PUBLIC NOTICE REGARDING
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Heritage Area Agency on Aging is seeking applications from any non-profit agency or private organization to provide and/or expand home and community based services to individuals, age 60 and older, in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and/or Washington counties. Heritage is issuing a request for proposal (RFP) to obtain service provider(s) for home and community based services in the region. This announcement and delay of RFP timeline is out of our traditional sequence due to changes with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services realignment and Older Americans Act revised regulations.
The agency will award contracts for up to a three year period. Applications are for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, with an annual update. A Letter of Intent to Submit RFP is required and due by Monday, February 26, 2025 by 4pm to kelliot@kirkwood.edu. The RFP application documents and invitation to technical assistance sessions will be sent to those that submit such letter. A Zoom meeting will be offered on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 9am to explain this process and review timelines. The meeting can be accessed at https://kirkwood.zoom.us/j/96858788436 or by phone at (301) 715- 8592 or (305) 224-1968 (US Toll), Meeting ID: 968 5878 8436.
Heritage is issuing a request for proposal (RFP) to obtain a service provider(s) that can demonstrate the ability to provide quality services through the utilization of a cost effective and efficiently managed service delivery system. Proposals are being accepted that serve the entire seven county Heritage region or individual communities or counties.
Services delivered through Heritage funding are required to meet all federal and state obligations of the proposed service, including the Older Americans Act of 1965 (revised), funding source(s) and Heritage contractual terms.
In fiscal year 2025, Heritage Area Agency on Aging funded the following services through the RFP process: congregate meals, home delivered meals, adult day health services, assisted and standard transportation, chore, legal services, and respite services. (An updated taxonomy/listing of services and their definitions open for consideration during the FY 2027 - 2029 RFP process will be released with the RFP documents on January 6, 2026.)
The Letter of Intent to Submit RFP (due 2/26/25) should include the following information: Agency Name, Location, Contact Name, Contact Email, Contact Phone, and Service(s) and Service Areas intended to RFP.
During the period of February 26, 2025 through February 2026 technical assistance will be offered to all bidders in regards to contractual requirements, state and federal regulations to be eligible for funding and other compliance matters. These dates and times will be provided to those that submit a Letter of Intent. Submitting a Letter of Intent does not require an organization/agency to apply. Assistance in understanding the directions for preparing the application will be offered at these informational meetings and frequently asked questions will be posted on the Heritage website. More information on the process and the opportunity to ask clarifying questions will be described in detail with the release of the RFP packet in January 2026.
The FY 27-29 RFP application and supporting documentation for the July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029 contract period will be due in February 2026.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON MULTI-YEAR AREA PLAN FOR BENTON, CEDAR, IOWA, JOHNSON, JONES, LINN AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES
To older persons, public officials and other interested parties, pursuant to Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 17 – 6.2(7)a.(2):
The public is notified and invited to attend a public hearing being conducted by Heritage Area Agency on Aging regarding the Fiscal Years 2026 - 2029 Area Plan for the seven county region (Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties).
The purpose of the public hearings are to gather input and comments from interested parties, including priority services. Public hearings will be conducted on:
Monday, January 6, 2025 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. via Zoom virtual meeting or in-person at the Heritage Main Office from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Login information for the Zoom session will be posted on Heritage Area Agency on Aging’s website by December 7, 2024 at: www.heritageaaa.org. Address for the in-person session is the same as the mailing address below.
Agenda:
Call to order
Purpose of hearing
Public Comments on Priority Services
Title III-B Priority Services are located within the service categories of Access, In-Home and Legal. The minimum percentage (%) of Title III-B funding required to be expended within each category are: 1) Access Services (10%), which includes Information and Assistance, Assisted Transportation, Outreach, Case Management, and Transportation, 2) In-Home Services (5%), which includes Adult Day Care/Health, Personal Care, Chore, Homemaker, and 3) Legal Services (3%,) which includes: Legal Assistance.
Written comments
Other comments
Services under consideration to be provided as Direct Services by Heritage
Adjournment
The Area Plan will guide Heritage for the period of State Fiscal Years 2026 – 2029. Comments are also welcomed in the written form of choice or by utilizing a form provided on the Heritage website at www.heritageaaa.org. Written comments should be sent to Heritage Area Agency on Aging, Attention Barb Werning, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404. The public is invited and encouraged to provide feedback and participate in both the virtual or in-person public hearing opportunity and/or provide written comment.