REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR WEB SITE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CHFA

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1 Dear Interested Party: Date: October 29, 2015

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR WEB SITE

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT FOR CHFA

The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) requests proposals for Website Design & Development from qualified companies. CHFA will not reimburse for any expenses incurred in connection with this Request for Proposal (RFP) including, but not limited to, the cost of preparing the initial response and any additional information requested or travel expenses relating to an oral presentation. Please be advised that responses will be considered property of CHFA and are matters of public record.

OVERVIEW

CHFA, a body politic and corporate constituting a public instrumentality and political subdivision of the State of Connecticut, was created in 1969 and operates pursuant to Chapter 134 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended. Our purpose is to help alleviate the shortage of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families and persons in Connecticut by providing both single family mortgages, financing for rental housing, and mortgages for the purchase, development and construction of housing.

For additional financial information, please reference the Authority’s website at www.chfa.org.

BACKGROUND

CHFA’s existing website was designed in house and over time has become overloaded with information, making it difficult to find information via the navigation. A newer, more interactive design is needed to meet CHFA’s current needs. The Authority has two main lines of business: affordable single-family mortgages and financing for affordable multifamily rental housing. The audiences for the single-family mortgage side are first-time homebuyers, realtors and lenders. The audiences for the affordable multifamily side of the business include developers, property owners/managers, lenders and syndicators, renters, and secondary audiences include state and municipal officials.

In preparation for the new site, CHFA went through a Lean Kaizen process to determine the priorities for a new website. One outcome of the Kaizen process was a decision to use the home page to steer users by audience -- Homebuyers, Lenders & Partners, and Multifamily -- into the appropriate sections of the site.

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2 Another outcome of the Kaizen was to prepare for a new website by reviewing existing site content and eliminating unnecessary information, as well as reorganizing the content that will move to the future website.

CHFA staff intends to edit the copy both to reduce the amount and to adopt an easier to read, less formal tone, with more links to the informational documents. The current site is more than 400 pages, but we anticipate a significant reduction in the number of pages on the new site.

CHFA’s current site is optimized for mobile, but the mobile site is not widely used. The new site, or a condensed version, should be optimized for mobile use.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

CHFA is requesting proposals from firms that have the capability to design and build a new, responsive website for CHFA. The firm that is chosen must be able to provide comprehensive services to create a new CHFA website that has the following characteristics:

• responsive across platforms and devices

• easy to navigate, with as few clicks as possible to get from the home page to key information

• editable and self-managed through a content management system with multiple contributors, and at least one moderator, but recommendations for site management processes are welcome

• extensible and scalable

• dynamic – a significant portion of the website will be dynamic; with new content to be added regularly by CHFA moderator

• searchable

• The site will require at least 4 document libraries (by target audience)

• space for archives, organized by date, year, audience

• capable of hosting video files (including long training videos)

• integrated with Google Analytics

• hosted by CHFA

• engaging to multiple audiences – first-time homebuyers, realtors, lenders, developers, property owners/managers, renters, stakeholders

• compatible with Health & Human Services Accessibility Requirements (Section 508)

• compatible with mortgage, affordability , and rent vs. own calculators* (new calculators may need to be created)

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• public/group calendars that allow CHFA staff to post/edit will need to be developed

• CHFA must own the code

• maintain or improve on current SEO rankings

• Visually engaging. CHFA will provide some photography for the new site, and the vendor can recommend stock photography as needed.

• An area on the home page for public notices (e.g. office closings for weather)

• a self-determining search option to assist in navigation “I am a _______ (homebuyer, renter, lender, developer), Searching for a ________ (mortgage, tax credits, financing,)” An example of this can be found at:http://ctinnovations.com/

Website must be compatible with:

• third party software such as including Constant Contact, HR Career Software, Event invitation/registration software, HR software,

• CHFA business areas for user engagement (Loan Origination System, Asset Management, Staff list search, Lender List,*)

• Mortgage tools, calculators and look up information*

• CHFA’s interest rate publishing system, which currently changes twice weekly: CHFA offers home loans at below-market and competitive interest rates to eligible homebuyers through a variety of mortgage programs. The rates for these programs change at noon on Tuesdays and Fridays. The current website provides a webservice which is used by internal systems to update the base rate. It is extremely important that the website reflects the rate change in real-time (exactly at noon). A delay or any technical latency could cause a loss of revenue for CHFA.

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4 CHFA is looking for a single firm to handle website design and graphics as well as the technical development of the site. Applicants must have experience designing and developing websites for government or quasi-government organizations. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have extensive and successful experience providing comprehensive website development as well as staff support/training after launch of the site and service level agreements to maintain the site, as changes need to be made.

The successful applicant in conjunction with CHFA would be responsible for:

• Designing the graphic look as well as the construction of a new website for CHFA

• Ensuring the site is responsive and works across all platforms and devices • Working with CHFA staff to develop the site map

• Advising or providing training to CHFA staff on best practices in revising copy on existing website

• Migrating new copy and graphics to the new website

• Testing the site to ensure it interfaces with existing CHFA systems • Providing support services and Service Level Agreement options

PROJECT DELIVERABLES

• A comprehensive project plan, outlining work to be performed, and other considerations.

• Detailed Implementation Plan with time frames and benchmarks for project completion

• Presenting site proposal & budget to CHFA Executive Leadership as needed

• Monthly progress reports

• Any site testing and/or research if needed

• Successful launch of new site

• The applicant is expected to be available to meet under normal conditions with assigned CHFA staff with twenty-four (24) hours’ notice.

• Detailed monthly invoices for payment that outline work accomplished, hours expended, hourly billing rate

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5 EVALUATION CRITERIA

Each respondent shall be considered on the basis of its response to this RFP, additional written information as requested by CHFA, oral interviews, product presentations, if any, and

additional criteria including, but not limited to the following:

• Reputation and experience of the respondent

• Organization and approach of the respondent to complete the project

• Costs

• Qualifications of personnel

• Functionality

• Tentative timeline for accomplishing the project

• Support and Training

• Data Conversion / Ease of Transition

• Turnkey Operation

• Equal employment opportunity and affirmative action

• Conflicts or potential conflicts CHFA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO:

• Reject any and all proposals received

• Accept a proposal based on considerations other than fees

• Negotiate the fees contained in any proposal

• Waive or modify any irregularities in proposals received

• Award a contract in any manner necessary to serve the best interest of CHFA

• Request additional information as determined necessary or request some or all respondents to make oral presentations

Any respondent submitting a proposal under this RFP shall be prepared to work with other vendors.

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6 OWNERSHIP

CHFA shall own the entire rights (including copyrights), title, and interests in and to the website code, content and the “look and feel” of the site developed, documentation and any other intellectual properties. CHFA will have ownership over all graphical elements including but not limited to stock photography rights, original photos and other images used for the website. All customizations must be supported by the vendor and not hinder any customer support capability from the vendor. Any type of source files, which would be necessary for the Authority to update or change the design of the site must be delivered at the end of the project.

REQUESTED INFORMATION/FORMAT OF THE PROPOSAL All firms should include the following in the Proposal:

• Cover letter

• Table of Contents

• Provide a brief description of your firm, its areas of expertise and other information that helps to characterize the firm. Provide the name, title, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the primary contact.

• Summary of the key strengths and qualifications of your firm to serve as a website development firm for CHFA. (Your response to this question should not exceed one page).

• Identify the project manager who will be responsible for this project. Provide a brief summary of the proposed project manager’s relevant experience, similar work, and references.

• Identify the project team members, their qualifications and other resources relevant to the scope of the work. Please indicate their probable areas of responsibility and the percentage of their time, which would be available to service CHFA’s account. There should be no subcontracting of services, without prior notification and approval from CHFA.

• Describe the tasks that must be accomplished to complete the project and a narrative description of how the firm proposes to execute the tasks. Include a detailed timeline for the project, from the date of signed contract to launching the website.

• Provide examples of current websites, especially for government entities, your company has designed and/or built.

• Provide the total cost of designing, developing and launching a new CHFA website, as well as the cost of support services and options for Service Level Agreements to support the site after launch. Please indicate any specific price reductions or discounts made available to government agencies.

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• The Service Level Agreement included in the proposal must include the following parameters:

- performance (response time to problem notification)

- availability (mean time between failures, mean time to repair) - configuration: (add/remove/modify)

- support: help desk availability/location or locations - emergency response process

- infrastructure needs (server, memory, storage, database, backup devices, etc.), including any brochures or other collateral information

• Each respondent shall provide details of its warranty period and ongoing (post-warranty) product maintenance/support costs, policies, procedures and other options. The description shall include, but not be limited to, frequency of regularly scheduled upgrades and/or policies on implementation of routine or emergency fixes. The Vendor’s and CHFA’s responsibilities shall be clearly listed. If warranty period support provides different service levels or requires different procedures, then the services and procedures for both warranty support and ongoing maintenance/support shall be separately listed and identified.

• Each respondent shall clarify if Support terms and pricing only applies to maintenance/support services after expiration of the initial system warranty period. If warranty period support is not included in the initial purchase/implementation cost, then it must be separately listed and identified. Annual support plan renewal shall be offered and pricing metrics shall be identified, including known or estimated annual increases.

• Provide the rate or range of rates at which any ancillary services would be billed and describe what is considered an ancillary service.

• Provide, in tabular form, information on the employee composition of your firm indicating the total number of employees and the total number and percentages of minorities and women employed and their titles.

• Please describe your firm's equal employment opportunity, and provide your affirmative action policy statement

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• Discuss any pending investigations by the Attorney General, the Internal Revenue Service or any other regulatory body or court (local, state or federal) regarding the conduct of your firm, the firm's management or any individuals assigned to work with CHFA which might affect your ability to deliver services described in this RFP. Discuss any such investigation that has occurred during the past two years.

• Please provide as references, a minimum of three clients for whom your firm has performed similar and substantial services. Please include the name of the person to contact and his or her phone number and e-mail address.

• Selected firms must comply with CHFA and State Ethics requirements, laws and regulations. Persons seeking to do business with CHFA are required to comply with the attached ethics statement and the applicable provisions of the Code of Ethics and Code of Ethics for Lobbyists incorporated therein by reference. The chief official of the bidder or vendor shall execute and submit with the proposal the attached certifications regarding Connecticut General Statutes sections 4-250 and 4-252a. In addition, the chief official of the bidder or vendor awarded this contract shall execute the attached CHFA statutory provisions, affidavits and certifications.

SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES

The following requirements must be observed in the preparation and submission of a proposal:

• All inquiries should be directed to Lisa Kidder, [email protected] or 860-571-4355. Firms submitting a proposal should not contact members of the Board of Directors or other staff of CHFA.

• Two (2) hard copies and one electronic copy on a flash drive or disk of your proposal must be delivered to CHFA, 999 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-4005 ATTN: Lisa Kidder, no later than 4:00 p.m. on December 17. Faxed responses will not be considered.

• Responses must include a cover letter signed by an individual authorized to enter into an agreement with CHFA on behalf of the firm, which shall specify each category for which a proposal is being submitted.

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• Selected firms must comply with all state and federal laws applicable to CHFA including, but not limited to, ethics requirements, laws, procedures and regulations and must execute CHFA statutory provisions, certifications and affidavits attached hereto.

• CHFA anticipates that a first round of finalists for website development will be chosen, followed by face-to-face meetings before a vendor is selected.

RFP Timeline:

10/29/15 RFP Issued

11/18/15 RFP related questions due

11/23/15 Answers to RFP related questions posted on CHFA website

12/17/15 Proposals due 4 pm

1/4/16 Vendors notified of selection for interviews 1/11/16 – 1/18/16 Interviews with finalists (dates are

approximate)

1/25/16 Final vendor selection

CHFA reserves the right to:

• Reject any and all proposals received in response to this request

• Negotiate the fees contained in any proposal

• Waive or modify any irregularities in proposals received

• Award contracts in any manner necessary to serve the best interest of CHFA without obligation to accept a proposal based upon the lowest fee schedule

• Request additional information as determined necessary or request some or all firms responding to make oral presentations

The selected firm will execute a contract satisfactory to CHFA and will agree that it will comply with the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes applicable to contracts with CHFA including, but not limited to, nondiscrimination and affirmative action provisions. Failure to perform to the satisfaction of CHFA will result in revocation of CHFA's approval. Minority and Small Business Set-Aside vendors are encouraged to apply.

Thank you for your interest in the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority.

The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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10 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

All information submitted in a proposal or in response to a request for additional information is subject to disclosure under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act as amended and judicially interpreted. A proposer’s responses may contain financial, trade secret or other data that it claims should not be public (the “Confidential Information”). A proposer must identify specifically the pages and portions of its proposal or additional information that contain the claimed Confidential Information by visibly marking all such pages and portions. Provided that the proposer cooperates with CHFA as described in this section, CHFA shall, to the extent permitted by law, protect from unauthorized disclosure such Confidential Information.

If CHFA receives a request for a proposer’s Confidential Information, it will promptly notify the proposer in writing of such request and provide the proposer with a copy of any written disclosure request. The proposer may provide written consent to the disclosure or may object to the disclosure by notifying CHFA in writing to with disclosure of the information, identifying tin the notice the basis for its objection, including the statutory exemption(s) from disclosure. The proposer shall be responsible for defending any complaint brought in connection with the nondisclosure, including but not only appearing before the Freedom of Information Commission, and providing witnesses and documents as appropriate.

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11 Examples of Key Dynamic Pages

Tools, Calculators & Lookups: Maximum Affordable Gross Rent and Income Limits, change annually http://www.chfa.org/Rental%20Housing/for%20Owners%20and%20Management%20Agents/Too ls%20Calculators%20and%20Look-ups/HMFALimits.aspx

Tools, Calculators & Lookups: Home Mortgage Program Interest rates, linked to home page and can change twice weekly. RATES MUST CHANGE IN REAL TIME.

http://www.chfa.org/Homeownership/for%20Homebuyers/Tools%20Calculators%20and%20Look-ups/CurrentInterestRates.aspx

Multifamily Financing: linked to home page and can change twice weekly

http://www.chfa.org/Rental%20Housing/for%20Developers%20and%20Sponsors/Funding%20Initiatives/I nterest%20Rates/default.aspx

For owners & management agents, compliance & reporting

http://www.chfa.org/Rental%20Housing/for%20Owners%20and%20Management%20Agents/Compliance %20and%20Reporting/default.aspx

Lender log in for Loan Reservation System:

http://www.chfa.org/Homeownership/for%20Lenders/Loan%20Reservation%20System/default.aspx

In the Media & Press Room pages change frequently, need to be editable by CHFA moderator

http://www.chfa.org/Press%20Room/In%20the%20Media/default.aspx

For Owners & Management Agents: Capital Needs Funding.

http://www.chfa.org/Rental%20Housing/for%20Owners%20and%20Management%20Agents/Capital%20N eeds%20Funding/default.aspx

CHFA Staff listing: page changes frequently and we’d like to add last name search function to this page

http://www.chfa.org/About%20Us/Staff%20Listing/default.aspx

Lender List: Tools, Calculators & Look ups: Participating Lender List

http://www.chfa.org/Homeownership/for%20Homebuyers/Tools%20Calculators%20and%20Look-ups/ParticipatingLenders.aspx

Home Affordability Calculator

http://www.chfa.org/Homeownership/for%20Homebuyers/Tools%20Calculators%20and%20Look-ups/homeaffordabilitycalculator.aspx

Home Mortgage Calculator

http://www.chfa.org/Homeownership/for%20Homebuyers/Tools%20Calculators%20and%20Look-ups/MortgageCalculator.aspx

Technical Services Forms, Standards, & Guidelines: new documents are added regularly, older documents will need an archive

http://www.chfa.org/Rental%20Housing/for%20Developers%20and%20Sponsors/Tools,%20Calculators%2 0and%20Look-ups/technicalservicesdocuments.aspx

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TO BE SUBMITTED WITH RESPONSES

CERTIFICATION REGARDING CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES § 4-250 Gift and Campaign Contribution Certification

(for contracts valued at $50,000 or more in a calendar or fiscal year)

Contractor hereby swears as true to the best knowledge and belief of the person signing below

(1) That no gifts were made by (A) the Contractor, (B) any principals and key personnel of the Contractor, who participate substantially in preparing bids, proposals or negotiating state Contracts, or (C) any agent of the Contractor or principals and key personnel, who participate substantially in preparing bids, proposals or negotiating state Contracts to (i) any public official or employee of CHFA soliciting bids or proposals for the Contract, who participates substantially in preparation of bid solicitations or requests for proposals for the Contract or the negotiation or award of the Contract, or (ii) any public official or state employee of any other state agency who has supervisory or appointing authority over CHFA;

(2) That no such principals and key personnel of the Contractor or agent of the Contractor or principals and key personnel, knows of any action by the Contractor to circumvent such prohibition on gifts by providing for any other principals and key personnel, official, employee or agent of the Contractor to provide a gift to any such public official or state employee; and

(3) That the Contractor is submitting bids or proposals without fraud or collusion with any person.

Any bidder or proposer that does not make the certification required under (1) through (3) above shall be disqualified and CHFA shall award the contract to the next highest ranked proposer or the next lowest responsible qualified bidder or seek new bids or proposals.

(4) Contractor further swears and attests that the following are all contributions made by principals and key personnel of the Contractor to campaigns of candidates for state-wide public office or the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut:

Name of Candidate Contributor Amount of Contribution Date of Contribution Name of Candidate Contributor Amount of Contribution Date of Contribution

attach additional pages as required

CERTIFICATION REGARDING CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES § 4-252a Prohibiting State Contracts with Entities Making Certain Investments in Iran

Is your principal place of business located outside of the United States? ______________ Yes ______________ No

If yes, have you made a direct investment of twenty million dollars or more in the energy sector of Iran on or after October 1, 2013, as described in Section 202 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act of 2010, or increased or renewed such investment on or after said date?

______________ Yes ______________ No

Contractor agrees to update this certification not later than 30 days after the effective date of any change in the

certification or upon submittal of any new bid or proposal for a large state contract, whichever is earlier. Contractor shall submit an accurate, updated certification not later than 14 days after the 12-month anniversary of the most recently filed certification or updated certification.

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Subscribed and sworn to subject to the penalties of false statement, Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-157b. Contractor Name Signature of Principal or Key Personnel

Federal Employer ID Number or Social Security Number Printed Name or Key Personnel Sworn and subscribed before me on this day of , 20 .

Notary Public/Commissioner of the Superior Court

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Revised July 17, 2014

STATUTORY PROVISIONS, AFFIDAVITS AND CERTIFICATIONS RE:Contract ("Contract") by and between ________________ (“Contractor") and CHFA. Contract Execution Date: , . I, ,

Name Title

of the Contractor, an entity duly formed and existing under the laws of the State of Connecticut hereby certify as follows: I am over the age of eighteen (18) and understand and appreciate the obligations of an oath:

CERTIFICATION RE: CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES §§ 4a-60 AND 4a-60a, as amended, Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action Provisions

(CHECK THE REPRESENTATION/CERTIFICATION THAT APPLIES) (for contracts valued at less than $50,000)

⁯ I hereby represent that I am authorized to execute and deliver this representation on behalf of Contractor and that Contractor has a policy in place that complies with the nondiscrimination agreements and warranties of Connecticut General Statutes §§ 4a-60(a)(1) and 4a-60a(a)(1), as amended.

(for contracts valued at $50,000 or more) (CHOOSE ONE)

⁯ I hereby certify that I am over the age of eighteen (18) and understand and appreciate the obligations of an oath, that I am authorized to execute and deliver this affidavit on behalf of Contractor and that Contractor has a policy in place and in effect that complies with the nondiscrimination agreements and warranties of Connecticut General Statutes §§ 4a-60(a)(1) and 4a-60a(a)(1), as amended.

OR

⁯ I hereby certify that the following is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted on the __ day of ___________, 20___ by the governing body of Contractor in accordance with all of its documents of governance and management and the laws of , and further certify that such resolution has not been

Name of state or commonwealth

modified, rescinded or revoked, and is, at present, in full force and effect:

RESOLVED: That _________________________ hereby adopts as its policy the nondiscrimination agreements and

Name of entity

warranties required under Connecticut General Statutes §§ 4a-60(a)(1) and 4a-60a(a)(1), as amended. In witness whereof, the undersigned has executed this certificate the day and date indicated below.

OR

⁯ I have reviewed the attached prior resolution. I certify that that the attached prior resolution complies with the nondiscrimination agreements and warranties of Connecticut General Statutes §§ 4a-60(a)(1) and 4a-60a(a)(1), as amended and the prior resolution remains in full force and effect on the date this documentation is submitted

to CHFA. (ATTACH COPY OF PRIOR RESOLUTION)

FOR INFORMATIONAL

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OR

⁯ I am an ___________________ or officer duly authorized to adopt company or corporate policy. I hereby certify that the company or corporate policy of the Contractor complies with the nondiscrimination agreement and warranty under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of Section 4a-60 and complies with the nondiscrimination agreement and warrant under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of Section 4a-60a and is in effect on the date hereof.

Contractor agrees to comply with §4a-60 and §4a-60a as amended and Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968 and Executive Orders relating thereto, as applicable.

NOTICE RE: CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES § 31-57b Occupational Health and Safety Act Compliance

Contractor is not in violation of, is in compliance with and will remain in compliance with Connecticut General Statutes § 31-57b.