Committee pauses $14.3M Fixed Lead SF contract with Rebuilding Together for follow‑up; supervisors press for vendor details

San Francisco supervisors on the Budget and Finance Committee on March 16 continued consideration of a five‑year contract (not to exceed $14,300,000) with Rebuilding Together San Francisco to administer the city’s Fixed Lead SF program and to fund lead hazard remediation for residential units.

The Department of the Environment’s senior environmental specialist, Ryan Ramos, told the committee the contract covers program administration and payments to state‑certified subcontractors to identify and remediate lead hazards, relocation support for affected tenants, a $1,000,000 administrative allocation for Rebuilding Together, approximately $13,300,000 for subcontractor remediation work, $4,700,000 earmarked for city salaries, and a $2,000,000 contingency intended to cover program costs beyond the settlement period. The department and the Department of Public Health said initial outreach will prioritize ZIP codes with the highest historic lead‑poisoning rates (noted ZIPs: 94110, 94112, 94124) and that the contract could reach roughly 358 residential units over the program timeframe.

Supervisor Asha Safaie pressed staff on Rebuilding Together’s qualifications for lead abatement and tenant relocation. Ramos said city staff and state‑certified contractors will perform the technical abatement and clearance work; Rebuilding Together’s role is to recruit contractors from the certified list, provide payment administration and coordinate relocation, while the city will retain significant implementation oversight through a designated project monitor. Karen Yu of the Department of Public Health said the city will triage properties using 20 years of lead‑poisoning data and equity criteria and that the 358‑unit figure is an initial estimate pending implementation.

Supervisor Safaie requested a Rebuilding Together representative appear before the committee to explain its project management and relocation experience; she moved to continue the item to the April 6 meeting. The motion passed by roll call (3 ayes). Chair Hillary Ronan said the item will return with Rebuilding Together present so supervisors can review vendor qualifications and tenant‑relocation safeguards.

What’s next: The committee continued the item to the April 6 meeting to allow staff to arrange direct Rebuilding Together participation and provide additional procurement, oversight and relocation details before the committee votes on forwarding the contract.