RFI_70FBR419I00000003_for_MLR_FINAL.pdf

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)

HURRICANE MICHAEL - DR- 4399-FL

MULTI-LEASE AND REPAIR (MLR) PROGRAM

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) 70FBR419I00000003

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) is issued in accordance with FAR 15.201(d) & (e). This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or Request for Quotation (RFQ), and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response to this request.

All information contained in this RFI is preliminary and is subject to change if, and when, a solicitation is issued. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. If a competitive solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this RFI, or future solicitations.

BACKGROUND

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Multi-Family Lease and Repair (MLR) is a form of Direct Temporary Housing Assistance that allows FEMA to repair or make improvements to existing multi-family housing units for the purpose of providing temporary housing to eligible applicants who are displaced due to Hurricane Michael under DR- 4399-FL. FEMA may utilize these type of units for eligible applicants who are unable to use rental assistance due to lack of available resources. MLR is not intended to repair or improve individual units to re-house existing tenants.

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 Michael in the following counties Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Gulf, and Jackson in the State of Florida and also, counties within reasonable commuting distance. The contractor will identify eligible properties with a variety of accommodations and amenities, as described below. The Multi Lease and Repair (MLR) eligible properties are expected to temporarily house FEMA applicants throughout the course of the lease period (see Definitions, Period of Assistance, below). FEMA will be responsible for all applicant eligibility and placement determinations.

PROPERTY REQUIREMENTS & PROPERTY IDENIFICATION CRITERA

The contractor will be required to identify properties/units available and manage properties based on the following parameters and in compliance with the MLR program:

The property must have been previously used as multi- family housing A property that contains two or more dwelling units;

The property must be located in an area included in a major disaster declaration Each unit providing complete and independent living facilities for one or more persons, that contains three or more units including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, cooking, and sanitation

The building/ 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 to community and wrap- around services, such as accessible public transportation, schools, fire and emergency services, grocery stores, etc.

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

The property must not be located in a SFHA as identified on the available flood hazard information or a potential flooding area as identified on the Advisory Flood Hazard

The property must be available to be leased to FEMA allowing FEMA’s exclusive use as temporary housing for eligible applicants for a term of no less than18 months

The property owner must provide all property management services, including building maintenance and

All contractors must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) and Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number

FEMA will hold in reserves a security deposit in the amount not to exceed the applicable Fair Market Rent (FMR) (see Definitions, FMR, below) 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.

This RFI provides an opportunity for parties who own properties that potentially qualify for participation in MLR to express interest. Contractors will be required to submit the following information:

a. Complex name (if applicable), location, property owner name, and phone number;

b. If the landlord is current in the property’s mortgage payments;

c. Number of vacant units available for FEMA exclusive use;

d. Number of units compliant with Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards and/or features in unit(s) that provide accessibility for individuals with disabilities;

e. Number of vacant units that contain a separate bathroom, kitchen, and living space;

f. Description of repairs and improvements required to make the units habitable;

g. Projected length of time required to make units habitable

(from execution of lease agreement);

h. History of the building’s use;

i. Date of construction (if known);

ii. Dates the building was used for multi-family housing;

iii. Rental rates during the last year of operation (state whether utilities were included, and if so, which ones);

i. Any applicable pet restrictions, such as type, number, or size, and any applicable pet deposits; AND

j. Number of parking spaces (including accessible and van-accessible) available for each unit, if applicable

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.

Multi-Lease and Repair (MLR): MLR allows for the repair or improvement of existing multi-family housing which FEMA can utilize as a temporary housing unit for eligible applicants. The program is not intended to repair or improve individual units to re-house existing tenants.

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.

Period of performance (POP): The POP is for one year from date of award. This period can be extended beyond the period specified in the event the President issues an extension to the Multi Lease and Repair Program assistance. All lease agreements executed by the contractor shall be through April 27, 2020.

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.

Repair: To restore a property or component of the property to a functional condition that will make the property safe and adequate for temporary housing

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 allowing FEMA to restore the property to its original condition before any reasonable modifications or improvements to the property as requested by the property owner

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

SUBMISSION OF CAPABILITY PACKAGES INSTRUCTIONS

Interested vendors shall submit a brief capabilities' statement package via email to the Points of Contact listed below. There is no page limitation on your submission.

Respondents shall also provide a cover page with their Company Name, DUNS Number, CAGE Code, Company web address, Company Address, Point of Contact, Telephone Number, e-mail Address, the Size of your Organization, and, if applicable, the small business socioeconomic category.

This documentation should address, at a minimum, the following to demonstrate the vendor's capability to perform the requirements:

(1) The vendor's technical capability to deliver the aforementioned services; and

(2) Past experience with similar requirements along with the contract type/pricing methodology; and

(3) The vendor's capacity in each of the geographic locations listed for DR-4399: the following counties Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Gulf, and Jackson in the State of Florida and also, counties within reasonable commuting distance, to include the number of available properties and access to additional properties.

(4) The vendor's ability to manage, as prime, the types and magnitude of services required.

Please provide additional information you deem relevant to respond to the specifics of the RFI. The Government is not requesting any proprietary information to be submitted, nor shall it be liable for any consequential damages for proprietary information included.

Any information submitted to the RFI (e.g. capability statement) is subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 USC 552 (a). All submissions submitted will not be returned.

The applicable NAICS code is 531110. The applicable PSC is X1FA.

RESPONSE DEADLINE: RFI responses and comments are due by January 23, 2019 at 1300 (EST) via email to the POC listed below. The email subject line shall read: RFI 70FBR419I00000003 Response: Multi Lease and Repair (MLR) Program, DR-

4399FL

POINTS OF CONTACT: Angelina W. Bachemin, email:

Angelina.Bachemin@fema,dhs.gov Phone calls will not be accepted or returned.

All responses received and questions answered will be considered as part of the market research for this requirement in accordance with FAR 10.001(a)(3).

SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS: Small Business concerns are encouraged to provide responses to this RFI in order to assist in determining competition determination.

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) is issued in accordance with FAR 15.201(d) & (e). This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or Request for Quotation (RFQ), and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contract, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response to this request. All information contained in this RFI is preliminary and is subject to change if, and when, a solicitation is issued. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. If a competitive solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this RFI, or future solicitations.