Statement of Basis and Purpose of Final Rule
The City of New York invests billions of dollars annually in client and community-based services through competitive contracts. These contracts are awarded to providers to deliver a wide range of services such as mental health counseling, workforce training, foster care, after school programs, senior centers, and shelter and housing programs. The city agencies contracting for these services include the Administration for Children’s Services, Department for the Aging, Department of Correction, Office of the Criminal Justice Coordinator, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Homeless Services, Department of Probation, Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Human Resources Administration, Department of Small Business Services, and Department of Youth and Community Development.
To streamline the procurement process for these client services contracts, on April 9, 2012, the Mayor issued Executive Order No. 160 (EO 160), establishing HHS Accelerator within the Office of the Mayor. HHS Accelerator was created to simplify and speed the contract process for client and community-based Services providers. Through a deliberate and collaborative multi-year planning process with providers, redundant paper-based requirements were removed, processes reengineered, and contract documents standardized. HHS Accelerator allows vendors to pre-qualify online, and upload and store documents electronically that were previously submitted by hard copy for each contract solicitation. HHS Accelerator also provides City oversight and contracting agencies a means for standardizing the procurement process, in particular service categories, and for monitoring solicitations centrally. EO 160 also established the position of HHS Accelerator Director.
The amendments to the rules:
• Define functions of HHS Accelerator and authority of the HHS Accelerator Director;
• Establish the HHS Accelerator Rule as the default procurement method for client service contracts except as otherwise provided in the rule;
• Set forth the policy and criteria governing the prequalification of vendors through HHS Accelerator, including a method for a vendor to appeal denial of prequalification through HHS Accelerator;
• Establish a process for soliciting proposals from prequalified vendors through HHS Accelerator.