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ARRA Faq
DENVER HOUSING AUTHORITY
AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT FUNDS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S)
November 3, 2009
1. What is ARRA?
The federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 was signed into law on February 17, 2009, and was established to help stimulate local economies, create new jobs, retain jobs and address infrastructure needs. The Recovery Act includes the designation of $1 billion in public housing capital funds. For more national information visit http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/home.aspx
2. How much did DHA receive in ARRA stimulus grants?
The Denver Housing Authority was recently awarded several competitive HUD stimulus grants and related American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding. These grants will allow DHA to invest over $35 million in new construction, modernization and energy efficiency improvements to DHA affordable housing portfolio, leveraging over $100 million in total investments. For more HUD ARRA information visit: http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/RECOVERY
3. Are there any restrictions to the ARRA stimulus funds?
The federal stimulus program mandates new policies, statutory guidelines and stringent reporting requirements for all stimulus grant agencies, administrators, project contractors and subcontractors. These guidelines include, but are not limited to: detailed and accurate monthly reporting of job hours, jobs created and retained, Davis Bacon wages, Resident Employment (Section3) and Buy America provisions. Most prominent of these requirements is that all contracted work must be obligated within 12 months.
4. How will DHA use the ARRA funds?
As part of the ARRA public housing capital fund formula award, DHA must use the funds in accordance with projects identified for capital improvements of public housing row-type, high-rise, dispersed portfolio and non-residential properties. The ARRA capital fund formula includes, but is not limited to: small, medium and large capital improvement projects such as roof replacements, exterior and interior improvements, landscaping, installation of energy efficient systems, retrofits for ADA compliance, and A&E work.
Contract work examples may include:
- Design-build and A&E work for interior and exterior improvements to the DHA Mulroy property, its Community Center and enhancements to improve pedestrian access to its future neighborhood Light Rail station.
- Unit modernization and installation of energy efficient and renewable energy systems at Westwood Homes, a 192-unit public housing complex. New construction of a LEED-certified, 90-unit multi-family property at the Park Avenue Redevelopment.
- New construction of the South Lincoln Homes Senior Mid-Rise, a 100–unit LEED-certified, senior building, including community and retail space.
5. The DHA projects appear to be large scale. Will small and medium-size companies be able to participate?
The ARRA funds will present contracting opportunities at a variety of levels – small, medium and large projects. Also, each prime contractor selected will be required to address small, minority and woman business subcontracting goals.
DHA strongly encourages partnering arrangements, joint ventures and teaming relationships that result in maximizing the use of small, medium and large contractors in our community.
6. How soon will DHA begin these construction projects?
Due to the aggressive timetable for obligating ARRA funds within 12 months, DHA issued the first request for proposals (RFP) for Design-Build Services for Phase I of the South Lincoln Redevelopment project in early October. Additional proposals will be announced on the DHA Web site at http://www.denverhousing.org/Procurement/Templates/EProcurement/Suppliers/VendorHomePage.aspx Please log on to the site and ensure that your company is registered as a DHA Qualified Vendor. We also encourage you to visit the site regularly to keep informed of all new procurement opportunities.
7. How does my company get included in ARRA contracting?
Your company needs to be registered with DHA’s Procurement Services in order to receive information regarding contracting opportunities. If you are not yet registered, log on to http://www.denverhousing.org/Procurement/Templates/VendorRegistration.aspx or go directly to http://www.denverhousing.org/Procurement to Login.
8. What happens once my company is registered?
Your firm is included in DHA’s vendor database and you will immediately begin receiving electronic notification of solicitations and amendments that are within your selected commodity code(s).
9. Is it possible to access RFPs electronically?
Yes, DHA’s web site connects you to our eProcurement page, where we maintain a list of the most current schedule of IFB/RFP/RFQ
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