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HomeMy WebLinkAboutContract 29659 CITY SECRETARY CONTRACT NO . COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ATTACHMENT A - BUDGET SUBRECIPIENT NAME: FORT WORTH, CITY OF, GRANT ADMIN. CONTRACT NUMBER: 582039 ALLOCATION YEAR: 584 ALLOCATION PERIOD: 01/01/2004 - 12/31/2004 DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS $1,237,916.00 CEAP FUNDS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE 1170.00 TRAINING TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FUNDS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE $1,237,916.00 TOTAL ANTICIPATED CEAP FUNDS 1170.00 TOTAL ANTICIPATED TRAINING TRAVEL ALLOWANCE FUNDS BUDGET FOR AVAILABLE ALLOCATIONS BUDGET CATEGORY FUNDS ---------------------------- ---------------- ------ Administration $65,153.00 Case Management $78,184.00 Direct Services $1,094,579.00 ---------------------------- ---------------- ------ TOTAL BUDGET $1,237,916.00 ---------------------------- ---------------- ------ Energy Crisis $109,458.00 10.00 Co-Payment $218,916.00 20.00 Elderly and Disabled $492,561.00 45.00 Heating and Cooling Systems $218,916.00 20.00 Direct Services Support $54,729.00 5.00 ---------------------------- ---------------- ------ TOTAL DIRECT SERVICES $1,094,580.00 100 Subrecipient's service area consists of the following Texas counties: Tarrant County Administrative costs, salaries, fringe benefits, non-training travel, equipment, supplies, audit and office space are limited to 5.00°% of the contract expenditures, excluding Training/Travel costs. Case Management costs are limited to 6.001 of the contract expenditures excluding Training/Travel costs. Direct Services Support costs are limited to 5.00% of total Direct Services expenditures. Subrecipient may adjust dollar amounts within the following components at levels not to exceed 10% of said components. Energy Crisis (may not exceed log of Direct Service dollars expended) , Co-payment, Elderly/Disabled (may not exceed 50% of Direct Services dollars expended) , Heating/Cooling Systems (may not be less than 20% of Direct Services dollars expended) and Direct Services Support (may not exceed 5% of Direct Services dollars expended) . Departments prior written approval for purchase or lease of equipment with an acquisition cost of $5,000 and over is required. Approval of this budget does not constitute prior approval. Funds may not be used for the purchase or improvement of land, or the purc at�� construction, or permanent improvement of any building or facility. a 3-t 7-0 4 A T I : i 3 RCVp Subrecipient is limited to only budget revision request during the first 6 months of the Allocation Period. A second and final budget revision must be be received by the Department on or before October 31, 2004. Subrecipient shall provide outreach services under all components in this category. Failure to do so may result in contract termination. Subrecipient must document outreach, whether the outreach is conducted with "Direct Service Support" funds or other funds. Effective Date of Budget: 01/01/2004 COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ATTACHMENT B - ALLOWABLE ACTIVITIES DOCUMENT SUBRECIPIENT NAME: FORT WORTH, CITY OF, GRANT ADMIN. CONTRACT NUMBER: 582039 ALLOCATION YEAR: 584 ALLOCATION PERIOD: 01/01/2004 - 12/31/2004 I. GLOSSARY OF TERMS Affordability - to have the financial capacity to meet an obligation. Assessment - identifying, gathering, comparing and evaluating information and data about a client household in order to determine the type and nature of problems involved, the capacities and resources of the client household, and the services needed to assist the client household. Case Management - involves conceptualizing the client household in its social environment; identifying, providing and/or referring the client to other social services, legal services, health services, etc.; working with the client to develop solutions to the problems and coordinating and monitoring progress made toward resolution of the problem; representing or advocating on behalf of the client with other service providers to assure that needed services are provided. Client Service - written agreement between the agency and the client Agreement concerning the target problem(s) , the goal(s) and strategies and the roles and tasks of the participants. The agreement must be dated and signed by all parties, must be guided by a time-line and must include statement of the consequences for breaking the agreement. Energy Burden - heating and cooling expenditures of the household for energy divided by the income of the household. Energy Education - the process whereby individuals and households learn to use energy efficiently, improve their indoor comfort, and become aware of how their behavior affects energy consumption, energy cost, and health and safety within their homes. Energy Need - the home energy requirements of a household determined by taking into account both the energy burden of the r household and the unique situation of the household that results from having members of vulnerable populations, such as very young children, individuals with disabilities and frail older individuals. Energy - is achieved when the low-income household is Self-Sufficiency consistently able to pay 100% of its total monthly energy bill (see affordability) . Goal - a statement of broad results, outcomes or impacts sought by clients. Home Energy - energy used to heat or cool residential dwellings, to at - T water, and cool food. Household - any individual or group of individuals living together as one economic unit for whom residential energy is customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for energy in the form of rent. Inputs - the resources a program makes available to carry out its activities. Leveraging - obtaining additional non-federal resources to help low- income households meet their energy needs. Measure - quantifiable information that is chosen to assess and describe program success or failure. Mission - a statement of the purpose for which a program was created. Outcome - a measure of the program's result or effect on its customers. Outcome measurements may cover activities that are largely under the control of program managers, or they may extend to an even broader set of measures (often called measures of impact) representing results that the program may influence but does not achieve on its own (e.g., a reduction in the amount of energy used as a result of weatherizing a home) . Output - a measure of the product and/or activities of a program. Outreach - method a set of activities that actively attempts to identify clients who are in need of services, alerts these clients to service provisions and benefits, and helps them use the services that are available. Performance - a process for determining if a program is successful, as Measure measured by expected outcomes and/or outputs. Poverty Income - Income guidelines issued by the Secretary of Planning Guidelines and Evaluation United States Department of Health and Human Services. Referrals - linking a client household with an agency, program, or professional person that can and will provide the service needed by the client. Targeting - focusing assistance to households with the highest home energy needs. Vision - a statement of a preferred future that spells out the conditions and quality of life to be achieved by a program's clients. Weatherization - in the LIHEAP program, this refers to energy conservation measures and other cost-effective ` energy-related home repair. II. PROGRAM GUIDELINES A. PURPOSE The primary intent of the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program is to make funds available to enable Subrecipients to respond to energy needs affecting low-income households who have an income at or below 125% of Poverty Income Guidelines and who are unable to meet their household energy needs. Under this program, a household is not entitled to a pre-set amount of assistance. Subrecipient shall provide all potential clients the opportunity to apply for the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program. j, �, B. PRIORITY Subrecipient shall give priority to eligible households containing one or more persons age 60 or above, individuals with disabilities and families with young children under six years of age. Priority shall be given to households with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of their incomes for residential energy. Subrecipient demonstrates adherence to these priorities by documenting special outreach efforts directed at these populations. Subrecipient shall also put in place a priority rating system to be applied to each applicant household. Department will monitor Subrecipient on these efforts. The term "disability" may include conditions which render individuals unable to engage in any substantial employment by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental condition which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months. C. SERVING RENTERS The provisions set by this plan for non-renters also apply to those renters who have a separate meter or who pay their utility and/or fuel bills separately from the rent. For those renters who pay heating and cooling bills as part of their rent, Contractor shall make special efforts to determine the portion of the rent that constitutes the fuel and/or utility payment. Contractor shall exercise care when negotiating with the landlords so the cost of utilities quoted is in line with the consumption for similar residents of the community. If Contractor pays the landlord, then the landlord must furnish evidence that the landlord has paid the bill and the amount of assistance must be deducted from the rent. III. ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES A. INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES Subrecipients shall only distribute available funds under the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program to households needing energy-related assistance and having an income that does not exceed 1258 of the current Poverty Income Guidelines as issued by the Secretary of Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) . When the Poverty Income Guidelines are updated, this program will follow the most current published guidelines. Income refers to total annual cash receipts before taxes from all sources. Income is more fully described in General Policy Issuance #2000-3.1. Subrecipient" shall annualize income data for a part of a year in order to determine eligibility. Subrecipients shall calculate annual income using a minimum, applicant's income from the previous 90 day period. In the case of migrant or seasonal workers, a longer period than 90 days may be used for annualizing income. However, the same method must be used for all similarly situated workers. All households at or below 125% of the Poverty Income Guidelines will be afforded access to the program. There are no categorical eligibility options. All applicant households will be determined eligible according to the income guidelines and program procedures. Crteria used to determine benefits include the household's income, the household's size, the energy consumption and/or the economic vulnerability of the household and the availability of funds. Subrecipient service delivery plans outline these criteria. B. DETERMINATION OF INCOME Each subrecipient must obtain documented income from all sources for all household members for the 90-day period prior to the date of application and multiply by four (4) to annualize income (see General Policy Issuance #04-3.2) . Applicants must submit proof of income for all household members 18 years and older. Proof shall consist of checks, check stubs, award letters, employee statements, etc. , showing the gross income, if any. In the case of migrant or seasonal workers, a longer period than 90 days may be used for annualizing income. However, the same method must be used for all similarly situated workers. In the exceptional case when proof of income is unavailable, an applicant must sign a subrecipient developed Declaration of Income Statement that clearly identifies the subrecipient and the client. (see General Policy Issuance #04-3.2) . In lieu of developing their own Declaration of Income Statement, the subrecipient may use the Declaration of Income Statement provided in General Policy Issuance #2004-3.3 . If the applicant has no income, the same Declaration of Income statement may be used. C. INCOME DISREGARD Payments not considered as income for the purpose of determining eligibility or benefits under this program, are listed in the Poverty Income Guidelines issued by the Secretary of Planning and Evaluation, USDHHS. Income is more fully described in TDHCA General Policy Issuance #2000-3.1. IV. PROGRAM ASSISTANCE This is not an entitlement program; payments are made based on documented need and are subject to the availability of federal funds. Subrecipient may not establish lower local limits of assistance. Subrecipient may only provide the following types of assistance with funds from the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program contract. 1. Payment to vendors and suppliers of fuel/utilities, goods, and other services for past due or current bills related to the procurement of energy for heating and cooling needs of the residence, NOT to include security lights and other items. 2. Payment to vendors-only one energy bill payment per month as required by component. 3. Assistance to household in developing goals for achieving energy self-sufficiency through case management activities. Case management activities may involve coordination of resources, referrals to other programs, and client involvement in developing a client service agreement. Priority must be given to co-pay clients. Others may receive case management services if funds are available after serving co-pay clients. 4. Utility assistance to low-income elderly and individuals with disabilities most vulnerable to the high cost of energy for heating and cooling needs of the residence. 5_ Replacement, retrofitting, or repair of household heating and cooling systems if needed. All replacement units must comply wibia minimum standard for energy efficiency and must result in energ J_' savings for the client. If necessary to conserve conditioned a' heating and cooling funds may pay for zoning off a room in the clients home in which the client spends a majority of their time. � _.'. In order to use heating and cooling for a room zone off, the household must also be receiving a repair, replacement or retrofit of a space heating or cooling unit. 6. Assistance to a household during an energy-related crisis precipitated by extreme weather conditions and/or an energy supply shortage. 7. Payment of water bills only when such cost includes expenses from operating an evaporative water cooler unit. As a part of the intake process, outreach, and coordination, subrecipient shall confirm that a client owns a properly connected and operational evaporative cooler and has used it within sixty (60) days prior to application to cool the dwelling. 8. Payment of other utility charges such as water, wastewater, and waste removal are only allowable if these charges are an inseparable part of a utility bill and written verification of such is provided by the vendor. Whenever possible, Subrecipient shall negotiate with the utility providers and clients to pay only the energy portion of the bill. 9. Purchase, lease, or repair of butane or propane tanks as well as the residential lines associated with the tanks or natural gas lines of the residence, not to exceed the household's maximum allowable assistance and only if such service ensures the flow of energy necessary to heat and cool the residence. 10. Purchase or repair of residential electric lines, not to exceed household's maximum allowable assistance and only if such service ensures the flow of energy necessary to heat and cool the households residence. 11. Payment of reconnection fee in line with the registered tariff filed with the Public Utility Commission and/or the Texas Railroad Commission. Payment shall not exceed the stated tariff cost. Subrecipient shall negotiate to reduce the costs to cover the actual labor and material and to ensure that the utility does not assess a penalty for delinquency in payments. 12. Payment of a security deposit only when state law requires such a payment, or if the Public Utility Commission or the Texas Railroad Commission has listed such a payment as an approved cost, and where required by law, tariff or regulation or a deferred payment agreement includes such a payment. Subrecipient shall not pay any security deposit the energy provider will eventually return to the client. 13. While utility/fuel rates and repair charges may vary from vendor to vendor, Subrecipient shall- negotiate for the lowest possible payment. Prior to making any payments to energy vendor, subrecipient shall have a signed vendor agreement on file from the energy vendor receiving direct LIHEAP payments from the subrecipient. 14. Subrecipient may make payments to landlords on behalf of eligible renters who pay their utility and/or fuel bills indirectly_ Subrecipient shall notify each participating household of the amount of assistance paid on its behalf. Subrecipient must document this notification. Subrecipient shall maintain proof of utility or fuel bill payment. Subrecipient shall ensure that the amount of E . _, _ assistance paid on behalf of client is deducted from the client's i _. rent. �5�" - u.� , 15. In lieu of a deposit required by an energy vendor, advanced payments 1 i u: may be made. Deposits are still not an allowable expenditure. Advance payments are not to exceed an estimated two months billing. V. ADMINISTRATION A. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS UNDER CEAP Administrative functions are of a general nature but are not clearly identified with a particular program. These functions include planning, budgeting and accounting; and establishing and directing a subrecipient's policies, goals, and objectives. B. ALLOWABLE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS Costs charged to the CEAP must be fair and reasonable. In all cases use the Uniform Grant Management Standards, OMB Circular A-87 for local governments or OMB Circular A-122 for non-profits for determination of allowable and allocable costs. OMB Circular A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations", increases the threshold for audit from $300,000 to $500,000. Administrative costs may include: * Financial and compliance audits * General board and committee meeting expenses * Executive Director * General staff meetings * Office management * Accounting and budgeting * Personnel management * Purchase and distribution of equipment and supplies * Insurance and bonding * Receptionist, switchboard mail distribution, filing, and other centralized and clerical services * Word processing and computer services and equipment * Organization and procedure studies * Travel expenditures * General record keeping * Office/facilities lease or rental (including outstations) * Postage * Duplicating/copying * Telephone expenses * Staff training * Intake - Receiving an application, giving the client the opportunity to provide missing information needed for eligibility determination, income determination and verification, and preliminary eligibility determination. V.I.. DIRECT SERVICES SUPPORT A. DEFINITION OF DIRECT SERVICES SUPPORT Costs that are not administrative in nature but are used for outreach and targeting to eligible households not previously served under LEAP. Subrecipient shall conduct and document outreach and targeting activities (see Glossary of Terms) designed to ensure that eligible households, especially households with elderly, members with disabilities, or young children, and households which have a high energy burden, are made aware of the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program. TV�Y'ty i Outreach activities shall include the activities listed below or other activities that serve the purpose of advertising the availability of the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program: 1. Provide information through first time home visits, site visits, group meetings or by telephone for the elderly and for persons with disabilities; 2. Distribute posters, flyers, and other information materials in local and county social services agencies, offices of aging, Social Security offices, in English, Spanish, or other language media where appropriate; 3. Provide information on the program and eligibility criteria in articles in local newspapers or broadcast media announcements, in English, Spanish, or other language media where appropriate; 4. Provide information on one-to-one basis for applicants in need of translation or interpretation assistance; 5. work with energy providers in identifying potential applicants; 6. Mail information and applications; 7. Coordinate with other social service agencies to provide LIHEAP information in conjunction with other programs. In order to achieve compliance with the LIHEAP Act, subrecipients shall coordinate with other energy related programs. Specifically, subrecipients shall make documented referrals to the local WAP subrecipients. Subrecipient shall accept applications for LEAP benefits at sites that are geographically accessible to all households in the service area. Subrecipient shall provide the elderly or persons with disabilities the means to submit applications for CEAP benefits without leaving their residence or by securing transportation for them to the sites that accept such applications. B. ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURES Salaries, fringe benefits, and travel expenditures of staff when conducting outreach to eligible households not previously served under LEAP. Material and printing costs associated with outreach and targeting to eligible households never served under LEAP. Money available for Direct Services Support is calculated as a percentage of Direct Services expenditures; therefore, subrecipients are required to expend Direct Services funds to earn Direct Services Support funds. C. UNALLOWABLE EXPENDITURES Computer purchases and any related costs shall be charged to Administration, not Direct Services Support. D. TIME/EXPENDITURE ALLOCATION The subrecipient shall demonstrate and document that the appropriate share of Direct Services Support expenditures are allocated both to outreach and targeting. VII. CASE MANAGEMENT A. DEFINITION OF CASE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES Case management activities under CEAP encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance. The basic case management system shall include the following components: * Designing a client agreement plan with the client; * Intervening in the community; brokering; advocating; and linking; * Implementing and monitoring the client agreement plan; * Evaluating the effectiveness of case management. Case Management activities include but are not limited to: Providing energy Providing budgeting education conservation education Client counseling Advocating on behalf of the clients Development of realistic Identifying household problems goals and resources Discussion of education Scheduling appointments provided Referrals for obtaining Encouraging responsible vendor and services consumer behavior Referral follow-up Documenting case management activities (case notes) Case Management funds are earned through provision of direct services to clients. B. COORDINATION Subrecipient shall coordinate with other social service agencies through cooperative agreements to provide services to client households. Cooperative agreements shall clarify procedures, roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders. In order to achieve compliance with the LIHEAP Act, Subrecipient shall coordinate with other energy related programs. Specifically, Subrecipient shall make documented referrals to the local Weatherization Assistance Program. Subrecipient shall coordinate with local energy vendors to arrange for arrearage reduction, reasonably reduced payment schedules, or cost reductions. Subrecipient shall provide applications, forms, and energy education materials in Spanish, English or other language when appropriate. C. ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURES W Allowable expenditures include salaries, fringe benefits,and travel expenditures of staff when providing clients with case management services, such as those activities described in Section A. Documentation of Case Management activities (case notes) shall be maintained in individual client files. D. TIME/EXPENDITURE ALLOCATION The subrecipient shall demonstrate that the appropriate share for case management cost items is involved in activities which encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and the need for energy assistance. VIII. PROGRAM COMPONENTS A. ENERGY CRISIS COMPONENT A bona fide energy crisis exists when extraordinary events or situations resulting from extreme weather conditions or fuel supply shortages have depleted or will deplete household financial resources and/or have created problems in meeting basic household expenses, particularly bills for energy so as to constitute a threat to the health or well- being of the household, particularly the elderly, the disabled, or very young children. NOTE: A utility termination notice alone does not constitute an energy crisis. In no event shall the sum of all energy crisis assistance provided for the contract year made to or on behalf of any household exceed the actual amount needed to ameliorate the household's energy-related crisis, based on the household's percent of poverty, or $1,000.00, whichever is less. Payments shall not exceed client's actual financial loss or client's utility bill. The assistance shall result in resolution of the crisis_ Where necessary to prevent undue hardships or extreme health dangers from an energy crisis, Subrecipient may directly issue a voucher to provide: 1. Temporary shelter not to exceed $350.00 per household for the duration of the contract period in the limited instances that inoperable heating/cooling appliances or supply of power to the dwelling is disrupted -- causing temporary evacuation of household members. Payments shall not be made for rent or mortgages; 2. Emergency deliveries of fuel not to exceed $300.00 per delivery per household. 3. Purchase of portable heating/cooling units (portable electric heaters are only allowable as a last resort) not to exceed $1,000.00 per household for the duration of the contract period. Portable air conditioning and heating units may be purchased only in situations that threaten the life of the client. 4. Provide materials and installation including: Hollow core doors, weather stripping, threshold 1�����t•�; jq� �}' and caulking to create a zoned area in client household. G� a. Subrecipient shall meet local energy crisis criteria prior to purchasing portable units for client. b. Subrecipient shall maintain in the client file documentation of any special situation affecting client eligibility. For a client to qualify to receive air conditioning or heat, to protect life or health of household occupants, the Subrecipient's client file shall contain documentation from a medical doctor, stating that a health condition of household occupant requires such climate control. C. Portable heating/cooling units shall meet Texas DOE WAP minimum energy efficiency ratings and standards. d. Emergency funds, whether for emergency fuel deliveries with a limit of $300.00, purchase of portable heating/cooling units with a limit of $1000.00, or temporary shelter with a limit of $350.00, shall be considered part of the total maximum household allowable Assistance. e. Funds for this component shall not be used to weatherize dwelling units, to purchase medicine, food, transportation assistance, to maintain income, or to pay for penalties or fines assessed against clients. Time Limits for Assistance Subrecipient shall ensure that for clients who have already lost service or are in immediate danger of losing service, some form of assistance to resolve the energy crisis will be provided within a 48 hour time limit (18 hours in life- threatening situations) . The time limit commences upon completion of the application process. The application process is considered to be complete when an agency representative accepts an application and completes the eligibility process. Subrecipient shall maintain written documentation in the client file that it has resolved the crisis within the appropriate time deadline. Failure to document efforts - taken to resolve the energy crisis on client's application/file will result in disallowed costs. Benefit Levels Under The Energy Crisis Component HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOMES OF: IF THE HOUSEHOLD HAS AN ENERGY CRISIS AND MEETS INCOME ELIGIBILITY, THEN THE PAYMENT IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING: 0 to 50% of Poverty Households may receive amount needed to solve crisis up to $1000. 51 + to 75% of PovertyHouseholds may receive the amount rrJ'`�' ' ��. Y ,� ti needed to solve crisis up to $900. 76 + to amount not to Households may receive the amount exceed 125% Poverty needed to resolve crisis up to $800. B. CO-PAYMENT COMPONENT The intent of the co-payment component is to achieve long- term energy self-sufficiency by reducing the energy cost burden for low-income households through case management activities. The program shall target clients with the least income and the greatest energy costs. Energy affordability is achieved when a client household has the financial capacity to meet its energy obligations. Subrecipient shall enroll CEAP co-payment clients in the program for a minimum period of six months. Clients may be terminated at any time for just cause, or if the goal of energy self-sufficiency has been achieved. A monthly utility payment on behalf of clients to the utility vendor shall be made based on a graduated scale co-payment system designed by the subrecipient. Co-payment clients transitioning into a new program year shall complete a new application and be recertified as income eligible. 1. Subrecipient case worker will evaluate and document client progress on a monthly basis as described in its Service Delivery Plan. 2. Subrecipient shall obtain the client's consumption and billing history for the preceding 12 months to aid the client in budgeting for household expenses. 3. Clients with an energy burden higher than that of the average household in the vendor's service area shall receive priority service. 4. All payments shall be based on actual current program year's bills. S. Subrecipient shall provide budget counseling and energy conservation education and coordinate with and refer households to other services which will address the underlying contributing causes of energy induced hardship. 6. Subrecipient shall document and maintain all case management activities in client files through the use of case notes which demonstrate client's efforts and _ progress towards achieving energy self sufficiency. 7. subrecipient shall notify in writing and maintain documentation of clients terminated from the co-pay component and document the appeal process. B. Failure to comply with any of the 'above may result in disallowed costs at the time of the monitoring. Each co-payment client shall have a written client service agreement that will provide direction and focus during the delivery of services. The client service agreement is a contract between the subrecipient and the client and shall be signed and dated by both parties. The client service agreement is a contract and includes agreements concerning the target problems, goals, and ,- strategies, and the roles and tasks of the participants. Qfi C, r• •� ., The agreement shall be guided by a timeline. Failure of ` ",. ., .`: �_ '•`• the client to meet the provisions of the client service agreement may result in early termination of benefits. A copy of the service agreement is to be provided to the client and a copy maintained in the client file. The client service agreement serves as a basis for providing accountability to both the client and the subrecipient and shall include the following elements: 1. Specification of target problems 2. Statement of realistic goals and timelines as negotiated between the case worker and the client 3. Statement of client's tasks and responsibilities required to achieve goals 4. Statement of case worker's general tasks and responsibilities which shall include, at a minimum, budget counseling, energy conservation education and coordination with and referral of households to other services which will address the underlying contributing causes of energy induced hardship. 5. Specific timeline for duration of agreement (including dates) , schedule of services to be provided and tasks to be performed, and schedule and method of monthly meetings to review plan with the case worker. 6. Statement of coordination of all parties who will participate during the client service agreement, including their names and relationship to the client. 7. Statement of benefit levels (graduated scale) 8. Statement of the consequences to the client if the client fails to meet the provisions spelled out in the client service agreement. Benefit Levels for Co-payment Component Utility payments on behalf of clients to utility vendors will be made on a scale designed by the subrecipient. The program shall target clients with the least income and the greatest energy costs. Clients may receive up to 1000 of the bill and arrears for the first month's bill if specified in R 1 the co-payment plan (graduated scale) providing this amount does not exceed the set maximum amounts established for the appropriate income level for the program year and sufficient funds remain for the duration of the client service agreement. In order to ensure that the highest level of assistance will be furnished to those households which have the lowest incomes and highest energy costs or needs in relation to household income, the following benefit levels shall be used: HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOMES OF: IF THE HOUSEHOLD MEETS THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, THEN PAYMENT IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING: 0 to 50% of Poverty Household may receive an amount not to exceed $1,000. ✓ t ty � (; + �1� 51 + to 75% of Poverty Household may receive an amount not to exceed $900. 76% + to amount not to Household may receive an amount exceed 125% of Poverty not to exceed $800. C. ELDERLY AND DISABLED ASSISTANCE COMPONENT The intent of the elderly (60 years of age or above) and disabled assistance component is to provide assistance to those households most vulnerable to fluctuations in energy costs. Assistance should be targeted to those households that are unable to achieve full energy self-sufficiency through other means. The elderly and persons with disabilities shall be a priority of the program. Payments on behalf of the elderly or disabled shall be made based on the previous 12 month's heating and cooling billing history. In the event a consumption history can not be obtained, Subrecipient may make payments on current program year's bill. The reason must be documented in the file. Excess amounts over the actual bill will be treated as a credit with the utility company for the client. Elderly households are defined as households with at least one member who is age 60 or above. Disabled households are defined as households with at least one member (age 18 or older) who has a disability. An individual with a disability is defined as an individual who is unable to engage in any substantial employment by reasons of a medically determinable physical or mental condition which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. Documentation of disability (i.e. social security supplement/SSI, doctor's letter) shall be included in client file or the costs associated with the client file may be subject to disallowed cost. Subrecipient may provide energy conservation education, budget counseling and referrals if case management funds are available. Benefit Levels Under the Elderly and Disabled Component The elderly and/or clients with disabilities may receive benefits to cover up to 100% of four bills for four billing periods within the contract year provided the cost does not exceed the maximum allowable benefit. Payments shall be limited to the highest consumption months of the program year during which time the elderly and/or persons with disabilities are most vulnerable to energy related stress. First payment may cover the current bill and arrears. Subsequent payments shall be the highest consumption months. If one or more of the highest consumption months occurs prior to the date of the application and has been paid by the client, these months shall not be considered for payment. This period shall be determined by the local subrecipient based on a 12 month heating and cooling billing history. If a 12 month history is unavailable, the reason shall be documented in the client file. In order to ensure that the highest level of assistance will be furnished to those households which have the lowest Z _ . incomes and highest energy costs or needs in relation to household income, the following benefit levels shall be used: HOUSEHOLD WITH INCOMES OF: IF THE HOUSEHOLD MEETS THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, THEN PAYMENT IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING: 0 to 50% of Poverty Household may receive an amount not to exceed $1,000. 51%+ to 75- of Poverty Household may receive an amount not to exceed $900. 76!k+ to amount not to Household may receive an amount not exceed 1250 of Poverty to exceed $800. D. REPLACEMENT, REPAIR OR RETROFIT OF HEATING/COOLING SYSTEMS Beginning with program year 2003, TDHCA established the component for Replacement, Repair or Retrofit of Heating/Cooling Systems as a stand alone component of CEAP. It remains a component of CEAP and subject to all eligibility requirements that apply to other CEAP components. The intent of the Heating/ Cooling component is to help clients achieve energy self-sufficiency by addressing inefficient heating and cooling appliances. Clients may have a high energy burden because inefficient appliances in the home consume excessive amounts of energy. Inordinately high energy bills during the heating or cooling season would indicate the need for an assessment of the condition of all major heating and cooling appliances in the client's home. The retrofit, repair or replacement of a heating/cooling appliance shall be cost effective (cost no more than energy savings) and shall result in a reduction of energy consumption. Water heaters and refrigerators are considered major heating and cooling appliances and shall be included in the assessment of condition and efficiency of all household heating and cooling appliances. Propane tanks may be considered when propane is used for heating. Any replacement, repair, or retrofit must be based on need, i.e. , an energy assessment of all major heating/cooling appliances has determined that the retrofit, repair or replacement of a heating/cooling appliance will result in a reduction of energy consumption. Priority must be given to ` appliances with the highest energy usage. If estimated repair cost exceeds 60 percent or more of estimated replacement cost, a replacement unit should be installed. CEAP allows replacement of evaporative coolers with refrigerated air conditioner only for documented medical reasons. Replacement refrigerators must contain a top mount freezer without through the door ice maker, may not exceed 19 cubic ft. in size, and must be Energy Star rated. The Replacement, Repair, or Retrofit of Heating and Cooling Systems component uses the same eligibility criteria as other CEAP programs. Energy efficiency assessments of central heating/cooling systems must be conducted either by a licensed HVAC professional or Weatherization assessor/auditor certified to use the EASY Audit and holding G a current HVAC license. The EASY Audit may be used in conjunction with the efficiency evaluation. Energy � y 1a,"F. ' � 'Ic J Pn 2 1 �SEa efficiency assessments of window units, evaporative coolers, space heaters, water heaters and refrigerators may be conducted by trained agency staff_ Documentation of the assessment results must be placed in the client files. In contracting out for the service, the subrecipient must follow General Policy Issuance #02-10.2 for procuring goods and services. The services may include cleaning, tuning and evaluation of systems, repair and replacement of existing components, and replacement of unsafe and inefficient systems including: * Cooling systems (including duct systems) , such as central air conditioners, window air conditioners and evaporative coolers * Heating systems, such as central/wall/floor furnaces, space heaters, wood burning stoves. * Water heaters * Refrigerators Energy assessments must include, at a minimum the following information on all major heating and cooling appliances to include water heaters and refrigerators: Type of appliance Efficiency rating Fuel used Location of appliance Size of appliance Condition Age of appliance Size of room where appliance is used Input/Output BTU Recommendation Carbon Monoxide (CO) levels for all combustion appliances All repairs, retrofits or replacements must be performed to meet all local codes (use Council of American Building Officials (CABO) when no code exists) in conjunction with the Department's Weatherization Assistance Program health and safety standards. Replacement appliances must meet Department prescribed minimum energy efficiency standards or better as follows: Appliance Ratings Central Heat Systems Gas Electric ***Energy Star ***Energy Star Wall/Floor Furnaces and Vented Space Heaters: Gas only *AFUE=.80 Unvented Space Heaters must have a factory installed Oxygen Depletion Sensor System with automatic shutoff. Repair, replacement, or retrofit must reduce CO levels to 25 ppm or less. *AFUE=.92 Central Air Conditioners ***Energy Star y '= Whole House Window Air Conditioners "�, �U Through Wall Air Conditioners (220 volt) ***Energy Star Room Air Conditioners (110 volts) ***Energy Star Water heaters Gas Electric *EF = 0.5 to 0.6 *EF = 0.7 to 0.95 Kerosene space heaters Not allowed Only in crisis situations and only as a last resort should Subrecipients provide electric space heaters to clients. N/A *AFUE = Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency **EF = Energy Factor ***Prior approval from the Department must be obtained if any non-Energy Star rated appliances are to be installed. When heating and cooling appliances, water heater appliances, and refrigerators are replaced, the client must surrender the old unit to be disposed of according to applicable state and federal laws. All unvented space heaters replaced must be destroyed beyond repair. No removed appliance may be retrofitted and installed at any other location. All existing refrigerators, in single or multi-family households, must undergo either metered testing or bear a manufactured date inscription of 1993 or earlier. For a refrigerator to be eligible for replacement, the existing refrigerator must be a 1993 model or older or be metered at a minimum annual energy consumption of 1250 kWh. Replacement refrigerators must contain a top mount freezer without through the door icemaker, may not exceed a total of •19.0 cubic ft. in size, and must bear the Energy Star label. Prior written approval from the Department must be obtained if a non-Energy Star rated appliance is to be installed. Only one refrigerator per eligible household will be allowed. Subrecipient shall maintain documentation in the client file of the metering results (or appliance age) , t kilowatt per hour (kWh) usage of the new refrigerator, and the total cost - including installation of the new refrigerator and disposal of old appliance. When the client is a renter, the subrecipient shall document ownership of the appliance to be replaced by obtaining a written statement signed by the landlord. Replacement appliances initially owned by the client (tenant) may be removed and taken should the client vacate the dwelling. Appliances owned by the landlord may be replaced only if the local subrecipient determines that the rental property's primary tenants will be eligible low income clients. Subrecipient shall maintain documentation of all appliance transactions in the client file. Real benefits to the household are based on the energy efficiencyneeds of the dwelling, g, as determined by an �G�� appliance energy assessment. The maximum allowable costs are as follows: Heating and Cooling appliances not to exceed$3,000.00 Per household. Approved as to form And legality ATTEST: E �� S '�&viaG)lover U Acting City Secretary Sarah Fullenwider Ass' nt City Attorney Contract Authorization W \Jbby Weson Assistant City Manager Routing No 977600 Contract No 582039 Begin Date 01/01/2003 Ending Date 12/31/2004 Allocation Grant 584 Routing Date Initials Name Signed Section PMC Peggy Colvin 01/16/200 4 Division EEF Eddie Fariss 01/21/200 4 Legal PAS Paul Smith 01/21/200 4 Accounting REH Elmis Hermosilla 01/21/200 4 Contractor RZ 01/28/200 4 Executive Director EPC Edwina Carrington 02/02/200 4 1) View/Print Amendment 3) View/Print Contract ENTER ) Continue 2) Download Amendment 4 ) Download Contract END Exit Database: PRO Appl : AP1 01 User : 039 Feb 13th If 10 : 39 am Keymap: DATA ENTRY Mode : Inq City of Fort Worth, Texas Mayor and Council Communication COUNCIL ACTION: Approved on 12/9/2003 - Ordinance No. 15779 DATE: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 LOG NAME: 80CEAP04 REFERENCE NO.: **G-14189 SUBJECT: Acceptance of a Grant and Execution of a Contract with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for the Fiscal Year 2004 Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program through December 31, 2004 and Adoption of Related Appropriation Ordinance RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council: 1. Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) in an amount not to exceed $1,600,000; and 2. Authorize a non-interest bearing interfund loan from the General Fund to the Grants Fund in the amount of$320,000 for interim financing of this grant project pending contract execution; and 3. Adopt the attached appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the Grants Fund by $1,600,000; and 4. Apply indirect costs at the rate of 20.88%, which is the most recently approved rate for this department, and apply the new, approved rate when available. DISCUSSION: For the past several years, TDHCA has notified the City to use the prior year's contract amount as a planning figure for the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) pending execution of the contract. The total 2003 contract amount was $1,546,723. The CEAP contract for 2004 has six components: 1. Energy Crisis; and 2. Elderly/Disabled Assistance; and 3. Co-Payment Assistance; and 4. Heating and Cooling Systems; and 5. Direct Service Support; and 6. Case Management. All households at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level will be afforded access to the program. All applicant households will be determined eligible according to income guidelines and program procedures. The benefit determinations include the household's income, the household size, the energy consumption and/or the vulnerability of the household, and the availability of funds. The Parks and Community Services Department will review all applications at the nine City-operated Neighborhood Resources Development Program facilities. Payments will be made for eligible clients directly to the utility vendors and heating and cooling systems repair companies of Tarrant County. Logname: 80CEAP04 Pagel of 2 The administrative cost for FY2004 is restricted to a rate of 5%, Case Management to a rate of 6% and Direct Services Support to a rate of 5%. The remaining funds will be used for Energy Crisis, Elderly/Disabled Assistance, Co-Payment Assistance and Heating and Cooling Systems for the duration of the contract. This program serves ALL COUIVCIL DISTRICTS. FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION: The Finance Director certifies that upon approval of the above recommendations and adoption of the attached appropriation ordinance, funds will be available in the current operating budget, as appropriated, of the Grants Fund. Upon execution of the grant contract, interim funding will be returned to the General Fund. TO Fund/Account/Centers FROM Fund/Account/Centers GR76 488195 080200892000 $1_,600,000.00 GG01 136.076 0000000 $320,000.00 GR76 5 VARIOUS 080200892010 $1,600,000.00 GR76 220001 00200892000 $320,000.00 Submitted for City Manager's Office by: Libby Watson (6183) Originating Department Head: Randle Harwood (Acting) (5704) Additional Information Contact: Leona Johnson (5775) Logname: 80CEAP04 Page 2 of 2