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The Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water Sewerage Department authorizes the Director to approve DWSD Contract No. 6007509 with Promise Network, Inc. dba Promise for Third-Party Vendor Administration of the Lifeline H2O Affordability Program, for a term of one year, with a (1) year option to renew. This is a zero-cost contract for applicant processing services only. The vendor will be paid independently by the Great Lakes Water Authority via WRAP (Water Residential Affordability Program) funds by retaining 12% per application processed. This also authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
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Agenda of October 15, 2025
Item No. 2025-250
Contract No.: 6007509
Contractor: Promise Network, Inc. dba Promise
Contractors Address: 490 Chadborne Road, Suite A135, Fairfield, CA 94534
Contract Amount: $0.00
Term: (1) year, (1) year option to renew
TO: The Honorable
Board of Water Commissioners
City of Detroit, Michigan
FROM: Gary Brown, Director
Water and Sewerage Department
RE: Third-Party Vendor Administration of H20 Lifeline Affordability Program
Promise Network, Inc dba Promise
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Matthew Phillips, Chief of Staff and Customer Service Officer, the Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department authorizes the Director to approve DWSD Contract No. 6007509 with Promise Network, Inc. dba Promise for Third-Party Vendor Administration of the Lifeline H2O Affordability Program, for a term of one year, with a (1) year option to renew. This is a zero-cost contract for applicant processing services only. The vendor will be paid independently by the Great Lakes Water Authority via WRAP (Water Residential Affordability Program) funds by rentaining 12% per application processed. This also authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) is launching a new Lifeline H2O Affordability Program designed to assist customers with household incomes below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). To ensure efficient, secure, and accurate processing, DWSD sought a qualified vendor to design, implement, and administer an electronic application approval system that leverages:
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities for automated intake, verification, and eligibility determination.
• Develop and manage a secure, user-friendly electronic application platform.
• Automate eligibility screening and approval workflows using AI.
• Verify income documentation and household eligibility against the program’s 200% FPL threshold.
• Provide customer support, fraud detection, and data reporting to DWSD.
• Ensure scalability to manage high-volume demand during enrollment periods.
• Grant and fund administration.
This pilot program is for a term of (1) year, including a (1) year option to renew. The option to renew is contingent upon the availability of future grant funding for Water Affordability and DWSD’s efforts to capture qualified applicants into the Lifeline H2O affordability program.
Due to the complexity of scope, the sensitivity of fiscal year funding, and current economic factor of DWSD not having an active affordability program for its residents, services provided by this vendor will provide relief to those qualifying residents within the City of Detroit. DWSD will continue exhausting all measures of securing long-term funding that meets the needs of our community.
Funding for this contract will be provided by use of WRAP (Water Residential Affordability Program) dollars, set aside by The Great Lakes Water Authority to assist DWSD and its efforts to provide water affordability funding to the residents of the city of Detroit.
The availability of these funds will expire at the fiscal year end period of 6/30/2026.
PROCUREMENT METHOD
This Proposed Contract was initiated by the DWSD Customer Service Division through requisition number 540174 and approved by Budget on 10/13/25. The Proposed Contract is being procured as a Single Source, Exception to Competitive Solicitation, in accordance with the DWSD Procurement Policy, item no. 5 to support operational and administrative needs with processing of the Lifeline Plan applications. The ECS was approved by Director Brown on 10.13.25.
SUMMARY
A. Contract No.: 6007509
B. Contractor: Promise Network, Inc. dba Promise
C. Contract Term: One (1) year with (1) year option to renew
D. Contract Amount: $0.00
E. Anticipated FY Breakdown: FY 25-26: $0.00
FY 26-27: $0.00
This contract was presented during the DWSD BOWC Regular Meeting on 10/15/25. Per DWSD procurement protocol, no additional approvals are required.