ACTION ALERT
DECEMBER 23, 2003


DFTA’S MEALS-ON-WHEELS RFP FOR THE BRONX 
RELEASED ON DECEMBER 10TH 

MAJORITY OF BRONX MEALS-ON-WHEEL PROVIDERS
ORGANIZE A BOYCOTT OF THE RFP AS 
SERIOUS CONCERNS REMAIN

WHAT IS IN THE RFP:

• $4 cap per meal which includes food, food preparation and delivery

• 40% maximum cap on hot meals delivered five days a week

• 60% minimum level of frozen meals delivered once or twice weekly

• There is no mention of this being a pilot project or demonstration program. The RFP is written as a 3 year contract with an option to renew for 3 years.

• All vehicles used by providers are considered “DFTA owned” vehicles. Therefore, agencies would lose vehicles to the winners of the RFP.

• RFP does not mention voluntary contributions.

• Case management agencies are expected to assess all 2200 homebound seniors in the Bronx by July 1, 2004. There is no transition period for the restructuring to take place in.

• The RFP is due back February 4th. An addendum will be sent out in January.

IMPACT OF THE RFP:

• Loss of funds - The Bronx would lose $1 million out of the existing $3.4 million, a 30% cut.

• Loss of jobs - 60 employees out of 203 in the Bronx – kitchen staff, drivers and deliverers – would lose jobs. They would lose their income and a good health care package. 

• Loss of per meal cost - DFTA has not provided any information on how the $4 per meal and 60/40, frozen/hot meal breakdown was determined. DFTA states that the average meal cost is now $6, so the $4 is a 33% cut. The $6 average is barebones funding.

• Loss of hot meals/5 day a week delivery – The frailest of seniors, those needing hot meals, 5 days a week, will likely end up on waiting lists as this will now become the most expensive service to provide. In order to meet the $4 cost cap, there will be probably be less hot meals and 5 day delivery available. Concern has been raised that the frailest will be placed most at risk.

• Loss of voluntary donations for meals- When asked about this at a recent meeting, Commissioner Ed Mendez-Santiago stated they were considering using the contributions to possibly augment case management or pay for telephone reassurance. It is unclear how this would work and what impact it would have on those programs providing both MOW and congregate meals.

• Loss of administrative costs – Current MOW providers will lose funding related to fixed costs and staff. DFTA has stated it will make agency budgets whole the first year. It is unclear, if this happens, where this money will come from or if it would last past a year.

• Loss of meals funded through discretionary funds and fundraising – Some MOW providers use these funds to provide additional meals above DFTA funding. This could lead to some seniors losing meals.

• Loss of vans and transportation staff – The RFP states that all the vehicles are “DFTA owned”. Agencies will lose many vehicles and staff which will impact other transportation services they provide. At the bidders conference, when asked who would pay to retrofit vans to carry frozen meals, DFTA responded that there were already “sectors” who could do this. It is unclear who they were referring to, but clearly not the community-based network.

• Case management’s unrealistic role – No new resources are being given to case management agencies already laboring under caseloads averaging 90 clients per worker to do meal assessments for all clients by July 1, 2004. DFTA is preparing an assessment tool for meals and it is unclear what that will include. There are concerns about what happens if case managers assess more than 40% of clients as needing hot meals/5 days a week?

• Loss of community-based services – boycott called - The majority of Bronx meals-on-wheels providers have organized the first ever boycott of an RFP. They held a press conference at City Hall on December 19th, following the bidders conference, to announce the boycott. They have stated they cannot do it financially and ethically because it will hurt frail, homebound elderly.

CSCS WILL UPDATE YOU ON THE MEALS-ON-WHEELS RFP
IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR COUNCILMEMBERS 
AWARE OF THIS SITUATION

COME TO THE CSCS 15TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE, JANUARY 15, 2003
TO REGISTER, CONTACT ANNE PERZESZKY, 212-398-6565, ext. 230

CSCS – FIGHTING FOR YOU EVERY DAY!

For further information, please contact Bobbie Sackman, (212) 398-6565, ext.226 or bsackman@cscs-ny.org