RFI-_APP-H-2019-019.docx

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.

Reference: APP-H-2019-019

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is procuring a contract under NAICS Code 541330 (Engineering Services), and the Small Business Standard is PSC Code R425 (Support – Professional Engineering Technical), for assisting HUD’s Office of Manufactured Housing Programs in the administration and enforcement of its installation program in States not choosing to administer their own manufactured housing installation programs as well as in the oversight of states that choose to operate their own qualifying installation programs. In States where HUD is responsible to administer an installation program, the Department will ensure that manufactured housing installers are trained and licensed and will administer an inspection monitoring program for those States. In these States the Department has the authority to enforce all the regulations outlined in the Manufactured Home Installation Program (24 CFR Part 3286). In States that are approved to administer their own programs, the Department is responsible to review the state programs on a regular basis and is responsible to ensure that each state enforces installation standards that provide protection to manufactured home residents that equals or exceeds the protection provided by the Department’s Model Manufactured Home Installation Standards (24 CFR 3285) 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 will be considered for any subsequent procurement based on the Government's market research, provided that the prime contractor provide fifty percent or more of the support and service.

So, what exactly is HUD contemplating acquiring?

BACKGROUND

The Manufactured Housing installation program is implemented through two major sets of regulations: (1) 24 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 3285, the Model Manufactured Home Installation Standards (the Installation Standards); and (2) 24 CFR Part 3286, the Manufactured Home Installation Program Regulations (the Installation Program Regulations).

As a result of amendments to the Act by the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, the Installation Standards were developed and implemented on October 20, 2008. The Installation Standards include minimum requirements applicable to performing installation operations and assembly of manufactured homes. Proper installation ensures that manufactured homes remain in compliance with the Manufactured Home Standards (24 CFR Part 3280).

The Installation Program Regulations serve as the basis for administering and enforcing the installation standards and the installation of manufactured homes in States without a State-administered program. The Program Regulations require states that choose to operate an installation program for manufactured homes in lieu of the federal program, to implement installation standards that provide protection to its residents that equals or exceeds the protection provided by the model installation standards. The Regulations also ensure that certified State installation programs address statutorily required program elements. The Installation Program Regulations require all State programs to train and license installers in each State and to administer installation inspection programs meeting the federal requirements.

The current contract awarded to SEBA Professional Services is a Fixed Price type contract that supports up to 15 FTE’s.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The objective of the Installation Program contract is to obtain contractor services to assist the Department in the full implementation of the Manufactured Home Installation Program. This program is multi-faceted and includes:

· Program Management Services to ensure that the full performance work statement is adequately planned, executed, and managed,

· Installer Licensing Services for the licensing and renewal of Manufactured Housing installers,

· Installer Trainer Related Services for the review, approval, and oversight of training providers and programs,

· Installation Inspector Related Services for the qualification and training of installation inspection providers,

· Monitoring and Inspection Related Services for reviewing installer certifications, retailer records, manufacturer installation instructions, and state administered programs, and

· Other Services related to the installation program as may be necessary to fully and properly execute the Department’s Installation Standards and Program Regulations.

· Travel to perform monitoring inspections (10 trips estimated).

The Department administers the installation program in 14 States and has approved state administered programs in the remaining 36 states. The HUD-administered states currently include:

· Alaska

· Connecticut

· Hawaii

· Illinois

· Maryland

· Massachusetts

· Michigan

· Montana

· Nebraska

· New Jersey

· Rhode Island

· South Dakota

· Vermont

· Wyoming

There are approximately 50 manufactured home installation manuals maintained by manufactured home producers. Generally, each installation manual contains at least 100 individual pages of design information.

In calendar year 2018, approximately 8000 homes were installed in HUD-administered states. An estimated 150 installers are expected to submit new applications to become licensed installers in the Department-administered states and an estimated 250 installers will seek renewal of previously issued licenses each year. There is currently a total of 610 active installers in HUD administered states. An application for an installer license will contain approximately 5 pages, and an application for certification, as an Installation Trainer, will contain approximately 10 pages.

The various procedures, reports, and any related information being developed and utilized in administering any portion of the Manufactured Housing program or it records or collected information are property of the Government.

CONTEMPLATED REPORT REQUIREMENT

· Weekly Meeting agenda

· Weekly activity report

· Monthly State Program review

· Monthly Installation Manual review status

· Monthly home shipment reconciliation report to track homes

· Home installation monitoring inspection reports

· Special research projects

· One Management Work Plan (MWP) per year

CONTEMPLATED MAGNITUDE OF THE PROJECT

$3.5 to $4 million dollars

CONTEMPLATED PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Performance will be at the contractor’s location

RESPONSE REQUESTED

Small Businesses are encouraged to respond.

This synopsis is a market research tool being used to determine the availability and capability of potential sources prior to determining the method of acquisition and whether the government will proceed with this acquisition. The Government will not pay for any information solicited. If a contract is ultimately pursued, responses to this synopsis will be used to aid in determining whether the acquisition is set-aside for small business or in establishing small business subcontracting goals. All qualified firms are encouraged to respond.

The capability statement shall address, at a minimum, the following for the past three years:

1. Name and address of company and or companies (if there is a teaming arrangement or joint venture);

2. Technical expertise relevant to the requirement;

3. Technical approach relevant of the requirement (1 to 2 paragraphs);

4. Management approach relevant to the requirement (1 to 2 paragraph);

5. Corporate experience relevant to the requirement (1 to 2 paragraph);

6. Indicate if you are a small business or any other socio-economic categories that apply to your firm under the designated NAICS code;

7. Whether you have had unequal access to any information relevant to the acquisition that could provide an unfair competitive advantage;

8. Relevant past performance. Your capability statement needs to include a list of three customers (Government/non-Government) within the past three (3) years highlighting similar work in nature, scope, complexity, and difficulty and a brief description of the scope of work. Your submission for relevant past performance must include for each customer:

· Contract name;

· Contracting Agency or Department, POC and contact information;

· Yearly contract value (in $$);

· Whether your firm was the prime or a subcontractor;

· Period of performance;

· Description of work and how it relates to the requirements.

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 enough detail, but not exceed 5 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: Brandon A. Carson @hud.gov. The e-mail shall contain the following subject line: Response to Sources Sought Notice – Office of Manufactured Housing Programs 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 are at the sole discretion of the Government.

All interested contractors should submit their capability statements by TIME__________ on DATE________, attention POC____________________. Late responses will not be considered.