Summary of Specifications:
Orange County (“County”) Department of Social Services (“DSS”) hereby announces the intention to request for proposals for the provision of Energy Outreach Services, including two specific programs: Home Energy Outreach and Assessment Program and the Orange County Fuel Fund Program.
The DSS operates the Home Energy Assistance Program (“HEAP”) on behalf of the State of New York. The program includes specific outreach services provided by the County to protect individuals and families who may become vulnerable during the home heating season.
Specifically, the DSS operates two programs designed specifically to provide additional supports, outreach offering a life line to residents who may become vulnerable during the heating season. 1. Home Energy Outreach and Assessment Program: throughout the course of the heating season, individuals and families may become vulnerable to a heating emergency including the potential of termination of utility services. Outreach services are provided through the DSS and work with consumers referred for assistance from HEAP and the three utility companies that service Orange County. 2. Orange County Fuel Fund Program: provides a benefit to non-HEAP eligible Orange County residents that meet income guidelines established by the County and comply with the requirements of the Fuel Fund. During the non-heating season months, the Fuel Fund operates a series of Energy Savers Accounts for recipients of Fuel Fund benefits.
On occasion the Outreach and Assessment Program Operator may be required to provide emergency services to a consumer in need. By emergency services, the DSS means that a case manager / case worker associated with the project may be required to respond to a referral immediately, including weekends, holidays and evenings. While emergency cases are generally handled through the DSS’s After Hours Help Line, the nature of the work in many cases is crisis related, requiring an immediate response.
The Fuel Fund Program does not provide services on an emergency basis and while they may be able to complete the eligibility determination in a short time period, the benefit would not be used to prevent a termination of services and therefore each of the DSS’s two primary outreach programs: the Fuel Fund and Outreach / Assessment Services must work closely with the DSS and other services to meet the needs of consumers throughout the heating season.
