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Q&A
OAC contract extensions, future RFPs, and service planning considerations
1:09:40
·
7 min
Council Member Crystal Hudson questions DFTA officials about the extension of OAC contracts, plans for future RFPs, and the impact of funding on service delivery. Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez provides insights into DFTA's planning process and challenges.
- OAC contracts have been extended to June 2026, with all contract terms remaining the same
- DFTA plans to release the next RFP approximately six months before the contract expiration
- The agency is considering data from recent surveys and pilot programs to inform future service planning
- DFTA acknowledges that demand for services may outpace available resources, but does not anticipate closing older adult clubs if the funding cliff is addressed
- Concerns are raised about the mismatch between growing needs and current funding levels
Crystal Hudson
1:09:40
Okay.
1:09:41
Thank you.
1:09:42
With the expiration of federal pandemic relief funding and the uncertainty as to whether city funds will be allocated to make up for the expired funds, many providers have expressed great concern about the next OAC RFP and how it may be shaped by the anticipated decrease in funding.
1:09:58
OAC contracts were set to expire on 12/31/2024.
1:10:02
We know NYC Aging extended these contracts and push out the release of a new RFP.
1:10:08
How long were the contracts extended for?
1:10:10
Were all contract terms kept the same when contracts were extended?
1:10:14
And if not, what were the changes?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:10:16
They expire on June 26 and an RFP will be released in anticipation of that.
Crystal Hudson
1:10:28
So all of the contract terms were kept the same, right?
1:10:32
Yes.
Jose Mercado
1:10:33
Yes.
1:10:33
Yes.
Crystal Hudson
1:10:34
Okay.
1:10:35
When does NYC Aging plan to release the next RFP?
1:10:40
How far in advance of that June 2016?
1:10:43
Usually usually
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:10:45
Oh, six months in advance.
Crystal Hudson
1:10:47
Six months in advance of June was January.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:10:51
Somewhat probably January.
Crystal Hudson
1:10:53
But you're talking about they were extended through June of this year, '20 '20 '5?
Jose Mercado
1:10:59
Twenty '6.
1:10:59
Oh,
Crystal Hudson
1:11:00
'26.
1:11:01
I'm Twenty six.
1:11:02
Thank you.
1:11:02
Okay.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:11:06
It just made me panic.
Crystal Hudson
1:11:07
I know because I was like we're in March so okay.
1:11:12
What impact will the decline in budgeted funding have on the parameters or scope of services in the next RFP?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:11:20
Say that again, please.
Crystal Hudson
1:11:21
What impact will the decline in budgeted funding have on the parameters or scope of services in the next RFP?
1:11:30
I guess what I'll rephrase it to say assuming the commitment comes through, that's going to be the same budget in FY '26 as you have in FY '25.
1:11:43
Given the increased population that we know about, increased need in services, how will that budgeted funding have what impact will the budgeted funding have on the parameters or scope of services in the next RFP?
1:12:00
In other words, if the money doesn't increase.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:12:02
And I'm not trying to avoid the question.
1:12:04
Yeah.
1:12:05
But it's when we issue an RFP we have a finite amount of dollars and we look at what is it that we would like to see as deliverables against that.
1:12:18
So either individual contracts will have to be impacted or the number of contracts would have to be impacted.
1:12:27
I mean that's the process that we would use in making the determination of what that dollar amount could fund.
Crystal Hudson
1:12:35
So I mean this is where I would, you know, just reiterate.
1:12:41
And I know I'm in many ways speaking to the choir here, but perhaps for OMB, given all of the changes that we know are happening, given the potential reduction in federal funding, increase in the older adult population, increase in needs and services.
1:13:00
I don't see how it makes any sense morally, fiscally, any other way to keep the same dollars for those increased needs in the next fiscal year and for the next RFP.
1:13:18
We can't keep trying to do more with less.
1:13:21
So just stating that for the record.
1:13:26
Are there any changes to OAC services or contracts that NYC Aging is planning to make in the new RFP?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:13:37
Nothing major that we can think of but we will use the data and the information from the survey that came out.
1:13:54
What are older adults looking for?
1:13:58
And those will probably be dimensions to that.
1:14:02
We also are looking at the results of the pop up kitchens that we've tested for this last year, taking all of that into consideration.
1:14:12
And those will probably influence the way we design food provision and alternatives, of food provision in the RFP.
1:14:22
So all of that data that we're collecting now that will inform us as to what will people respond to, what are people looking for, and will impact the RFP.
Crystal Hudson
1:14:35
Okay, I'm going to come back to that in a second.
1:14:38
But since you mentioned the service needs assessment I did want to just confirm one aspect.
1:14:43
You said you received 8,600 responses from older adults and caregivers with special attention paid in our outreach to those who are not known to any of our programs.
1:14:52
And then you said more than forty percent of respondents indicated they don't attend an OAC.
1:14:57
That forty percent are is the number of the 8,600 that are not already engaged in the network.
1:15:03
Right.
1:15:03
Right?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:15:04
Okay.
1:15:04
And then it's and it's and it's why not and what would you like.
Crystal Hudson
1:15:08
Right.
1:15:10
I would also make the argument that if you were to engage that 40% then we need more money to serve them.
1:15:21
Would you agree?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:15:22
I would agree that the demand would probably outpace the resources.
Crystal Hudson
1:15:27
You would agree that the demand would outpace the resources.
1:15:30
So what do we need to do to get OMB to understand that we need to sort of demand needs to match the resources or resources needs to match the demand?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:15:40
You know it is a conversation we're constantly having with OMB.
1:15:47
Not only around OACs but around some of the other growing needs around caregiving.
1:15:52
And I trust that they are listening to us in earnest and will be responsive to some of those issues that we raise with them.
1:16:05
Okay.
Crystal Hudson
1:16:06
You've got more trust in them than I do, will admit.
1:16:11
If funding is not increased in fiscal twenty twenty six and the out years, how many centers does NYC Aging estimate will be left out of the RFP, and what percentage of services would need to be reduced?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:16:29
I want to make sure that I'm answering the question for If the fiscal cliff is not addressed?
Crystal Hudson
1:16:36
No, no, no.
1:16:37
Well, this says specifically if funding is not increased.
1:16:42
So if the fiscal cliff is addressed, then funding remains the same.
1:16:45
Right.
1:16:46
So if funding is not increased beyond that, beyond filling that gap Okay.
1:16:51
How many centers does NYC Aging estimate will be left out of the RFP and what percentage of services would need to be reduced?
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:17:00
We don't anticipate any.
1:17:02
We don't anticipate any.
1:17:03
We would do the exercise that I described before.
1:17:06
Is look at the dollar amounts and look at the impact.
1:17:12
I'm not anticipating a closure of older adult clubs if the funding cliff gets addressed.
Crystal Hudson
1:17:22
Okay.
1:17:23
Let me go to council member Mealy for a follow-up question.