Request For Information - Housing Repair Line Item Data API.pdf

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance

Request for Information (RFI) 70FB8026I00000007

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Individual Assistance (IA), Individuals and Households Program (IHP), Service Delivery Branch (SDB), has a requirement to provide the Recovery Directorate with construction Cost Estimating Software using R.S. Means branded data. The purpose of this acquisition is to have a contractor convert the FEMA Housing Repair dataset found in Attachment A to an Application Programming Interface (API) protocol. This comprehensive dataset provides unit costs for home repair components across all phases of residential construction. The dataset will support FEMA in establishing accurate repair costs for use in future Presidential Declarations and in providing financial assistance to disaster survivors.

BRAND NAME: FEMA intends to procure RS Means CostWorks data under a brand name specification in accordance with FAR 16.505(a)(4)(i) or (ii). This exception is justified under FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B), as only one source—RS Means—is capable of providing the CostWorks data due to its unique, highly specialized nature and its status as a brand name item proprietary to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). Using RS Means is essential to the Government. Using alternative products would likely result in interoperability, compatibility, and interface issues, which could hinder the system support team’s ability to deliver efficient and effective customer service to disaster survivors.

GENERAL INFORMATION: This RFI is issued solely for information gathering purposes to identify sources that can provide support for the Individuals and Households Program. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), RFIs may be used when the Government wants to obtain price, delivery, other market information, and capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to these RFIs are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This RFI shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with their RFI response.

Respondents will not receive additional information in response to their submittal to the RFI and will not be notified of the resulting market research.

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND DISCLAIMERS: Respondents shall identify any proprietary information in its RFI response. Information submitted in response to this RFI will be used at the discretion of the Government. Further, the information submitted will remain confidential insofar as permitted by law, including the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts. FEMA reserves the right to utilize any non-proprietary technical information in the anticipated PWS or solicitation.

Although it is not necessary to address in their response, respondents shall be aware of any potential, actual, or perceived organizational conflicts of interests. Any real or potential conflicts must be sufficiently mitigated prior to a contract award. For further guidance, refer to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Part 9.5.

NAICS CODE: 513210 – Software Publishers

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE (PSC): 7A21 – IT and Telecom - Business Application Software

ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE:

POP – 4 months from date of award

ANTICIPATED ACQUISITION STRATEGY: To be determined based on market research results.

ATTACHMENT: Draft Statement of Work

RFI RESPONSE SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested contractors shall submit their RFI responses electronically to (Lassey Wilson-Bahun), Contracting Officer, at (lassey.wilsonbahun@fema.dhs.gov) no later than 11:00AM Eastern Standard Time (EST), (March 05, 2026).

“RFI Response for (FEMA Individual Assistance (IA), Service Delivery Branch (SDB) - Consolidated Construction Cost Estimating Software (RS Means licenses) shall be in the subject line of your e-mail.

All responses shall be unclassified, with proprietary information clearly marked. The document format shall be either Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) formats. Pages shall be 8.5 by 11 inch and shall use a type pitch that is no smaller than a standard 11-point font type, with the exception of charts, graphs, or tables, which shall use a pitch not smaller than 10-point font. Responses shall not exceed (15) pages in length including images, data displays, charts, graphs, and tables. Page limitation does not include: 1 cover page. Do not include promotional materials.

RFI Responses shall include the following information in the order below:

A. Cover Page with the following information:

1. Company Name

2. Company Address

3. UEI Number

4. Company Point of Contact - Name, Title, Phone, and Email address

5. Statement of current business size status (i.e., HUBZone small business concern, service-disabled veteran-owned small business firm, 8(a) contractor, woman-owned small business, small business, or large business concern). Also, business size in relation to the NAICS code size standards assigned to this acquisition.

6. GSA Schedule Number, Contract Number, and Period of Performance and/or DHS Strategic Sourcing Vehicle Category Name and Contract Number, if applicable

B. Contractor Capability Statement (No more than (4) pages in length)

1. Summarization of relevant projects showing capabilities

2. Past performance in applicable areas

C. Contractor RFI Responses to questions (No more than (6) pages in length)

The responses received will assist FEMA with identifying the number and nature of the entities that consider themselves potential technical solution providers. Each respondent, by submitting a response, agrees that any cost incurred in response to this RFI, or in support of activities associated with this RFI, shall be the sole responsibility of the respondent. FEMA shall incur no obligations or liabilities whatsoever, to anyone, for any costs or expenses incurred by the respondent in responding to this RFI.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) QUESTIONS

List questions for industry here.

1. Cost estimates are developed nationwide, and cost data varies per CONUS and OCONUS territories. Does your company have City Cost Index (CCIs) for all States and territories?

2. Does your company corroborate CCIs are consistent with current local costs per city?

3. Do you update city cost data at least every quarter or in any economic impacts like catastrophic events?

4. We develop cost estimates for specific damages that requires unit costs per damage (Ex.

Windows, gates, ceiling tiles, etc.) Does your platform accounts with unit cost per individual components?

5. Sometimes the scopes of work are not detailed enough, or the damages are for damaged items that include several components. (ex. Concrete walls). Does your software include assemblies that consider all the materials, labor and components required for construction?

6. Does your cost data separates labor, material and equipment cost?

7. Cost estimating facilities when a detailed scope of work is not available requires the use of parametric models that account with all the necessary components. Does your software include square foot models for the development of the cost estimates? What type of facilities are available? (Ex: schools, hospitals, office buildings, etc.)

8. Different infrastructure facilities require different components. For what kind of infrastructure does your software have cost data? (Electrical infrastructure, dams, buildings, etc.)

9. Some cost estimates are developed for the repair of facilities while others are for new construction. Does your costing data consider the labor type cost difference for repair projects vs new construction? Can the user change the type of data based on the project type?

10. The labor cost for commercial projects is different than the cost for residential construction. Does your platform consider that cost difference? Do you have cost data for commercial housing projects?

11. Does your software include all items to supports communities recovering from disasters by providing cost date for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring/replacing public infrastructure such as schools, buildings, roads, bridges, culvert, power plants, parks, and water treatment plants.

12. Does your company provide the ability to expand the number of licenses should the need arise during heightened disaster activity? If so, what would your pricing structure look like?

13. Do you offer the government volume discounts?

14. Please provide a Rough Order of Magnitude estimate for each license type offered including specify if pricing is based on annual subscription.

15. Do you offer your cost data product on a GSA schedule or other government contracting vehicle?

16. Please describe your company capability to support unforeseen surge licenses during heightened disaster activity?

17. Is there anything that needs to be more clearly defined by the government? and/or please provide any feedback you have regarding the requirements document?