1231ME18R00C_final.pdf

SEE ADDENDUMIS CHECKED

CODE 18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

CODE

FACILITYCODE

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER

OFFEROR

CODE 16. ADMINISTERED BYCODE

X

X

541611

SIZE STANDARD:

% FOR:SET ASIDE:UNRESTRICTED OR

RFPIFB

10. THIS ACQUISITION ISCODE

RFQ

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

13b. RATING

NAICS:

SMALL BUSINESS

01/31/2018 1500 ET

01/02/2018

202-692-0230 (No collect calls)

INFORMATION CALL:

FOR SOLICITATION 8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIMEb. TELEPHONE NUMBERa. NAME

Dominique Morant

4. ORDER NUMBER3. AWARD/ 6. SOLICITATION 5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

1231ME18R000C

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS 1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE OF

1 159OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

TELEPHONE NO.

17a. CONTRACTOR/

15. DELIVER TO

9. ISSUED BY

7.

2. CONTRACT NO.

EFFECTIVE DATE

$15.00

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW

ISSUE DATE

DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

11.

SEE SCHEDULE

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13a.

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

8(A)

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

Tax ID Number: Not Available DUNS Number: Not Available This Request for Proposal (RFP) is for Non-Profits only. This solicitation is for technical and management assistance for a non-profit to provide contractor support for contract services for labor, management, supervision, quality control necessary to provide training and technical assistance to public or private nonprofit corporations, agencies, institutions, organizations and other

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

DATED . YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION (BLOCK 5),

INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE SET FORTH

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND DELIVER

ARE

ARE

31c. DATE SIGNED

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

Dominique Morant

ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL

SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED.

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

OFFER

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT:

REF.

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED

40. PAID BY39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER

37. CHECK NUMBER

FINALPARTIAL

36. PAYMENT

FINALPARTIAL

35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

34. VOUCHER NUMBER33. SHIP NUMBER

COMPLETE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD)

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41c. DATE41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

001 1 EA

002 1 EA

003 1 EA

associations, including Indian tribes, eligible to receive assistance under the Section 523

Mutual Self-Help Technical Assistance (TA) Grant

Program in accordance with 7 CFR Part §1944-I available in any Rural Development Office. The

Rural Housing Service (RHS) anticipates awarding a definite quantity of services firm fixed price contracts with a cost reimbursement no fee for travel, covering REGION III of the United States and its territories. The period of performance is for a one (1) year base and four (4) one (1) year option periods.

Period of Performance: 04/01/2018 to 03/31/2023

Base Year REGION III Technical & Management

Assistance services for the period of performance of April 1, 2018 thru March 31, 2019.

Option Year One REGION III Technical & Management

Assistance services for the period of performance of April 1, 2019 thru March 31, 2020.

(Option Line Item)

03/01/2019

Option Year Two REGION III Technical & Management

Assistance services for the period of performance of April 1, 2020 thru March 31, 2021.

Continued ...

32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

3 159

CONTINUATION SHEET

PAGE OF

(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)

REFERENCE NO. OF DOCUMENT BEING CONTINUED

1231ME18R000C

004 1 EA

005 1 EA

(Option Line Item)

03/01/2020

Option Year Three REGION III Technical & Management Assistance services for the period of performance of April 1, 2021 thru March 31, 2022.

(Option Line Item)

03/01/2021

Option Year Four REGION III Technical & Management Assistance services for the period of performance of April 1, 2022 thru March 31, 2023.

(Option Line Item)

03/01/2022

NSN 7540-01-152-8067 OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

1231ME18R00C

SECTION B: SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

All Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINS) are firm fixed price (FFP) except for travel which is a cost reimbursable no fee (CRNF) item.

B.1 Instructions to Offerors Failure to adhere to all instructions in this solicitation may result in a proposal submitted not being evaluated or being ineligible for award. The source selection authority may reject all proposals received in response to a solicitation, if doing so is in the best interest of the Government.

B.2 Type of Contract The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) is issuing this competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-5 and Subpart 15 to solicit competitive proposals for the purpose of entering into a Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contract with a cost reimbursement no fee for travel for a definite quantity of services contract. No one contractor shall receive more than one award.

B.3 Base and Option Periods

The term is a base period of one year and four one-year Option Periods.

Base Year: April 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019

Option Year One: April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020

Option Year Two: April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021

Option Year Three: April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022

Option Year Four: April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023

The above option periods are based on date of contract award.

B.4 Funding

Funding is currently subject to the Availability of Funds Clause FAR 52.232.18.

Funds are not presently available for this contract. The Government’s obligation under this contract is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for this contract and until the Contractor receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer.

USDA RD is not liable for costs incurred until such time as the Contractor is awarded the Contract, and the Contract is funded by the Contracting Officer.

B.5 Line Items and Prices

B.5.1 Monthly Recurring Fixed Prices

The offeror is to include pricing for the CLINS. Please see and fill in pricing in Section B-6.

B.5.2 Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINS)

Offerors must include price(s) for all contract line items numbers (CLIN) including optional items listed in the Pricing Schedule; failure to provide prices for all CLIN(s) shall render proposal non-responsive. The Government reserves the right to award ALL, Some or None of the CLIN(s) listed in the Pricing Schedule.

The CLIN structure is designed to provide consistency during the entire contract period of performance. The following tables define the CLIN structure for each Period of Performance.

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.6.1 Price Schedule

B.6.1.1 Base Year – (April 1, 2018 thru March 31, 2019)

CLIN SUPPLIES/SERVICES

REGION III

BILLING

QUANTITY

UNIT UNIT

PRICE

AMOUNT

0001 Inquiries 12 MO

0002 TA Grant Application Processing

0002A Schedule/Conduct TA Grant App Development Meeting

24 EA

0002B TA to Prepare Grant Application

24 EA

0002C Review/Recommend Application

24 EA

0002D Congratulation package to TA Grant Awardee

24 EA

0003 Monitoring/Quality Control

0003A Financial Certification or Assessment of Grantee

24 EA

0003B Attend Quarterly Meetings and Site Visits with Grantee

12 MO

0003C High Risk Grantee Assessment and Remedies

24 EA

0003D Technical Management Assistance for Implementing Remedies for High Risk Designation

24 EA

0003E Contacts 12 MO

0003F Problem Identification & Resolution

24 EA

0003G Quality Control Assessment 96 EA

0003H Grant Closeout 24 EA

0004 Training

0004A SHARES Training and Technical Assistance

12 MON

0005 Grantee Training Handbooks

0005A Grantee Training Handbook Maintenance

4 EA

0006 Mutual Self-Help Newsletter 4 EA

0007 Reports

0007A Monthly Monitoring Report 12 MO

Firm Fixed Priced Price Total

0006 Travel

0006A Travel (CRNF) 12 MO

BASE YEAR REGION III Firm Fixed Price TOTAL plus TRAVEL

0007 Regional Training Workshops (Optional Item)*

0007A Regional Training Workshop 1 EA

BASE YEAR REGION III Firm Fixed Price TOTAL plus TRAVEL with Option Items

*Optional Item may or may not be purchase.

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.6.2 Price Schedule

B.6.2.1 Option Year One – (April 1, 2019 thru March 31, 2020)

CLIN SUPPLIES/SERVICES

REGION III

BILLING

QUANTITY

UNIT UNIT

PRICE

AMOUNT

1001 Inquiries 12 MO

1002 TA Grant Application Processing

1002A Schedule/Conduct TA Grant App Development Meeting

24 EA

1002B TA to Prepare Grant Application

24 EA

1002C Review/Recommend Application

24 EA

0002D Congratulation package to TA Grant Awardee

24 EA

1003 Monitoring/Quality Control

1003A Financial Certification or Assessment of Grantee

24 EA

1003B Attend Quarterly Meetings and Site Visits with Grantee

12 MO

1003C High Risk Grantee Assessment and Remedies

24 EA

1003D Technical Management Assistance for Implementing Remedies for High Risk Designation

24 EA

1003E Contacts 12 MO

1003F Problem Identification & Resolution

24 EA

1003G Quality Control Assessment 96 EA

1003H Grant Closeout 24 EA

1004 Training

1004A SHARES Training and Technical Assistance

1005 Grantee Training Handbooks

1005A Grantee Training Handbook Maintenance

4 EA

1006 Mutual Self-Help Newsletter 4 EA

1007 Reports

1007A Monthly Monitoring Report 12 MO

Firm Fixed Priced Price Total

1006 Travel

1006A Travel (CRNF) 12 MO

OPTION YEAR ONE REGION III Firm Fixed Price TOTAL plus TRAVEL

1007 Regional Training Workshops (Optional Item)*

1007A Regional Training Workshop 1 EA

OPTION YEAR I REGION III Firm Fixed Price TOTAL plus TRAVEL with Option Items

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.6.3 Price Schedule

B.6.3.1 Option Year Two – (April 1, 2020 thru March 31, 2021)

CLIN SUPPLIES/SERVICES

REGION IIII

BILLING

QUANTITY

UNIT UNIT

PRICE

AMOUNT

2001 Inquiries 12 MO

2002 TA Grant Application Processing

2002A Schedule/Conduct TA Grant App Development Meeting

24 EA

2002B TA to Prepare Grant Application

24 EA

2002C Review/Recommend Application

24 EA

2002D Congratulation package to TA Grant Awardee

24 EA

2003 Monitoring/Quality Control

2003A Financial Certification or Assessment of Grantee

24 EA

2003B Attend Quarterly Meetings and Site Visits with Grantee

12 MO

2003C High Risk Grantee Assessment and Remedies

24 EA

2003D Technical Management Assistance for Implementing Remedies for High Risk Designation

24 EA

2003E Contacts 12 MO

2003F Problem Identification & Resolution

24 EA

2003G Quality Control Assessment 96 EA

2003H Grant Closeout 24 EA

2004 Training

2004A SHARES Training and Technical Assistance

2005 Grantee Training Handbooks

2005A Grantee Training Handbook Maintenance

4 EA

2006 Mutual Self-Help Newsletter 4 EA

2007 Reports

2007A Monthly Monitoring Report 12 MO

Firm Fixed Priced Price Total

2006 Travel

2006A Travel (CRNF) 12 MO

OPTION YEAR TWO REGION III Firm Fixed Price TOTAL plus TRAVEL

2007 National Self-Help Conference (Optional Item)*

2007A National Self-Help Conference 1 EA

OPTION YEAR II REGION III Firm Fixed Price TOTAL plus TRAVEL with Option Items

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.6.4 Price Schedule

B.6.4.1 Option Year Three – (April 1, 2021 thru March 31, 2022)

CLIN SUPPLIES/SERVICES

REGION III

BILLING

QUANTITY

UNIT UNIT

PRICE

AMOUNT

3001 Inquiries 12 MO

3002 TA Grant Application Processing

3002A Schedule/Conduct TA Grant App Development Meeting

24 EA

3002B TA to Prepare Grant Application

24 EA

3002C Review/Recommend Application

24 EA

3002D Congratulation package to TA Grant Awardee

24 EA

3003 Monitoring/Quality Control

3003A Financial Certification or Assessment of Grantee

24 EA

3003B Attend Quarterly Meetings and Site Visits with Grantee

12 MO

3003C High Risk Grantee Assessment and Remedies

24 EA

3003D Technical Management Assistance for Implementing Remedies for High Risk Designation

24 EA

3003E Contacts 12 MO

3003F Problem Identification & Resolution

24 EA

3003G Quality Control Assessment 96 EA

3003H Grant Closeout 24 EA

3004 Training

3004A SHARES Training and Technical Assistance

12 MO

3005 Grantee Training Handbooks

3005A Grantee Training Handbook Maintenance

4 EA

3006 Mutual Self-Help Newsletter 4 EA

3007 Reports

3007A Monthly Monitoring Report 12 MO

Firm Fixed Priced Price Total

3006 Travel

3006A Travel (CRNF) 12 MO

OPTION YEAR THREE REGION III Firm Fixed Price TOTAL plus TRAVEL

3007 Regional Training Workshops (Optional Item)*

3007A Regional Training Workshop 1 EA

OPTION YEAR III REGION III Firm Fixed Price TOTAL plus TRAVEL with Option Items

SECTION B - SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

B.6.5 Price Schedule

B.6.5.1 Option Year Four – (April 1, 2022 thru March 31, 2023)

CLIN SUPPLIES/SERVICES

REGION III

BILLING

QUANTITY

UNIT UNIT

PRICE

AMOUNT

4001 Inquiries 12 MO

4002 TA Grant Application Processing

4002A Schedule/Conduct TA Grant App Development Meeting

24 EA

4002B TA to Prepare Grant Application

24 EA

4002C Review/Recommend Application

24 EA

4002D Congratulation package to TA Grant Awardee

24 EA

4003 Monitoring/Quality Control

4003A Financial Certification or Assessment of Grantee

24 EA

4003B Attend Quarterly Meetings and Site Visits with Grantee

12 MO

4003C High Risk Grantee Assessment and Remedies

24 EA

4003D Technical Management Assistance for Implementing Remedies for High Risk Designation

24 EA

4003E Contacts 12 MO

4003F Problem Identification & Resolution

24 EA

4003G Quality Control Assessment 96 EA

4003H Grant Closeout 24 EA

4004 Training

4004A SHARES Training and Technical Assistance

12 MO

4005 Grantee Training Handbooks

4005A Grantee Training Handbook Maintenance

4 EA

4006 Mutual Self-Help Newsletter 4 EA

4007 Reports

4007A Monthly Monitoring Report 12 MO

Firm Fixed Priced Price Total

4006 Travel

4006A Travel (CRNF) 12 MO

OPTION YEAR FOUR REGION III Firm Fixed Price TOTAL plus TRAVEL

4007 Regional Training Workshops (Optional Item)*

4007A Regional Training Workshop 1 EA

OPTION YEAR IV REGION III Firm Fixed Price TOTAL plus TRAVEL with Option Items

SECTION C - PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Technical and Management Assistance Regional Services USDA Rural Development

Rural Housing Service Single Family Housing Direct Loan Program

C.1. Introduction

The United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (hereby referred to as RD) provides support and services that improve the quality of life in rural communities. The purpose of this solicitation is to contract services for labor, management, supervision, quality control necessary to provide training and technical assistance to public or private nonprofit corporations, agencies, institutions, organizations and other associations, including Indian tribes, eligible to receive assistance under the Section 523 Mutual Self-Help Technical Assistance (TA) Grant Program in accordance with 7 CFR Part §1944-I available in any Rural Development Office.

C.1.a. Authority

This contract is issued in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-5 and Subpart 12 and 15 for a Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) contract with a cost reimbursement no fee for travel Contract Line Items (CLIN). Work shall be Performance Based.

C.1.b. Background

The Congress of the United States, as set forth in the Housing Act of 1949, as amended (Section 523 found in 42 United States Code 1490c) authorized the Rural Housing Service, an Agency under the Rural Development mission area that administers the Section 523 Mutual Self-Help Technical Assistance Grant program, to contract with national or regional public and/or private nonprofit corporations to provide training and technical assistance to public or private nonprofit corporations, agencies, institutions, organizations and other associations, including Indian tribes, eligible to receive assistance under the Mutual Self-Help program. RHS is contracting for the services of a nonprofit entity or entities to provide training and technical assistance to these “Grantee” organizations to improve their performance and ensure their success in working with households in the construction of their homes. To enhance the improvement of the Grantees’ performance and improve their rate of success, quality control measures of the contract awardee will be required and closely monitored. For more than 50 years, the Mutual Self-Help program has provided a greatly needed alternative to conventional housing and afforded more than 50,000 rural American families the opportunity to become homeowners. The savings they receive through the sweat equity of performing 65% of the work to build their homes themselves and lowering the cost to build add unmeasurable value to their pride in knowing they actually helped to construct their homes with the own hands. Currently, there are approximately eighty-eight (88) “Grantee” organizations (listing attached) requiring training and technical assistance on the operation of the Mutual Self Help program. In addition, though greatly needed, the program is not active in every state.

Past awards of this requirement have included outreach to recruit new grantees and expand the participation of the new organizations in the Mutual Self-Help Technical Assistance Grant program.

However, limited funding dictates that outreach cannot be funded at this time; therefore, outreach will not be a requirement under this contract. With the award of this contract, RHS will continue services to the existing Mutual Self-Help Program “Grantee” organizations.

C.1.c. Performance Work Statement

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) describes the Government’s requirement for a base year and four (4) one (1) year options (subject to option exercise). The award will contract services for labor, management, supervision, quality control, materials, equipment, and local transportation necessary to provide training and technical assistance to public or private nonprofit corporations, agencies, institutions, organizations and other associations, including Indian tribes, eligible to receive assistance under the Section 523 Mutual Self-Help Technical Assistance (TA) Grant Program in accordance with 7 CFR Part §1944-I available in any Rural Development Office. This PWS provides a broad description of the “results” the Government requires. The PWS should describe the “results ” the Contractor will perform during the base and optional periods of performance (up to 5 years) to include personnel positions, man hours needed to complete, and fully burdened hourly rates. All templates are provided in the monthly monitoring report Attachment A4.

C.2. Objective and Scope

C.2.a. Objective

The objective is to obtain the services of a nonprofit organization who can meet the necessary performance standards and outcomes in providing in providing Technical & Management Assistance.

The contract services will include labor, management, supervision, quality control, materials, equipment, and local transportation necessary to provide training and technical assistance to public or private nonprofit corporations, agencies, institutions, organizations and other associations, including Indian tribes, eligible to receive assistance under the Section 523 Mutual Self-Help Technical Assistance (TA) Grant Program in accordance with 7 CFR Part §1944-I available in any Rural Development Office.

C.2.b. Scope

The Self-Help Technical Assistance Grant program funds nonprofit organizations, more commonly referred to as “Grantee” organizations, which are willing to locate and work with low and very low income rural Americans to finance and construct their own homes under the self-help construction method. The “Grantee” organization maintains a staff of administrative and technical professionals to provide day-to-day technical assistance to participants in the self-help program during the construction of their homes. Technical assistance provided includes recruiting participants for the program, assisting them in securing the necessary financing for the purchase of the land and building of their home.

Typically, some 4-10 households work together under the guidance of the “Grantee” to construct their homes once each participant’s loan has been closed. The “Grantee” organization also provides technical assistance by working with each household on purchasing construction material, teaching them construction skills to use in building of the home, the coordination of funds disbursement and the mutual effort of all participants to complete each home.

Program participants typically obtain financing for the construction of their homes through the Rural Development field offices of USDA. Homes can only be financed in eligible “rural areas” of the fifty

(50) States including Puerto Rico, the Pacific territories, and the U. S. Virgin Islands. “Rural area” is defined as follows:

(A) Open country or any town, village, city, or place, including the immediate adjacent densely settled area, which is not part of or associated with an urban area and which:

(1) Has a population not in excess of 2,500 inhabitants; or

(2) Has a population in excess of 2,500 but not in excess of 10,000 if it is rural in character;

or

(3) Has a population in excess of 10,000 but not in excess of 20,000, and—

(i) Is not contained within a Metropolitan Statistical Area; and

(ii) Has a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(B) Any area classified as ‘‘rural’’ or a ‘‘rural area’’ prior to October 1, 1990, and determined not to be ‘‘rural’’ or a ‘‘rural area’’ as a result of data received from or after the 1990, 2000, or 2010 decennial census, and any area deemed to be a ‘‘rural area’’ at any time during the period beginning January 1, 2000, and ending December 31, 2010, shall continue to be so classified until the receipt of data from the decennial census in the year 2020, if such area has a population in excess of 10,000 but not in excess of 35,000, is rural in character, and has a serious lack of mortgage credit for lower and moderate-income families.

There are 47 State Offices nationwide in the Rural Development mission area. In addition, there are field offices below the State level that service local areas, which will vary from State to State and U. S.

territories. While the awardee or T&MA Contractor is responsible for the training, monitoring and quality control of the Grantees from their region, State and field offices are responsible for the day-to-day oversight and operation of the Self-Help Technical Assistance Grant program.

The awardee will provide continuous learning/training, monitoring, quality control and technical assistance to all funded self-help Grantees in their assigned region of the United States and its Territories. In addition, there may be a need to expand the participation of other outside “Grantee” organizations in the Mutual Self Help Technical Assistance Grant program within that region of performance. RHS is desirous of contracting for the services of nonprofit entity/entities to provide training, technical assistance, and quality control to “Grantee” organizations to improve their performance and ensure their success in working with households in the construction of their homes.

C.3. Definitions

Contacts: Discussions on the administration of the RD Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance grant and performance under the grant including, but not limited to, correspondence, phone calls, emails, web conferencing, site visits or other meeting media sources.

Contracting Officer (CO): The RD individual entrusted by the Agency with the authority to enter into, administer, renew or terminate this contract(s), along with related determinations and findings. The CO may bind the Government only to the extent of the authority delegated to them.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): The RD staff member designated in writing by the Program Area and the RD Procurement Management Division CO to act as the CO’s representative to ensure the development of the contract and that contract requirements are met.

Contractor: The term Contractor refers to both the prime Contractor and subcontractors. The prime Contractor must comply and ensure that his/her subcontractors comply with the contract clauses.

Contractor Representative (CR): A person(s) designated by the Contractor to be the organization’s authorized representative. One such person shall serve as the Government's principal point of contact.

Grantee: An organization that has received grant funds to provide technical assistance under the Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance Grant program.

High Risk Grantee: A new grantee or an operating grantee that has failed to perform in accordance with the RD Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance grant agreement and/or RD Instruction 1944-I.

Inquiries: Questions and/or requests for information regarding to the RD Mutual Self-Help Housing program.

Operating Grantee: A Grantee that has received RD Mutual Self-Help Housing Technical Assistance grant funds to provide technical assistance and has successfully completed the first two-year grant cycle.

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP): A program implemented by the Government to evaluate the output quality and responsiveness of the Contractor to ensure that the Government receives the services for which public funds are expended. It is emphasized that the government's QASP is not a substitute for the Quality Control Assessment implemented and administered by the Contractor.

Quality Control Assessment (QCA): A plan developed by RD to be utilized by the contractor to ensure that it performs and delivers high-quality service to its regional grantee organizations. The QCA will measure whether or not regional grantees have adequately received the technical and management assistance provided by their regional contractor, are applying the training (as reflected by the services grantees are providing to self-help participants and interaction with RD) and are performing at a level acceptable to the Government.

Replacement Grantee: A grantee recommended by RD to replace an operating grantee that has discontinued participation in the Mutual Self-Help Technical Assistance program. The recommendation will be provided by the RD State Director of the state that is losing the self-help grantee. Input from the T&MA contractor may be considered.

C.4. Description of Services

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, management, supervision to provide training and technical assistance to public or private nonprofit corporations, agencies, institutions, organizations and other associations, including Indian tribes, eligible to receive assistance under the Section 523 Mutual Self-

Help Technical Assistance Grant Program in accordance with 7 CFR Part 1944, Subpart I (available in any Rural Development Office or at the following website: http://www.ecfr.gov .

The Rural Housing Service (RHS) anticipates a Single/Award resulting from this solicitation covering REGION III of the United States. The number of states and/or territories and operating grantees serviced by REGION III (in parentheses respectively) and a listing of the serviced state abbreviations are as follows:

Region 3: (21 states/13 grantees) Northeast and Midwestern - CT, DE, IL, IA, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV, and WI.

The Contractor shall be held responsible for ensuring that the grantees in their region receive appropriate training and technical assistance to perform the duties specified in the grant agreement in accordance with RD Instruction 1944-I. The Contractor will monitor the performance of their regional grantees and inform the RD State Office of any issues and/or deficiencies noted. The Contractor will work with RD to ensure the grantee completes a successful grant and provide the oversight to ensure that quality homes are constructed.

The Contractor shall provide services for the following functions:

PARAGRAPH TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

C.4.a. Inquiries C.4.b. Technical Assistance Grant Application Processing C.4.c. Monitoring/Quality Control C.4.d. Contacts C.4.e. Grant Closeout C.4.f. Training/Workshops/National Self-Help Conference C.4.g. T&MA Annual Contractor Conference Call C.4.h. Grantee Training Handbooks C.4.i. Mutual Self-Help Housing Newsletter C.4.j. Travel C.4.k. Reports

C.4.a. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT: INQUIRIES

C.4.a.1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Address inquiries of the contractor into the Mutual Self-Help Program to include the dissemination and explanation of program information to help build relationships and partnerships within rural communities. There will be no new or pre-development grants made under this contract. Unless funding becomes available and a modification to this contract is made to allow for new and pre-development grants, any solicitation for the same by the contractor will be at the contractor’s expense.

C.4.a.2. HANDLING INQUIRIES

i) Respond to inquiries from organizations interested in becoming self-help grantees.

ii) Provide Section 523 program overview and information to inquirers.

iii) Maintain a database of all inquiries. The database shall include the following information for the organization: name, contact person, mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address. The database will be updated and electronically submitted in Microsoft Excel http://www.ecfr.gov/ workbook and pdf format to the COR, by the 15th of each month, for all inquiries made within the 30-day period since the last reporting. A database template is provided in the monthly monitoring report Attachment A4.

iv) Send correspondence to inquirers including, but not limited to, a self-help program information package.

v) Provide an application package to inquirer (when requested and/or appropriate).

vi) If an inquirer submits an application, the contractor will accept the application and inform the applicant that it will be filed until such time as funding for new grantees becomes available.

C.4.b. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT

APPLICATION PROCESSING

C.4.b.1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Provide technical and management assistance to operating and/or replacement (when appropriate) grantees for the preparation of the technical assistance grant application including, but not limited to, scheduling and conducting meetings, reviewing applications, and preparing recommendations.

C.4.b.2. SCHEDULE/CONDUCT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATION

DEVELOPMENT MEETING

i) Schedule and/or conduct a technical assistance grant application development meeting, within 30 calendar days of issuance of congratulations letter if a replacement awardee.

ii) Maintain and provide in the monthly report, documentation of this meeting to include date, time and location of meeting; organization name, address and telephone number; names and positions of organization staff in attendance and duration of the meeting.

Once the replacement award is made, the awardee will become an operating grantee and will be placed on the operating database. Maintain an operating grantee and a replacement grantee database. A database template is provided in the monthly monitoring report Attachment A4.

C.4.b.3. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PREPARE APPLICATION

Provide professional and technical and management assistance within 30 days (calendar) for replacement grantee and/or TA grant applicants in the preparation of a technical assistance grant application. Provide assistance via electronic or telephonic means to inquirers who have requested a TA application and have presented questions on the process.

C.4.b.4. REVIEW/RECOMMEND APPLICATION

i) Review technical assistance grant application for compliance with RD Instruction 1944-I.

ii) Provide recommendation for approval or denial to State Office in compliance with RD

Instruction 1944-I, most current Administrative Notice (AN) and/or other RD guidance as appropriate. A copy of RD guidance will be provided upon award. The State Office shall notify the replacement grantee and/or operating grantee of grant eligibility determination with a copy to the contractor. DO NOT

COPY THE APPLICANTS.

C.4.b.5. CONGRATULATION PACKAGE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT

AWARDEE

i) Forward a congratulation/information letter to the awardee within 5 business days of receipt of the grant agreement.

ii) Conduct a grant award meeting within 30 calendar days of receipt of the grant agreement for all grantees. The contractor will use this meeting to familiarize the grant recipient with the processes of the self-help program and the duties and responsibilities of a TA grant awardee. This meeting will inform the awardee of, but not be limited to, mutual self-help program requirements and procedures; the importance of consistent, close communication with the RD staff; specifics for building homes i.e. discussion of house plans, staffing requirements and qualifications, what labor will be included in the 65% requirement for each family and how it is to be recorded; how funds will be disbursed from each family’s loan account; and how records, i.e. financial and supply, will be kept. For existing operating and/or repeat awardees, the contractor may exercise some discretion as to the necessity of conducting this meeting.

iii) If a letter of conditions was issued by the RD State Office, the contractor will work with the awardee to ensure all conditions are understood and are met prior to grant closing.

iv) If an extension request is made during the grant period, the contractor is to monitor the grantee closely to ascertain and document the circumstances leading to the request. The contractor will make the grantee aware of the impact extension requests may have on the grantee’s performance and future TA applications. The extension request must contain a written justification and recommendation from the contractor to assist the State Office in making an informed decision on the request.

v) Maintain a database of all TA operating grantees. The database shall include the organization’s name, tax ID number, DUNS number, contact person, mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address, current status of the grantee, dates of the grant period, grant closing date, grant amount, proposed number of houses, actual number of house, whether any extensions were granted and extension dates. Provide a brief summary of the current status and any pertinent data. Provide an electronic version in Microsoft Excel workbook and pdf to the COR by the 15th of each month with the Monthly Monitoring Report containing information as of the last day of the previous 30-day period. A database template is provided in the monthly monitoring report Attachment A4.

C.4.c. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT: MONITORING/QUALITY CONTROL

C.4.c.1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Provide technical and management assistance for the monitoring and quality control of the grantees in accordance with the RD Instruction 1944-I. Visit the following website for additional information:

https://www.rd.usda.gov/publications/regulations-guidelines/instructions (copy and paste address into your web browser).

Technical and management assistance for monitoring will include:

financial certification;

https://www.rd.usda.gov/publications/regulations-guidelines/instructions https://www.rd.usda.gov/publications/regulations-guidelines/instructions training;

meetings;

high risk grantee management;

preparing housing development plans;

performing contacts;

problem identification and resolution;

performing worksite visits and documenting findings;

performing semi-annual reviews of grantee’s 65% labor time cards for the group families to ensure requirement is being consistently met;

performing semi-annual reviews of grantee’s build materials documentation for group families to ensure distribution integrity and prevent fraud, waste and abuse of funds; and performing random samplings of five (5) percent of the grantee assisted 502 loan application packages to ensure completeness and compliance with RD loan docket submission standards, as part of the quality control assessment.

Technical and management assistance for quality control will include measures to ensure the contractor performs according to contract requirements and delivers high-quality service to its regional grantee organizations. The Quality Control Assessment will ensure regional grantees have adequately received the technical and management assistance provided by the contractors, are applying the training and performing at a level acceptable to the Government.

The Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) is the key document that is used to manage contractor performance by ensuring that quality assurance methods are utilized to validate that the contractor's efforts are timely, effective, and are delivering the results specified in the contract. The QASP directly corresponds to the performance objectives and standards (i.e., quality, quantity, timeliness) specified in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and details how, when and by whom the Government will survey, observe, test, sample, evaluate, and document contractor performance results to determine whether the contractor has met the required standards for each objective in the PWS. The QASP Attachment A includes 4 attachments that will be used to manage contractor performance:

Performance Requirements Summary Attachment A1, Quality Assurance State Monitoring Form Attachment A2, Quality Control Assessment Attachment A3, and the Monthly Monitoring Report Attachment A4.

Attachment A1, Performance Requirements Summary. This documents outlines the PWS standards that will be reviewed and rated by the COR.

Attachment A2, Quality Assurance State Monitoring Form. This document will be submitted by Sate Offices quarterly and will provide the COR with operational insight to the contractors performance from the State staff that works with them regularly.

Attachment A3, Quality Control Assessment. Mentioned above, this assessment will be completed by the contractors quarterly as a review of the regional grantees they serve.

Attachment A4, The Monthly Monitoring Report. This monthly report documents the contractor activity in providing required services on a monthly basis.

C.4.c.2. FINANCIAL CERTIFICATION OR ASSESSMENT OF

GRANTEE

Provide certification, to the State Office, that grantee is in compliance with RD Instruction 1944-I or an assessment report in accordance with RD Instruction 1944-I, 1944.411 (f) (g) within 90 calendar days of TA grant award to the grantee.

C.4.c.3. ATTEND QUARTERLY MEETINGS AND SITE VISITS

WITH GRANTEE

Attend quarterly review meetings between grantee and RD, unless RD notifies the contractor, in writing, that contractor attendance is not required. Two (2) of the four (4) quarterly meetings must be conducted at the grantee’s designated site. A minimum of four (4) site visits are required per contract period. A quarterly meeting held at the grantees designated organization address will also be considered a site visit. The contractor must work with the RD State Office in scheduling the quarterly meeting. The contractor will also provide technical and management assistance to the grantees in preparation for quarterly meetings and site visits in areas such as preparing an agenda, ensuring completion of grantee progress and updates, reports and/or documentation prior to meeting date, ensuring preparation of meeting minutes to include meeting notes, action items, and projected completion dates from previous meetings/visits to address outstanding questions/concerns and ensuring that the grantee is consistent in communication with the RD State Office on the same. At these meetings, the contractor will work with the grantee to resolve any RD self-help program issues that may arise.

C.4.c.4. HIGH RISK GRANTEE ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIES

Provide a high risk grantee assessment, within 30 calendar days of receipt of State Director notification of high risk designation. Grantees designated high risk (HR) will be reflected in the operating database as such. Contractor will document events leading to the high risk designation and steps taken to prevent the same which will be included in the assessment to the State Director. Propose remedies (conditions and restrictions) for deficiencies identified. The assessment will be forwarded to the State Director by certified mail. The high risk assessment format will be included in the Monthly Monitoring Report.

C.4.c.5. TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE FOR IMPLEMENTING

REMEDIES FOR HIGH RISK DESIGNATION

Provide technical and management assistance, as requested by RD or grantee organization, with consultation from RD. Three or more regional grantees designated as high risk for any 60 day period may reflect a negative impact on the contractor’s performance. In an effort to reduce the negative impact on the performance of the contractor, even if a grantee remains high risk, the contractor must provide sufficient proof of training and technical assistance to the grantee.

C.4.c.6. CONTACTS

i) Make contact with operating grantees once a month documenting same.

Conventional technological forms of contact (such as Skype), telephone or email.

ii) Make contact with new, and high risk grantees biweekly documenting same.

Conventional technological forms of contact (such as Skype), telephone or email.

C.4.c.7. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AND RESOLUTION

Provide consultation, technical and management assistance, and facilitation services in identifying and resolving deficiencies. Deficiencies and resolutions shall be submitted, in writing, to the State Office, with copies to the RD local offices supporting the affected grantee.

Types of problems to be noted and requiring technical and management assistance from the contractor include but are not limited to the following: families not assisting each other with builds causing some families to complete construction well in advance of others; builders dropping out during construction; multiple extension requests, and inadequate grantee staffing and or supervision on construction site. The regional contractor must communicate with the State Office and work with the grantee to develop a plan of action and resolve problems identified in a timely manner.

C.4.c.8. QUALITY CONTROL ASSESSMENT (QCA)

The T&MA Contractor is responsible for ensuring that each operating grantee is adequately trained and is performing the duties of a TA grantee in accordance with RD Instruction 1944-I.

The assessment will aid in identifying grantee strengths as well as areas where there may be weaknesses which require specialized attention and/or additional training. The QCA, provided by RD upon contract award, will ensure regional grantees have adequately received the technical and management assistance provided by the contractors, are applying the training they received from the contractors and are performing at a level acceptable to the Government.

Proper training is evident based on grantees remaining in good standing with the government and not being placed on high risk. On a quarterly basis, the contractor will submit a quality control assessment of each operating grantee along with the Monthly Monitoring Report. If there are issues noted on the QCA, the QCA in the following quarter should show improvement or include a plan to remedy the issue(s). The QCA will be submitted quarterly on the 15th day of the month with the Monthly Monitoring Report for each performance period. The QCA may be conducted at the Quarterly Review Meetings and/or Site Visits.

C.4.d. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT: GRANT CLOSEOUT

Provide training and continuous support to grantees during the closeout phase of the TA grant.

Grant closeout shall be conducted in accordance with RD Instruction 1944-I, Section 1944.426.

The regional contractor will provide training and technical assistance to include but not limited to disposition of equipment and supplies if needed and payment of final expenses associated with the grant, including final audits.

C.4.e. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT:

TRAINING/WORKSHOPS/NATIONAL CONFERENCES

C.4.e.1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Provide training, workshops, and conferences to grantees and to keep RD staff apprised of new developments concerning the Section 523 Mutual Self-Help Program.

C.4.e.2. SHARES TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Provide training and continuous support to Grantees on the utilization of SHARES. The Contractor will stress the importance of data entry in SHARES and the need to be consistent to keep the information current. The contractor will perform monthly reviews of SHARES to ensure that grantees are consistently and correctly utilizing the system.

C.4.e.3. REGIONAL TRAINING WORKSHOPS (Optional CLIN Item may or may not be purchased)

Each regional contractor will:

i) Conduct one workshop per year per region in the base year and option years 1, 3 and

4. In option year 2, there will be a National Self-Help Conference as explained in C.4.e.4. The regional workshops shall be designed to include training sessions and modules that will benefit and meet the needs of regional grantees. Workshops shall include sessions by staff category as follows: Board of Directors, Construction Supervisors, Group Coordinators, Project Directors, and Bookkeepers. The workshops shall not exceed three (3) business days (Tuesday through Thursday) and shall be provided on-site.

ii) MUST submit a regional workshop plan to the COR for review and approval at least 90 days prior to the start of the workshop. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, a cost comparison of three (3) locations, per diem rates, and a projected attendee count.

iii) MUST submit a tentative regional workshop agenda to the COR for review and approval at least 60 days prior to the date of the workshop. The tentative agenda shall include, but not be limited to, the following: training specific for all new and operating grantees to develop staff job skills (e.g., capacity building; strategic planning; information exchange); other Federal sources of funding (e.g. Section 8 and SHOP Loan program, leveraging, 502 loan packaging, etc.); house plans; basic bookkeeping, accounting for individual borrower 502 loan accounts; OMB 2 CFR 200, Subpart A, Parts 200.27 (Cost Allocation Plan) and 200.56 (Indirect Costs), credit counseling; and loan underwriting. The workshop shall be Self-Help and low-income housing in scope, but also provide some level of Civil Rights and Fair Housing information. Any changes to the approved agenda must be resubmitted for approval.

C.4.e.4. NATIONAL SELF-HELP CONFERENCE (Optional CLIN Item may or may not be purchased)

i) This is an option year item that shall occur as a contract requirement during option year 2 only of this 5 year contract. A National Conference in any other performance period of this 5-year contract will be solely at the expense of the 4 regional T&MA Contractors and not at cost to this contract. The 4 regional T&MA Contractors will work together to plan, develop, announce, facilitate and/or otherwise conduct the National Self-Help Conference. The conference shall be designed to include:

training sessions and modules that will benefit and meet the needs of all RD self-help grantees, i.e. new, replacement, operating(if reinforcement training is requested and/or deemed necessary by the State or National RD Office) etc.; and training sessions by staff category, i.e. Board of Directors, Construction Supervisors, Group Coordinators, Project Directors, and Bookkeepers.

ii) The conference shall not exceed three (3) business days (Tuesday through Thursday).

iii) The contractor MUST submit a conference plan, to the COR, for review and approval at least nine months prior to the start of the conference. The plan shall include, but not be limited to a cost comparison of three (3) locations, per diem rates, and projected attendee count.

iv) The contractor MUST submit a tentative agenda, to the COR, for review and approval at least 60 days prior to the date of the conference. The agenda shall include the following:

Training specific for all replacement, new and operating grantees to develop staff job skills (e.g., capacity building; strategic planning; information exchange; other Federal sources of funding, Section 8 and SHOP Loan Program; leveraging, 502 loan packaging;

development; etc.)

House Plans Basic Bookkeeping for Non-Profit Organizations Accounting for Individual Borrower Section 502 Loan Accounts OMB 2 CFR 200, Subpart A, Parts 200.27 (Cost Allocation Plan) and 200.56 (Indirect

Costs) Credit Counseling Loan Underwriting Civil Rights Fair Housing Information

The conference shall be Self-Help very low- and low-income housing in…