53:05
Yeah.
0:53:06
Okay.
0:53:07
And is NYC aging advocating for the restoration of these pegs and the creative plan.
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:53:12
We're always in negotiations with OMV about, you know, what our what our growth is what our new needs are, and that is a constant conversation without one big.
Crystal Hudson
0:53:23
But are you are you explicitly advocating for the restoration of the pegs based on the the growth and your needs.
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:53:34
I would just say that we are constantly advocating for our needs, and so I don't know that I would say that it's for the act act restoration.
0:53:41
It.
Crystal Hudson
0:53:42
Okay.
0:53:44
I have plenty more questions, but I know that some of my colleagues do as well.
0:53:48
I'm gonna turn to my colleagues, and then I'll come back.
Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez
0:53:52
What what I don't wanna lose in this conversation is that As we start looking at maintaining and growing the network that we have, there are other services that are priorities.
0:54:05
Right?
0:54:06
And we've had this discussion before.
0:54:08
Because as the pattern continues, we need caregiving to increase as more and more older adults.
0:54:15
Age in and need caregivings, and their family members need caregiving.
0:54:19
And then with that is there's a companion home care.
0:54:23
So I think about the network as we know it, but I also think about these priorities and this growing need that we see moving forward.
Crystal Hudson
0:54:32
Okay.
0:54:33
Fair.
0:54:33
Thank you.
0:54:35
Council member Shulman.
Lynn C. Schulman
0:54:37
Thank you, Chair Hudson, and thank you madam speaker for your leadership.
0:54:41
So I wanna just piggyback on what you said because you're talking about the needs in the future.
0:54:46
So I'm gonna talk about transportation, which is a part of which I think is a part of that.
0:54:51
Older adults that reside in transportation deserts in Southeast Queens often have difficulty reaching older adult centers, transportation providers, have indicated that lack of funding is the primary reason for this.
0:55:03
Last year, New York City Aging modified the terms of its older adult transportation contract prohibiting trips to older adult centers.
0:55:11
This is a concerning change as New York City Aging had historically allowed nonprofit organizations to use the contract to cover the cost of bringing adults to and from centers each day.