Market Research Sources Sought Brief and Questionnaire- 86614623Q00002 EVH - 12-09-22.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT MARKET RESEARCH

Brief and Questionnaire

Evaluation of the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program

SOLICITATION NO: 86614623Q00002

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is conducting Market Research in accordance with FAR Part 10.

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. No reimbursement will be made for any costs incurred and/or associated with providing information in response to this Sources Sought or any follow-up information. Contractors shall not submit proposals, quotes, or bids in response to this Sources Sought.

I. BACKGROUND:

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) authorized the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish an incremental emergency voucher program and authorized $5 billion for program implementation. In response, HUD established the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program which has allocated approximately 70,000 vouchers to be administered at the local level nationwide by public housing agencies (PHAs) in partnership with Continuums of Care (CoC) or other homeless or victims services providers to assist qualifying families through a direct referral process. By statute, qualifying individuals or families for the EHV program include individuals and families who are (1) homeless; (2) at risk of homelessness; (3) fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking; or (4) recently homeless and for whom providing rental assistance will prevent the family’s homelessness or having high risk of housing instability. As per the statute, PHAs must reissue turnover vouchers to qualifying households through September 30, 2023, after which time the reissuance of EHVs is prohibited. This Performance Work Statement (PWS) describes the requirements for an evaluation of the EHV program which will be supported by HUD’s Office of Policy Development & Research (PD&R).

This Evaluation of the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program will document the implementation and early outcomes of the EHV Program through a mixed mode data collection approach to provide a broad overview of the EHV program nationally. The Contractor selected to carry out this evaluation must have expertise and experience in the design and implementation of web-based surveys and in-depth telephone interviews; negotiation and acquisition of administrative data resources; linking and analyzing a large volume of administrative records; familiarity with HUDs assisted housing programs and administrative data assets; and excellent oral and written communication skills.

The contract will have a 24-month base period of performance, and includes a set of optional tasks that, if exercised, would extend the period of performance to 42 months.

II. BRIEF DESCRIPTION

HUD is seeking a contractor(s) to provide the services required Evaluation of the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program. The contractor shall perform various contract oversight tasks, including but not limited to:

The purpose of the Opening Meeting is to establish a common understanding about the PWS objectives. The Contractor shall be responsible for developing presentation materials for the Opening Meeting.

b. Task 5.1.2 Management Plan The Management Plan shall be clear, concise, and shall demonstrate it will meet the objectives and requirements contained within the Performance Work Statement.

c. Task 5.1.3 Monthly Reporting and Ongoing Communication The Contractor shall provide monthly reports on the progress of the project by the 25th of each month to the CO and COR and will report on the contract activities from the previous month. The Contractor shall also participate in regular conference calls with the COR and other HUD staff, as appropriate, to discuss the progress of the study and address any issues or challenges that may have arisen over the duration of the contract.

2. Task 5.2 Study Methodology

The Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program is a new, time-limited special purpose voucher program that requires the public housing agency (PHA) to administer the program in partnership with the local homeless assistance system, most typically, the local Continuum of Care. The purpose of this evaluation is to document program implementation which will be largely informed by primary data collection from both entities

The contractor shall develop the overall study methodology that shall serve as a technical blueprint for all research activities that will be undertaken within the base contract to address the research objectives outlined in this Performance Work Statement.

a. Task 5.2.1 Research Design Overview Memo The Contractor shall prepare a memo that provides a high-level overview of the proposed study methodology. This memo will serve as a precursor to the Research Design, Data Collection & Analysis Plan (RD/DCAP)

b. Task 5.2.2 Research Design Overview Briefing The contractor shall prepare adraft Research Design Overview memo present the proposed research design to HUD.

c. Task 5.2.3 Research Design, Data Collection and Analysis Plan The Contractor shall develop a comprehensive research design/data collection and analysis plan (RD/DCAP) that shall serve as a technical blueprint for all research activities that will be undertaken to address the research objectives outlined in this Performance Work Statement. The Contractor shall engage a subject matter expert with relevant experience in the operations and programs managed by Continuums of Care and public housing agencies to serve as Senior Technical Staff – Subject Matter Expert (STE-SME). The STE-SME shall ensure that the RD/DCAP addresses the critical research questions outlined in the PWS and maps the relevant data collection activities to the appropriate data sources.

3. Task 5.3.Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Clearance Any primary data collection involving more than nine respondents requires the approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) prior to beginning, and the Contractor shall be responsible for completing all required paperwork under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). HUD does not anticipate the collection of any personally identifying information (PII) from individuals, therefore, HUD does not expect that the requirements under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) will be applicable for this evaluation.

Any data collection instruments described in the RD/DCAP, as well as any informed consent materials associated with the data collection instruments, will need to be approved by OMB prior to administration. HUD expects that the following items will require OMB approval prior to administering: the web-based survey instrument for PHAs, the web-based survey instrument for CoCs, and structured interview guides for telephone interviews.

4. Task 5.4 Data Collection from PHAs and CoCs One of the aims of the EHV program evaluation is to develop a broad overview of the EHV program nationwide. To inform this overview, this data collection task includes two subtasks: a focused web-based survey to be administered to all PHAs and CoCs that are implementing the EHV program and a set of follow-up telephone interviews with a select set of PHAs and/or CoCs. The STE-SME shall ensure that the data collection instruments are methodologically sound and that the questions included reflect a comprehensive knowledge of the EHV program, as well as standard CoC and PHA operations.

a. Task 5.4.1 Web-based Survey of PHAs and CoCs The Contractor shall administer a web-based survey to all PHAs and all CoCs that are administering the EHV program. The survey should take less than 30 minutes to complete and should consist largely of closed-ended questions to facilitate easy response. The purpose of the web-based survey is to gather standardized information from all PHAs and CoCs administering EHVs that can help paint a national picture of the types of programs that have been established. HUD anticipates that the survey instruments for the PHAs and the CoCs may share some common questions but will largely be different instruments from one another to ensure that the survey instruments are customized to the role of the respondent in EHV program implementation.

Following the completion of the surveys, the Contractor shall analyze the resulting data and summarize the results of the analysis to HUD in a short report.

b. Task 5.4.2 Follow-up Telephone Interviews Following the web survey, the Contractor shall work with HUD to identify a set of at least 25 communities to participate in a follow-up telephone survey for the purpose of gathering a more detailed understanding of program implementation in these communities. The telephone survey instrument shall build on the data collected through the Web-Based survey of the PHAs and CoCs administered under subtask 5.4.1 and will consist largely of open-ended questions. Telephone interviews should include both partners—PHAs and CoCs—either together in one interview, or separately, as appropriate.

5. Task 5.5 Analysis of HUD Administrative Data HUD is capturing a significant amount of administrative data related to the EHV program. Notice PIH 2021-20 (HA) outlines the household reporting requirements for PHAs, directing agencies to report EHV household data into HUD’s existing Information Management System/Public Housing Information Center (IMS/PIC) data system in the same way the PHA currently collect tenant information for the HCV program.

HUD anticipates that a number of research questions of interest can be answered through an analysis of existing HUD administrative data related to program operations and those served through the EHV program. In particular, an analysis of HUD’s IMS/PIC tenant data and VMS data related to EHV program finances at the 613 PHAs implementing the program can provide insight into understanding how the program is being administered and which households are ultimately being served. The STE-SME shall contribute expertise related to HUD administrative data to ensure that the administrative data requested from HUD are sufficient for answering the research questions.

The Contractor shall provide HUD with a short memo that describes the data extracts from HUD administrative data that will be required to address the research questions outlined in the approved RD/DCAP. The memo should include, at a minimum, the data systems from which administrative data will be required, the variables needed from each data system, the frequency with which a data extract is required, and the time frame the data extract should capture. The Contractor shall analyze the HUD administrative data in accordance with the approach outlined in the research design approved by HUD under Task 5.2. Following completion of the data analysis, the Contractor shall summarize the findings in three shorts reports, each addressing a distinct set of research questions. These short reports can be developed throughout the period of performance, at whatever time the data analysis has been completed.

6. Task 5.6 Submission of Data Files to HUD The data collected under this contract belongs to HUD, and HUD reserves the right to analyze the data collected for the study and make it available to other researchers approved by HUDs for independent analysis.

At the conclusion of the project, the Contractor must submit the final data set containing the survey responses collected and analyzed under Task 5.4.1 Web-based Survey of PHAs and CoCs. The data set must be fully deidentified (stripped of the names and/or contact information of any respondents) before submission to HUD. The data files submitted to HUD must be accompanied by sufficient data documentation to allow for data discovery and additional analysis, including the submission of a comprehensive codebook to accompany the data set. Sufficient information for replication of the analyses in the final report or any short papers, such as SAS or SPSS helper files, must be included with the submission of data files to HUD.

III. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS

Interested parties are requested to respond to this Sources Sought by responding to the Questionnaire below. Respondents must provide the responses below the questions on the Questionnaire.

A. Due Date - Responses to this Sources Sought are due on Thursday, December 29, 2022 at 2:00 pm EST. Responses received after the specified date and time may not be considered.

B. Response Submission Responses to the Questionnaire shall be submitted below each question on the Questionnaire. The completed Questionnaire with responses shall be submitted in Microsoft (MS) Word and shall not exceed fifteen (15) pages. Respondents must use 11 point Times New Roman font type with 1-inch margins on standard 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper.

C. Graphics or pictures are not allowed. Illustrations such as tables, flowcharts, organizational charts, process charts, diagrams, or other similar type informational charts may be used and will be counted against the page count limitations noted above. Please ensure all illustrations have readable font size for the text. Files submitted shall not contain Macros or exceed more than a total of 5MB.

D. All responses must be UNCLASSIFIED and will become Government property, and will not be returned. Standard marketing brochures or catalogs will be discarded.

E. The Government recognizes that proprietary data may be a part of your submittal. If so, clearly mark such restricted or propriety data and present it as an addendum to the non-restricted/non propriety information. All submittals received will be reviewed for informational purposes. The Government reserves the right to independently verify all information submitted.

F. Reponses that are not in accordance with the instructions above, including the due date and time and page limitations, may not be considered.

G. Responses shall be emailed to the following: CPOFTW@hud.gov;

The subject line of the email shall state – The Subject line shall be:

Name of Your Company – Evaluation of EHV - QUOTE – 86614623Q00001

H. “86614622Q00004 Mortgage Performance Data and Analytic Products Subscription”, IV. QUESTIONNAIRE –

Interested parties are requested to respond to this Sources Sought Questionnaire below for National Tasks.

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, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and Tax ID Number

2. State if your firm has a GSA Schedule for the services required in the Brief and provide the the GSA contract number.

3. 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.

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

5. 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 – Number of Years Provide all answers below the question.

Please indicate the extent of your firm’s experience in performing Evaluation of the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program or similar services. If the firm is partnering or subcontracting with other firms, please provide separately the experience of each firm. Please review II. BRIEF DESCRIPTION above.

1. Prime Contractor Name:

Evaluation of the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program or similar services Years

2. Subcontractor or Partner Name:

Evaluation of the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program or similar services Years

C. Section 3: Experience in Evaluation of the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program or Similar Services Provide all answers below the question.

Describe your firm’s experience in the following areas:

1. What experience does your firm have in research and evaluation projects that required engagement with public housing agencies, Continuums of Care and focused on homelessness and/or housing policy?

2. Data Collection

a. What experience does your firm have in research and evaluation projects that included a multi-modal data collection approach and development of multi-faceted evaluation designs, and multiple streams of data collection. Please explain the method of data collection (web-based, telephone, site visits, etc.)

b. What experience does you firm have in integrating and analyzing the resulting data from the multi-modal data collection above to answer the key research questions using sound and appropriate analytic techniques.

c. What experience does your firm have in designing and executing web-based surveys and semi-structured telephone interview protocol and semi-structured telephone interview protocols. Please provide the response rate goal and the rate achieved.

d. Did any of the experience above aim for a response rate of 75% or higher. If so, was that rate achieved. If that rate was not achieved, please elaborate.

3. What familiarity or experience does your firm have analyzing federal agency administrative data?

4. What experience does your firm have in communicating the results from the above research into written reports and oral presentations.

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.

YOU ARE REQUESTED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS LISTED IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE ONLY.

MARKET RESEARCH ONLY – BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

Market Research – FAR Part 10 Page 4 of 7 Brief and Questionnaire Evaluation of the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program