3rd-Party Inspection RFI 29OCT2026.docx

Request for Information (RFI) Washington State Department of Commerce

October 30, 2026

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Quality Assurance Residential Construction Inspections

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Washington State Department of Commerce is in the process of developing specifications for a potential contract for quality assurance inspection services for residential construction funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and is requesting input from the vendor community.

BACKGROUND

In November 2021, an atmospheric river event caused extensive flooding and wind damage in northwest Washington, with much of the damage concentrated in Whatcom County. As a result, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocated $30,823,000 to Washington State through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program to be administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce). CDBG-DR focuses on long-term disaster recovery and mitigation projects, such as rehabilitating and elevating flood-damaged residential structures. More information about Commerce’s CDBG-DR funding can be found on Commerce’s CDBG-DR website.

CDBG-DR projects must meet state and local building codes, as well as a number of federal requirements concerning energy efficiency, quality of materials, elevation standards, and other aspects of the construction process. They must also adhere to specific program-level requirements. To ensure procured contractors adhere to these standards, Commerce is considering contracting with a third-party inspection firm to provide quality assurance inspections for projects using CDBG-DR funds. Because the CDBG-DR program is relatively new to Commerce, the agency requires more information about the current state of the industry to develop appropriate contract language and determine an appropriate budget.

QUESTIONS

1. Scope and Categories. Please detail how you categorize this service into distinct groups, for example, whether services are categorized differently based on structure type.

2. Location. Can these services be carried out or operated within Whatcom County?

3. Pricing. What are the main pricing factors and components for this kind of work (transportation, labor rates, distance, etc.)?

4. Delivery. What factors typically affect scheduling and delivery timelines from residential inspection services, and what lead times are common in the industry?

5. Coordination. What level of coordination between contractor, property owner, and agency is typically required to successfully perform these services?

6. Federal Program Requirements. Are residential construction inspectors familiar with regulations for federally funded residential construction? Is your firm able to incorporate specific program requirements in their inspections?

7. Energy and Sustainability Standards. Please describe your familiarity with Washington’s Evergreen Sustainable Development Standards, HUD’s Green Building Retrofit Checklist, and Energy Star standards for single-family homes. Is your firm able to incorporate these standards into quality assurance inspections?

8. Barriers. Identify any barriers for your business to bid on this opportunity.

9. Other feedback. Please provide any information you believe is relevant for Commerce to consider in developing a solicitation for goods/services.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Please review the attached Sample Scope of Work and Budget document that lists deliverables and performance measures that might be included in the upcoming competitive solicitation for this service.

As part of the RFI response, please identify any areas of confusion or challenges in meeting any of the listed performance requirements, as well as any omitted details you would expect to be included.

RFI PROCESS

Responses to this RFI should be submitted electronically to the RFI Coordinator listed below no later than November 30, 2026.

A response to this RFI is not a mandatory requirement for participation in any subsequent solicitations released by the State of Washington. The results of this RFI may be used in development of future solicitations. All vendor communications concerning this RFI must be directed to the RFI Coordinator.

Seamus Davis RFI Coordinator Washington State Department of Commerce Seamus.davis@commerce.wa.gov

PUBLIC RECORDS

The vendor acknowledges that state agencies are subject to Chapter 42.56 RCW, the Public Disclosure Act. Vendor responses to this RFI will become public record as defined in the RCW. For the purposes of this RFI no information considered confidential or proprietary should be included.

NO OBLIGATION TO CONTRACT

Release of this RFI in no way obligates the State of Washington to award a contract.

TO SUMMARIZE

The state of Washington appreciates your thoughts and input and would also welcome any additional thoughts and comments related to this service.

Attachment A – Sample Scope of Work and Budget Contractor: | Contract #:

Project Description / Deliverable

Contractor will provide 3rd-party quality assurance inspections for construction, elevation, and rehabilitation work carried out as part of the following Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) programs administered by Commerce:

· Homeowner Elevation & Rehabilitation (multiple locations within Whatcom County)

· New Housing – TBD (Whatcom County, WA)

· Multifamily Housing – Sumas Square (408 Second St, Sumas WA 98295) Inspections will determine whether CDBG-DR-funded work was carried out in accordance with local building codes, program quality standards (as defined in each program’s policies and procedures posted to Commerce’s CDBGD-DR website), and applicable state and federal law, as well as the scope of work defined in the applicable construction contract. If any environmental mitigation measures were required, inspections will confirm the mitigation measures were implemented. Contractor will document any deficiencies and required corrective actions. After each inspection, Contractor will prepare a written report of their findings with supporting documentation and photos of completed work.

For the New Housing and Multifamily Housing programs, Contractor will perform inspections on all CDBG-DR funded work completed. Inspections will occur once construction/elevation/rehabilitation work is complete but before the properties are deemed certified for occupation. Commerce will facilitate communication between Contractor and the entities responsible for construction management for both programs in order to schedule inspections and ensure inspectors’ access to the properties.

For the Homeowner Elevation & Rehabilitation program, Contractor will perform inspections on at least 25% of funded projects. Commerce will identify projects subject to 3rd-party inspections before elevation/rehabilitation work is complete and inform Contractor and Whatcom Long-Term Recovery Group (WLTRG), the organization managing construction for this program, with enough time for Contractor and WLTRG to coordinate the timing of the 3rd-party inspections. Inspections will occur once elevation/rehabilitation work is complete but before the properties are deemed certified for occupation. Commerce will facilitate communication between Contractor and WLTRG to schedule inspections and ensure inspectors’ access to the properties.

The total budget for inspections across all three programs will be [$XXX]. Contractor’s invoice documentation will indicate which properties all costs apply to.

· Complete applicable civil rights requirements and ensure nondiscrimination in project delivery.

· Monitor any subcontractor(s) to verify they meet Program funding conditions.

Before final payment request

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