Title
Dept/ Agency: Health and Community Wellness
Action: (X) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Contract with Grant Recipient
Purpose: To Provide Outreach and Engagement Program to Chronically Homeless Newark Residents
Entity Name: New Jersey Aids Alliance, Inc. d/b/a New Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI)
Entity Address: 393 Central Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07103
Grant Amount: Not to exceed $297,000.00
Funding Source: NW-051-G24-M2420-71280-B2024
Contract Period: April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
(X) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions (X) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale (X) Grant (X) Sub-recipient ( ) N/A
Additional Information:
This Agreement will provide the Department of Health and Community Wellness, Office of Homeless Services, with outreach services for chronically homeless individuals.
Advertised Date: January 13-15, 2026
Proposals Received: Three (3)
Due Date: February 10, 2026
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WHEREAS, pursuant to the State Local Public Contracts Law, as authorized by N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1b(2), the competitive contracting process may be used for the operation, management or administration of a social service program; and
WHEREAS, on January 13, 2026 through January 15, 2026, pursuant to the Fair and Open process of State Pay-to-Play Law, N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5, the City of Newark (the “City”) publicly advertised a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for Outreach and Engagement Program to Chronically Homeless Newark Residents from January 13, 2026 through February 10, 2026, with all proposals due on February 10, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the City received three (3) proposals in response to the RFP from the following vendors: Bridges Outreach Inc., 120 Morris Avenue, Summit, New Jersey 07901, Integrity, Inc., 103 Lincoln Park, Newark, New Jersey 07102 and New Jersey Aids Alliance, Inc. d/b/a Community Research Initiative (NJCRI) 393 Central Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07102; and
WHEREAS, the proposal received from New Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI), 393 Central Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07103, (hereinafter referred to as “Vendor”), was advantageous to the City based on experience and all other criteria listed in the RFP; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Health and Community Wellness, Office of Homeless Services (“DHCW”), desires to enter into an Agreement with the Vendor, for the purpose of providing Outreach and Engagement Program to chronically homeless Newark residents. Services for the contract period of April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Ninety-Seven Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($297,000.00); and
WHEREAS, this Contract is being awarded pursuant to the fair and open procedures of State’s Pay-to-Play Law, N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5, and is in compliance with the City’s Ordinance on Pay-to-Play, R.O. 2:4-22C.1; and
WHEREAS, reporting requirements pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5, et seq. and the City’s Ordinance on Pay-to-Play, R.O. 2:4-22C are only applicable to Business Entities as defined therein and do not include non-profit organizations. As a non-profit organization, the vendor is therefore not required to submit certain disclosure statements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor and/or his designee, and the Director of the Department of Health and Community Wellness (“DHCW”), Office of Homeless Services, are hereby authorized to enter into and execute an Agreement with New Jersey Aids Alliance, Inc. d/b/a New Jersey Community Research Initiative,(NJCRI), 393 Central Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07102 (hereinafter referred to as “Vendor”), in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Ninety Seven Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($297,000.00), for the period of April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, for the purpose of providing outreach and engagement program services to chronically homeless Newark residents which are further described in the “Scope of Services” (attached hereto and made a part thereof).
2. The terms of this Contract may only be waived or amended in writing and signed by the parties duly authorized to execute this Contract, subject to the approval of the Newark Municipal Council by Resolutionand the avaiability of Funds.
3. The Municipal Council ratifies this contract from April 1, 2026 through the date of adoption of this authorizing Resolution.
4. Attached hereto is certification of Funds which states that funds in the amount of Two Hundred Ninety-Seven Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($297,000.00) are available in 2024 Budget under Business Unit: NW051 Dept G24 Div. Proj. M2420, Activity 71280, Account# B2024 in the aforementioned Department of Health and Community Wellness.
5. The Municipal Council ratifies the use of competitive contracting for processing and awarding Housing and Urban Development Entitlement Programs from January 13, 2026, to the date of adoption of this Resolution and authorizes its use in the future.
6. This Contract is being awarded pursuant to the fair and open procedures of the State Pay-to-Play Law, N.J.S.A 19:44A-20.5, State Local Public Contracts Law, including, but not limited to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(b)(2) and/or N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5, and Emergency Housing Program for Newark Residents Individuals and Families.
7. The Director of the DHCW, Office of Homeless Services shall file an executed copy of said Agreement, along with the Certification of Funds with the Office of the City Clerk.
STATEMENT
This Resolution ratifies and authorizes the Mayor and/or his designee, the Director of the Department of Health and Community Wellness, Office of Homeless Services, to enter into an Agreement with New Jersey Aids Alliance, Inc. d/b/a New Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI), 393 Central Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07103, in an amount not to exceed Two Hundred Ninety-Seven Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($297,000.00)for the period of April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027, , to provide outreach and engagement program services to chronically homeless Newark residents.