Sources-Sought-RFI-3-30-18.docx

RFI REQUESTING SOURCES SOUGHT AND CAPABILITY STATEMENTS

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This is not a request for offers, quotes or proposals. This notice does not represent a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract. This is a market research tool only to determine the capability of potential sources.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is contemplating establishing a contract under NAICS Code(s) 541720 Research and Development in Social Sciences and Humanities, and the Small Business Standard is $20.5 million, PSC Code AJ76 R&D General Science/Technology: Social Sciences (Management/Support) and is issuing this Request For Information (RFI) in order to solicit responses from capable sources and capability statements to ensure sufficient competition exists to meet the government’s requirements.

Teaming arrangements and joint ventures may be considered for any subsequent procurement based on the Government's market research and compliance with Federal Regulations and the Small Business Administration.

1. What exactly is HUD contemplating acquiring?

This procurement is intended to obtain technical support for the American Housing Survey. In particular, it is aimed to extend certain ongoing reporting and data series to encompass newly collected AHS data. It also calls for creative solutions to technical survey research and data issues that arise during the period of performance. The contractor is expected to have an excellent grasp of survey research, housing market economics, HUD rental assistance programs, and database management.

HUD has a twofold need for analytic support of the AHS: 1) to extend existing report series as new surveys are completed, and 2) to produce short topical and technical reports as the needs arise.

2. BACKGROUND

The American Housing Survey (AHS) is designed to provide current information on the size and composition of the housing inventory, the characteristics of its occupants, changes in the inventory resulting from new construction, indicators of housing and neighborhood quality, and the characteristics of recent movers.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sponsors and manages the AHS. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts a nationwide sample survey in odd-numbered years and surveys selected metropolitan areas over a multi-year cycle.

The American Housing Survey can answer many questions about American people and their homes. The data describe in detail the types, size, conditions, and characteristics of housing; values, equipment and utilities; dynamics of the housing inventory; the demographic, financial and mobility characteristics of the occupants; and information on the surrounding neighborhoods. In addition, there are data on apartments, single-family homes, mobile homes, vacant homes, family composition, income, neighborhood quality, housing costs, equipment, and fuels used by housing units.

Program managers, budget analysts, and congressional staff use AHS data to advise the executive and legislative branches of housing conditions and the suitability of policy initiatives. The AHS data also have been the foundation of many professional studies relating to housing conditions and housing policies and the well-being of people within the United States.

3. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The Contractor shall conduct statistical analyses of the most current 2015 AHS report/data (the nationwide sample survey using the surveys that the U.S. Census Bureau conducts in odd-numbered years of selected metropolitan areas over a multi-year cycle) which includes current information on the size and composition of the housing inventory, the characteristics of its occupants, changes in the inventory resulting from new construction, indicators of housing and neighborhood quality, and the characteristics of recent movers to generate the following reports:

The Contractor will update and maintain the AHS Bibliography databases. HUD maintains a database in a spreadsheet format that documents publications which cite the AHS https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/research.html.

The objectives of this project are to:

· Prepare the Components of Inventory Change and Rental Dynamics (CINCH/RD) reports and datasets based on the 2015-17 and 2017-19 surveys.

· Prepare the Characteristics of HUD Assisted Renters and their Units reports based on the 2017 and 2019 surveys.

· Maintain the bibliography of documents that cite the AHS.

· Prepare topical reports based on the topical modules in the 2017 and 2019 surveys.

· Prepare technical reports related to using current data and planning for future.

a. Below are the characteristics of the requirements:

· Demonstrable knowledge in diverse areas of housing stock analysis, rental affordability issues, and HUD rental assistance programs.

· Previous experience in longitudinal analysis and survey weighting. Specific experience with AHS microdata PUFs will be highly useful.

· Working knowledge of SAS datasets and programming.

· Ability to derive relevant concepts from verbal directions and survey microdata.

b. The tasks require a set of skill categories based on the following approximate breakdown:

4. RESPONSE REQUESTED

Interested parties are requested to respond to Questions below.

a. Section 1: Corporate Description Provide all answers below the question.

Responses must include all of the following information:

1. Name of firm, CAGE Code and DUNS Number.

2. State the business size status and NAICS code, including whether: Small, Small Disadvantaged, 8(a), Women-Owned, HUBZone, Veteran Owned and/or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Business, etc.

3. Points of contact, including: Name, Title, Phone, and E-mail Address.

4. Affiliate information, including parent corporation, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime).

b. Section 2: Firm’s Experience Provide all answers below the question.

Please indicate the extent of your firm’s experience in performing longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of housing microdata or similar services. PD&R is responsible for longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of the AHS microdata that is used to advise the executive and legislative branches of housing conditions and the suitability of policy initiatives. The AHS data also have been the foundation of many professional studies relating to housing conditions and housing policies and the well-being of people within the United States.

If the firm is partnering or subcontracting with other firms, please provide separately the experience of each firm

1. Prime Contractor Name: __________________________________

___________ No of Years of Experience the requirements in this RFI. Please elaborate.

2. Subcontractor or Partner Name: __________________________________

___________ No of Years of Experience the requirements in this RFI. Please elaborate.

c. Section 4: Key Personnel

Provide all answers below.

Please describe the types of labor categories, years of experience and level of experience (e.g. certifications, degrees, etc.) that you use to perform the services requested.

PLEASE DO NOT PROVIDE ANY SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION. DO NOT SUBMIT TECHNICAL OR COST PROPOSALS OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MARKET RESEARCH IS TO OBTAIN OVERALL SUMMARY INFORMATION.

Interested firms responding to this market survey must provide a capability statement demonstrating their experience, skills and capability to fulfill the Governments requirements for the above. The capability statement shall be in sufficient enough detail, but not exceed 4 pages TOTAL, so that the Government can determine the experience and capability of your firm to provide the requirements above. Please specify one primary and one alternate Point of Contact (POC) within your firm, including telephone numbers and email addresses in case clarifications of your submission are needed.

Only electronic copies of capability statements will be accepted and should be emailed to: Josefina.A.McGhee@hud.gov and Leroy.H.White@hud.gov . The e-mail shall contain the following subject line: Response to Sources Sought Notice – Analytic Support of the American Housing Survey, FY19 Requirement. The Government may use the responses received to determine whether to proceed with the acquisition as a set-aside, or in the absence of a least two small business responses to this notice, may determine to proceed with a full and open competition. This decision and whether to proceed with the acquisition is at the sole discretion of the Government.

All interested contractors should submit their capability statements by TIME 1:00 P.M. on DATE: Monday, April 16, 2018, attention POC Josefina McGhee, and Lee White. Late responses will not be considered.