Welcome

Joel CoppermanCEO/President

CASES

Human Services Contracting, Policy, and Budget Update

Michael Stoller

Executive Director

Human Services Council

Human Services Council (HSC)We are an umbrella policy and

advocacy organization for a network of more than 180 not-for-profit human service federations, coalitions, advocacy groups, and direct service providers throughout New York City. 

We educate policy makers and the community on how budget and policy decisions affect New York City’s social service providers and the poor and vulnerable individuals and families who depend on them for services.

Our Member Organizations

• Alternatives to detention• Child care• Child welfare• Early education• Employment and training• Domestic violence

services• Homeless shelter and

prevention

•Health and mental hygiene•Incarceration re-entry services•Immigrant services•Legal services•Senior services•Supportive housing•Youth services 

We have more than 180 members that provide community based services including:

These organizations partner with government through contracts to provide skilled, effective, and

cost-efficient care in the neighborhoods they serve

New York’s human services providers

deserve a

parade.Not an obstacle course.

What We Address• Regulatory issues • Antiquated policies • Complex contract processes• Limited staffing and technology resources

Just a few of the obstacles not-for-profit human services providers run into while trying to help

New Yorkers in need.

Why HSC Matters• Our work has never been more

important than it is right now

• Increased demand for human services when combined with fewer resources requires that our sector do more with less

• The sector needs a coordinating force, and we orchestrate the voice of the sector so that our message is heard

• We use our unparalleled access to City and State government to proactively negotiate for budget, policy, and legislative reform

Broad Areas of Focus

• Government relations and advocacy

• More efficient contracting• Support for the workforce• Streamlined technologies

Allison Sesso, MPADeputy Executive Director

Human Services Council

Impact of Fiscal Crisis

Private donations and government funding are down

Need is up

Things are not looking good

Nickel & Dime-ing Us

• MTA Payroll Tax• Property Tax Proposal• Fire Inspection Fee Exemption

Eliminated• Vendex Fee• Health Insurance Tax

Passthrough• Decrease to Charitable

Contribution Deductions• Prevailing Wage Requirement

Why Is This Problematic?• Not-for-profits have no profit

margin• Recycles resources and

creates waste• Private donor consideration• Government contracts are

reduced• Job and service cuts are

inevitable

• We compete with other “special interests”

• Tax status rules do not prohibit advocacy

• We see emerging needs first• Our constituents do not have

a voice• If you snooze you lose

(paying attention is key!)

ADVOCATE!

Amplifying the Sector’s Voice in Media

HSC in the NewsTV• Michael Stoller on Good Day NY• Allison Sesso on Capital Tonight• Chris Winward on NY1

Radio• Michael Stoller on WBAI

Print: Newspaper and Magazine• New York Times• Wall Street Journal• NY Daily News• Metro News• Albany Times Union• Reuters• Chronicle of Philanthropy• Queens Tribune• New York Nonprofit Press

Leading The Way On COLAs

2005• City - 14% increase / $70 million investment

2007• State - $100 million annual investment

2009• City – 3% increase

Changes in the cost of living over time are accounted for in a cost-of-living index. A Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) adjusts salaries based on changes

in the cost-of-living index.

Find more information at www.humanservicescouncil.org

COLAs Lead to Historic Partnership

• Group purchasing

• Standard human services contract and fiscal manual

• Procurement / RFP process reengineering

• PPB rule change to extend length of contracts

• Technology – MS Online

Michael StollerExecutive Director

Human Services Council

The Vision Of HSC For Contract Reform

For human services organizations, we want:

• Less micromanagement• More flexibility• Less bureaucracy

How is the City trending toward a more flexible

model?

Contract Reform• Working with the City to develop a standard

human services contract to enhance and equalize the partnership between government and providers

• Contract terms and conditions now vary among government agencies and within agencies 

• This is an opportunity for the sector, through HSC, to participate in drafting the most critical document that governs our work

New Appendix A Revisions Sought and Won by HSC

• Providers now have a right to an adjustment in expected service levels if there is a material change to the signed contract

• When there is a termination or reduction in funding without cause providers are now entitled to a more reasonable notice period

• Providers now have the option of retaining their documents electronically

Other Significant Human ServiceContracting Reforms

• Interest penalties for providers when contracts are registered late

 • Expanded eligibility of the City’s no-

interest loans to providers affected by late contracting actions

 • An expansion of the information

published each year in the Human Services Plan so providers can get maximum notice of upcoming procurement opportunities

• Electronic posting of the full text of RFPs along with other contract opportunities

  

• VENDEX process amendments to eliminate the need for repetitive filings

 • Expanded circumstances for when six

and nine-year initial contract terms may be used

• Clarified circumstances for when an initial term beyond nine years may be used

 • Modified performance evaluation process

so that City agency ratings are more accurate and equitable

There Were Problems In ProcessThe wounded economy has helped reveal the need for a long-term

solution to the structural problems in procurement and the processes that support interactions between the City and human services providers.

The safety and well-being of many human services clients depends on their receiving the right services at the right time and at an appropriate level of quality. The provider delivery channel is critical for these populations, but until late, regulation has obstructed delivery.

For long-term success, human services clients often demand continuity of service, but this has been impossible in a procurement system driven by frequent provider competition.

So We Spoke Up!We took our members’ concerns to

City government….

…And Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Linda Gibbs, working with the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, heard our suggestions, and has begun to implement a new initiative, HHS-Accelerator, which will streamline the procurement process.

Health and Human Services (HHS)

AcceleratorHHS-Accelerator makes huge strides in reducing

the amount of paperwork not-for-profits must submit during the procurement process and makes it easier to keep documents up-to-date. It also offers organizations more time to focus on the program aspects of the RFP process.

Michael Stoller, Executive Director

Michelle Jackson, Esq.Policy Analyst

Human Services Council

HHS Accelerator• RFP/Contracting process

will be streamlined • Three main components of

the HHS Accelerator will integrate IT across the business process: – Prequalification– Data Vault

– Master Service

Agreement (MSA)

Prequalification Process• Allows providers to submit

documentation outside of the procurement cycle, and these documents can be refreshed over time and subsequently reused, rather than submitted again for each new procurement

• Allows vendors to submit all documents up front before bidding on an RFP

• Reduces paperwork

Data Vault • Where organizational qualification and

integrity documents will be stored and made accessible to providers, agencies, and oversight organizations

• Documents will be secured by controls that decide who can see or edit the document

• Both current and past documents will be accessible online

• This system will also create clarity as contracts are linked with the version used at the time of contract

Each not-for-profit will create a file of documents and is responsible for upkeep

Master Service Agreement• Qualified organizations sign a Master Service Agreement

(MSA) to commit to abide by the standard terms and conditions

• There will be one MSA per provider• This will put the focus on service plans, not paperwork• When a provider is chosen a Service Order is filed and

registered with the Comptroller, which links to the MSA and leverages the existing documentation

submits organizational documents

DataVault

Summary

Organization enters into

MSA to abide by standard

contract should they win a

service competition

Service Order

Filed with Comptroller

Organization determined to be qualified to do business

with NYCBy category

Agency issues

Solicitation with only

policy focused

scope

HOLD: 1 or more documents expired

HOLD: 1 or more documents expired

Under ReviewUnder Review

NFP violates terms

of service

NFP violates terms

of service

HousingHousing

NutritionNutrition

TransportationTransportation

Workforce Development

Workforce Development

Not-for-profit

Services for Seniors

Human Services Taxonomy• Strengthening Nonprofits

Workgroup • Providers, programs, and

contracts will be mapped to a cross-agency human services taxonomy

• Creates a common language so that services and client populations are uniformly defined

HHS-Connect

• Mayor’s initiative to utilize ground-breaking and innovative technologies to improve the City’s ability to serve its Health and Human Services clients while providing better customer service and online access

• HHS-Connect creates technology that will streamline Health and Human Services, including:

– Data sharing between agencies– Integrated case folder so that client information can be shared

between agencies while confidentiality is maintained

www.nyc.gov/accessnyc

Provider Portal• The next step is to create a Provider

Portal• It will allow providers to interface with

client documents• It will link providers and agencies so

that client data can be shared• HSC meets regularly with HHS-

Connect to share ideas and move the project forward

Chris Winward, MPASenior Policy Analyst

Human Services Council

Making Sector Issues Heard

Updates, Analyses, and Action Alerts

• HSC acts as a watchdog• Provides budget updates and

analyses throughout the budget cycle

• Informs the sector of policy and legislative changes

• Advises sector when to act

Access to Government Leaders

• Regular visits to elected officials in Albany and City Hall – we bring providers!

• Candidate forums and questionnaires

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Focused Meetings with Leaders

Former NY State Governor Elliot Spitzer

• Governor Paterson• Former Governor Spitzer• State Comptroller

DiNapoli• City Comptroller Liu• City Council Speaker

Quinn• City Finance Committee

Chair & Division Director

• Deputy Mayor Gibbs• State Comptroller

DiNapoli• City Office of

Management and Budget

• State Division of Budget

Presentations to Our Members

Health and Human Services Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs

Highlights From FY11 BudgetsCity

• $63 billion budget passed on 6/29/10 including $395 million in City Council funding

• $136 million of $180 million in proposed cuts to key human services - were saved (76%)

• 80% of HSC’s priorities saw some level of restoration

State• A $136 billion budget was finally passed on August 3rd,

four months late• FMAP Contingency Plan gives Governor authority to

make across the board cuts beginning September 16th

Advocacy Example: Restoration of NYC Child Welfare Preventive Services

• Inform Sector of Funding Need

• Gather Examples of Impact

• Meetings with Key Leaders

• Organize Media

Cynthia Tao, MSWDirector of Communications, Membership, and Development

Human Services Council

Membership Services• A team of seasoned, proven

advocates work with members to further the goals of the human services sector

• Timely sharing of information to enable effective budget advocacy

• Opportunities for members to meet government officials and not-for-profit peers

• Free or discounted trainings and online community that strengthens members’ organizational capacity

• Free one-on-one expert contracting consultation to help navigate the City’s procurement process

• Cost savings on retirement plans and simplified plan management

• Cost savings on MS Online

Trainings and Forums

• Government officials present about the budget and human services policies

• Lobby Law trainings• Advocacy and media

trainings• Discounted and free

trainings

Lobby Law Training at HSC

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli

Communications• Web site• E-newsletter• Twitter• Facebook

Web Site

Web Site: www.humanservicescouncil.org

Our newsletter is full of policy and budget information that is relevant to you

Member Web Resources

•Human Services Council is now on Twitter and Facebook

•You can find us there by linking out from our web site

•Or see our latest Twitter updates from our web site

Social Media

HSC_NY at twitter.com

Become a fan of “Human Services Council of NYC (HSC)” on Facebook

Q & A