Disadvantaged and Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) businesses, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) and Section 3 businesses are strongly encouraged to participate in this Community Development Block Grant funded project. Essex County is an equal opportunity employer. For more information on the requirements associated with NYS CDBG funds, please see their website for a complete list of documents & requirements relevant to this project and necessary for all consultants & contractors under this project In addition to the proposal, Respondents shall submit executed non-collusion certificates signed by the proposer or one of its officers as required by the General Municipal Law Sec. 103d. The Respondents shall also submit an executed certificate of compliance with the Iran Divestment Act signed by the proposer or one of its officers as required by the General Municipal Law Sec. 103g. All proposals submitted in response to this notice shall be marked "SEALED PROPOSAL - ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES - FARMWORKER HOUSING PROJECTS" clearly on the outside of the envelope with the proposer's name and address. In the event that the Essex County Purchasing Office is closed the day of Proposal opening due to unforeseen circumstances, the proposal(s) will be opened the next business day that the Essex County Purchasing Office is open. The Proposal submission time will remain the same. Essex County affirmatively states that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to these instructions, without regard to race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, sexual preference or Vietnam Era veteran status, disadvantaged and minority or women-owned business enterprises will be afforded equal opportunity to submit bids in response hereto. This project is to develop plans to upgrade current housing facilities and renovate uninhabited buildings to develop new living spaces and ensure safer ventilation and more space per individual. The region is currently experiencing a housing crisis, with nearby farms expressing difficulty at attracting employees who cannot find a place to live in the area. This project plans to create 19 housing units and the capacity for future farm growth as well as the future ability to support nearby farms by providing quality farmworker housing at a low cost. Per COVID safety guidelines, Essex County intends to provide more living space for farmworkers by converting bunkbed living into individual bedroom units. Housing Projects will be compliant with Department of Health requirements of 50 sq/ft per individual. In addition to increased living space, upgrades to ventilation, heating, electrical, and plumbing systems are necessary in each of the proposed project sites. Each project site will be brought to HUD Minimum Standards, Part 15 of the Department of Health Migrant Farmworker Housing Code, NYS Building Codes and the 2022 Energy Code. Essex County is proposing improvements to 5 Project Sites located in Westport, NY. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Set Aside: No Total MWBE Participation Goals: 20% Contract term: 1 year Business entities awarded an identical or substantially similar procurement contract within the past five years The method of contractor selection has not been determined at this time