Attachment_01_-_Statement_of_Work.pdf

70FBR218Q00001001 Attachment 01

STATEMENT OF WORK

FOR

DIRECT LEASE PROGRAM

BACKGROUND

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires property management companies to evaluate potential rental units or properties and work with individual property owners to directly lease rental units or properties, not generally available for rent to the public, on behalf of FEMA. If FEMA decides to lease the properties directly from individual property owners, the same requirements for eligible properties and property owners will apply.

PROJECT SCOPE/DELIVERABLES

The contractor is to identify, evaluate, and directly lease eligible properties on behalf of FEMA in order to provide housing assistance to eligible individuals and households affected by Hurricane Maria in the municipalities in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The contractor will identify direct lease eligible properties with a variety of accommodations and amenities, as described below. The direct lease eligible properties are expected to temporarily house FEMA applicants throughout the course of the lease period.

FEMA will be responsible for all applicant eligibility and placement determinations.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS & PROPERTY IDENIFICATION CRITERA

The property management companies will be required to locate rental properties/units based on the following parameters and in compliance with the direct lease program:

• The property must be currently available to rent for housing

• The property must comply with Housing Quality Standards established by Housing and Urban Development, and all utilities, appliances, and other furnishings are functional

• The property cost, to include deposit, payment for utilities, and/or other associated fees is within the HUD Fair Market Rent rates

• The property must be located within reasonable commuting distance of the affected areas

• The property must be located within reasonable commuting distance to community and wrap-around services, such as accessible public transportation, schools, fire and emergency services, grocery stores, etc.

• A number of the identified units must be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

• A number of the identified units must make allowances for pet accommodation

• An inspection must be completed and submitted to FEMA prior to Lease agreement with the property owner

The property management companies must refer all properties identified for final approval to

FEMA.

FEMA will hold in reserves a security deposit in the amount not to exceed the applicable Fair Market Rent (FMR) for each unit. The property management company on behalf of the owners will submit a claim request for repair of damage above normal wear and tear caused by the Applicant. FEMA will be permitted to inspect the unit for assessment of the damage. Once the claim is approved by FEMA or its designee, the property management company will invoice for payment of repairs only for damages above normal wear and tear. FEMA will only pay up to the amount of one month’s FMR for each unit; any damages exceeding this amount will be the responsibility of the applicant.

The property management companies must execute lease agreements with property owners on behalf of FEMA in compliance with parameters outlined in this Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA).

The property management companies must terminate lease agreements with property owners on behalf of FEMA in compliance with parameters outlined in this Statement of Work.

DEFINITIONS

Applicant: An individual or household who has applied for FEMA Assistance, and because of the disaster has a disaster-caused need for temporary housing.

Direct Lease: A form of Direct Temporary Housing Assistance where FEMA may lease an existing residential property for use as temporary housing for eligible individuals and households.

Fair Market Rent (FMR): Housing market-wide estimates of rent values in which rental housing units are in competition. The Fair Market Rent rates applied are those identified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as being adequate for existing rental housing in a particular area. FEMA uses the applicable rate based upon the location of the housing unit, the number of bedrooms in the housing unit, and the fiscal year in which the major disaster declaration was issued.

Fair Housing Act: Protects people from discrimination when they are renting, buying, or securing financing for any housing. The prohibitions specifically cover discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and the presence of children.

Habitable: Defined by FEMA as a home that is safe, sanitary, and functional. Safe means secure from disaster-related hazards or threats to occupants. Sanitary means free of disaster-related health hazards.

Functional means an item or home capable of being used for its intended purpose.

Housing Unit: A house, apartment, hotel, motel, a manufactured homes, recreational vehicle, or other readily fabricated dwelling. A room or group of rooms in an occupied dwelling may qualify as a housing unit if the room(s) in which the applicant and household live are separate from any other persons in the dwelling/building, and are generally available to be rented by the public.

Occupant: An applicant, co-applicant, or any household member over the age of 18 who is listed on the Temporary Housing Agreement, as being authorized to reside in the Temporary Housing Unit (THU).

Period of Assistance: Individuals and Households Program (IHP) assistance is limited to 18 months following the date of the disaster declaration. The period of assistance begins at the date of the Presidential declaration and not the date on which the disaster is designated for Individual Assistance (IA). The President may extend the period of assistance due to extraordinary circumstances that an extension would be in public interest. Through the delegation of authority, the Assistant Administrator (AA) for Recovery may, at the request of a state, territorial, and tribal government, extend the period of assistance for the IHP Financial Assistance, Direct Temporary Housing Assistance, or both.

Reasonable Commuting Distance: A distance which does not place an undue hardship on an applicant. It also takes into consideration the traveling time due to road conditions; e.g., mountainous regions or bridges out and the normal commuting patterns of the area.

Period of performance (POP): The POP for will be for eighteen (18) months from September 20th, 2017 which is the date of declaration for disaster DR-4339-PR. This period can be extended beyond the period specified in the event the President issues an extension to the period.

Utilities: Services such as water, gas, electricity, heating oil, and/or propane. Utilities do not include amenity services, e.g. cable, television, internet, telephone, etc.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• A provision granting FEMA exclusive use of the housing units and sole discretion to identify and select occupants during the term of lease agreement

• A provision granting FEMA the option to extend the lease if FEMA extends the period of assistance beyond 18 months

• A provision granting FEMA the option of releasing the unit to the owner and ceasing all monthly payments for the unit at any time by providing thirty days’ notice after the initial 12 month period

• A provision allowing FEMA to make, at FEMA’s expense, reasonable modifications or improvements to the property to provide a reasonable accommodation for an eligible applicant with a disability or other access and functional needs

• A provision incorporating a lease addendum containing FEMA’s program conditions of eligibility and termination of tenancy and eviction into any lease between the property owner and the occupant

• A provision allowing FEMA to re-assign a vacated unit when eligible applicants need Direct Temporary Housing Assistance and a unit becomes available before the end of the period of assistance

• Property owners will waive credit and criminal background screening for eligible applicants

• Property owners must be current and in good standing with property mortgage payments