PILLAR: Core
AGENDA DATE: November 12, 2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 9
DEPARTMENT: Office of Procurement Services
PRIORITY: Targeted Economic Growth
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize a one-year service contract for financial counseling services from November 12, 2025 through November 11, 2026, for the Office of Housing and Community Empowerment - International Rescue Committee, Inc., most advantageous proposer of seven - Not to exceed $175,000.00 - Financing: Financial Empowerment Centers Grant Fund (subject to annual appropriations)
*In alignment with Drivers of Opportunity nexus.
Body
BACKGROUND
This service contract will provide for financial counseling services for the Office of Housing and Community Empowerment. The service contract provides opportunities to integrate professional one-on- one financial coaching/counseling as a free public service into existing service delivery models. These services strategically align financial counseling as a core City function embedded within additional resources like utility assistance, food assistance, and workforce development programs. Thus, enabling Dallas residents to access a variety of services and resources such as asset building activities to facilitate sustained financial stability for low-to-moderate income clients and leveraging collaborative partnerships unique to the City.
This service contract will cover financial counseling services at the financial empowerment center located at 6500 Greenville Avenue, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas, 75206. Financial counseling services are available at no cost to all City residents above the age of 18.
A five-member committee from the following departments reviewed and evaluated the qualifications:
• Dallas Water Utilities Department (1)
• Office of Housing and Community Empowerment (3)
• Office of Procurement Services (1)*
*The Office of Procurement Services evaluated cost.
The committee selected the successful respondents on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications under the following criteria:
• Organizational capacity evaluation 30 points
• Programming work 30 points
• Cost and budget 20 points
• Evaluation plan 20 points
As part of the solicitation process and in an effort to increase competition, the Office of Procurement Services used its procurement system to send out email notifications to vendors registered under relevant commodity codes. To further increase competition, the Office of Procurement Services uses historical solicitation information, the Internet, and vendor contact information obtained from user departments to contact additional vendors.
On November 10, 2015, the City Council authorized a living wage policy that requires contractors to pay their employees a “living wage” rate as established annually by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Living Wage Calculator for Dallas County by Resolution No. 15-2141. The calculated living wage during the solicitation process of this contract is $22.05; the selected vendor meets this requirement.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
The Workforce, Education and Equity Committee was briefed on the “Financial Empowerment Centers Planning and Update”, providing an overview of planned programming and solicitation on January 11, 2021.
On April 28, 2021, the City Council authorized a Financial Empowerment Centers Planning Grant from Cities for Financial Empowerment, Inc. to access funding and technical assistance related to Financial Empowerment Centers programming by Resolution No. 21-0694.
On September 22, 2021, the City Council authorized the FY22 Biennial Budget, inclusive of funding to support Financial Empowerment Centers by Resolution No. 21-1590.
On September 28, 2022, the City Council authorized a two-year service contract with Women In Need of Generous Support dba WiNGS for financial counseling services at three financial empowerment centers for the Office of Community Care by Resolution No. 22-1468.
On January 22, 2025, the City Council authorized the City Manager to reject all bids received for solicitation BCZ24-00024942, by Resolution No. 25-0218.
The Quality of Life, Arts, and Culture Committee was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on October 20, 2025. <https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/Council%20Materials/QOLAC%20Memo%20-%20Upcoming%20OPS%20Item%20for%20HCE%20-%20FEC%20-%2010.21.25.pdf>
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2026 |
FY 2027 |
Future Years |
|
Financial Empowerment Centers Grant Fund |
$175,000.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
LOCAL PARTICIPATION
|
Prime |
Status |
Workforce % |
|
International Rescue Committee, Inc. |
Local |
37.30% |
PROCUREMENT INFORMATION
Method of Evaluation for Award Type:
|
Request for |
• Utilized for professional, personal, revenue, and planning services |
|
Proposal |
• Recommended offeror is the responsible offeror whose proposal most closely meets established criteria for the services advertised, based on demonstrated competence and qualifications at a fair and reasonable price |
|
|
• Always involves the evaluation by committee |
|
|
• Allows for negotiation on contract terms, including price |
The Office of Procurement Services received the following proposals from solicitation number BWZ25-00027921. We opened them on August 1, 2025. We recommend the City Council award this service contract in its entirety to the most advantageous proposer.
*Denotes successful proposer
Proposers Address Score
*International Rescue 6500 Greenville Avenue 96.00
Committee, Inc. Suite 500
Dallas, TX 75060
Catholic Charities 1421 West Mockingbird Lane 89.75
of Dallas, Inc. Dallas, TX 75247
Harmony Community 6969 Pastor Bailey Drive 89.50
Development Corporation Suite 110
Dallas, TX 75237
BCL of Texas 1011 San Jacinto Boulevard 88.00
Suite 500
Austin, TX 78701
Services Of Hope 1137 Conveyor Lane 87.75
Dallas, TX 75247
Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr. 2606 Martin Luther King Boulevard 85.75
Community Outreach Suite 202
Center Dallas, TX 75215
Realford Consulting 8500 North Stemmons Freeway 10.50
LLC Suite 5070
Dallas, TX 75247
OWNER/EXECUTIVE
International Rescue Committee, Inc.
David Milliband, Chief Executive Officer