title
Presentation, discussion, and possible action authorizing a vendor contract with Benevate, Inc., for the Texas Rent Relief Program as required by Texas Government Code, Chapter 2155
end
RECOMMENDED ACTION
recommendation
WHEREAS, Texas Gov't Code, ?2261.254(d) requires governing body approval of certain contracts;
WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (the Department or TDHCA) has a requirement pursuant to the U.S. Department of Treasury's (Treasury) Emergency Rental Assistance funds to continue reporting quarterly on the Texas Rent Relief (TRR) program through September 30, 2025, with the final report due on January 28, 2026, and to retain records for five years after the period of performance, through September 30, 2030;
WHEREAS, the Department received in August 7, 2023, a five-year preservation notice pursuant to all TRR data from Treasury that states "All ESI (electronically stored information) must be preserved in place (i.e. on the custodian's computer) in the format in which it was originally created or maintained (its "native format"), along with related metadata (i.e. data about the document itself that is embedded in the document);"
WHEREAS, TRR data is stored in the Neighborly software system, owned by Benevate, Inc., and the system is not sold on the open market and the only way to access the necessary TRR records and data through the retention period of September 30, 2030, is through the Neighborly ERAP Maintenance Portal;
WHEREAS, since TRR program inception, Horne LLP as the primary TRR vendor, has facilitated TDHCA access to the active Neighborly software system via TDHCA Contract (21-332-001) and their subcontract with Benevate, Inc.;
WHEREAS, TDHCA Contract (21-332-001) is anticipated to terminate in 2024, which would leave TDHCA without access to the Neighborly ERAP Maintenance Portal needed to access TRR data stored in the Neighborly software system for the period of time required by Treasury;
WHEREAS,...
Click here for full text