Sources Sought Synopsis Sample

APR 2019

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE to determine the availability and capability of the open market. The U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires contractors to deliver a web-based technical assistance (TA) environment aimed at building the capacity of HUD’s TA customers, including program participants, grantees, and other recipients of HUD funding or participants in HUD initiatives, to design and deploy compliant, effective, and transformational affordable housing and community development programs.

The Contractor will assume responsibility for all aspects of the existing www.hudexchange.info website (HUD Exchange or HUDx), improve functionality of site features, and integrate new tools. Through changes in the design, functionality, and marketing of HUD Exchange, the Contractor will contribute to increases in site usership and user engagement, which HUD expects will translate into measurable growth of TA customer capacity and improved delivery of HUD-funded programs and initiatives. In 2023, HUDx had 5.8 million user sessions, 19.3 million page views, and 741 thousand document downloads.

HUD Exchange is currently funded under a cooperative agreement awarded through the Community Compass notice of funding availability.

HUD anticipates that the transition of HUD Exchange to a new contractor will occur in the second half of the 2024 federal fiscal year.

The Government intends to transition the current HUDx website to a .gov governmental website during the time period of this contract. The first year of the contract will have hosting and maintenance requirements. After the first year, the hosting requirements set forth within the contract shall be optional at the government’s discretion.

After the transition to a .gov site, the contractor shall have continuous monitoring requirements solely.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for a Hud Exchange Knowledge Management Platform. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement 518210 - Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services.

There is no solicitation at this time. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.

The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to 1) provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated; 2) secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements; 3) implement a successful project management plan that includes: compliance with program schedules; cost containment; meeting and tracking performance; hiring and retention of personnel and risk mitigation; and 4) provide services under a performance based service acquisition contract.

Based on the responses to this sources sought notice/market research, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses or procured through full and open competition, and multiple awards may be made. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Background:

HUD facilitates technical assistance and capacity building (collectively referred to as TA) through cooperative agreements with a network of non-federal organizations. These organizations provide TA to HUD technical assistance customers (e.g., cities, states, public housing agencies, tribes, and fair housing organizations) with the aim of improving delivery of HUD-funded programs and initiatives.

HUD tasks a broad range of TA providers with generating TA deliverables that include static products, dynamic web-based content, live and recorded training events, large group convenings, small cohorts of HUD TA customers, and one-to-one engagement with HUD TA customers.

The goal of HUD Exchange is to curate HUD’s wide range of TA deliverables into a user-centered experience that promotes translation of technical assistance into improved delivery of HUD programs. HUD believes users engage

HUD Exchange to address four challenges: 1) to resolve a specific question or challenge with program delivery, 2) to learn about a topic or discipline related to HUD programs, 3) to research new and better ways of delivering HUD programs, and 4) to use a site tool to implement a HUD program more efficiently.

Through this contract, HUD is seeking to promote operational efficiencies and user engagement with the website.

HUD Exchange presently spans 19,000 web pages, across 90+ programs or topics, and reaches 100,000+ registered users.

The HUD Exchange Knowledge Management Platform Contract is for comprehensive systems development and website operations for HUDx. The Contractor shall perform tasks and provide deliverables in the following areas:

1. Project management

2. Website hosting and administration

3. Website operations

4. Website improvements

5. Marketing

General Description of Work:

The Contractor shall deliver the following knowledge management services under this contract:

(1) project management;

(2) website hosting and administration;

(3) website operations;

(4) website improvements; and

(5) marketing.

The Contractor shall provide all services and deliverables to HUD’s satisfaction, defined by specific performance requirements and objectives.

The HUD Exchange Knowledge Management Platform Contract shall not be used to perform work of a policy, decision-making, or management nature, which are inherently Governmental functions.

Contemplated place of performance:

The place of performance shall be at the Contractors facilities.

Contemplated period of performance:

The Period of Performance shall be for one base period of 12-months and four 12-month option periods.

RESPONSE INFORMATION

THIS IS AN RFI ONLY to identify sources that can provide Asset Sales Transaction Services. Interested vendors are those vendors who have interest in providing a response to RFI and who can provide a vendor capability statement demonstrating a commercial solution and technical experience for this requirement, including relevant scope in terms of its size, complexity and magnitude to the tasks/activities to be performed under this requirement, particularly, as it pertains to the support services and technical solutions required for the HUD, Office of Asset Sales. All capable and available firms are encouraged to participate.

Please be advised that generic capability statements are not sufficient for effective review of respondents’ response. It must directly demonstrate the company’s capability, experience, and/or ability to marshal resources to effectively and efficiently perform each of the tasks described above in sufficient level of detail to allow definitive numerical evaluation; and evidence that the contractor can satisfy the minimum requirements listed above in compliance with FAR 52.219-14 (“Limitations of Subcontracting”). Failure to definitively address the requirement will result in a finding that respondent lacks the capability of performing the work.

Responses to this notice shall be limited to ten pages, and must include:

1. Company name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone and FAX numbers, website address (if available), and the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives.

2. Name, title, telephone number, and e-mail addresses of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the responses.

3. Business size for NAICS 518210 (size standard $24.5 million or number of employees) and status, if qualified as an 8(a) firm (must be certified by SBA), Small Disadvantaged Business (must be certified by SBA), Woman- Owned Small Business, HUBZone firm (must be certified by SBA), and/or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (must be listed in the VetBiz Vendor Information Pages).

4. DUNS number, CAGE Code, Tax Identification Number, Unique Entity ID (UEI), and company structure (Corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.). Companies also must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1 to be considered as potential sources.

5. Identification of the firm's GSA Schedule contract(s) by Schedule number and contract number and SINs that are applicable to this potential requirement are also requested.

6. If the company has a government approved accounting system, please identify the agency that approved the system.

Please submit copies of any documentation such as letters or certificates to indicate the firm’s status (see item #3, above).

Teaming arrangements are acceptable, and the information required above on the company responding to this announcement, should also be provided for each entity expected to be teammates of the respondent for performance of this work.

To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. Any proprietary information submitted should be identified as such and will be properly protected from disclosure. This notice is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, a Request for Proposals, a Solicitation, and a Request for Quotes, or an indication the Government will contract for the items contained in this announcement. This request is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses to this announcement.

Responses to this announcement will not be returned, nor will there be any ensuing discussions or debriefings of any responses. However, information obtained as a result of this announcement may be reflected in the subsequent solicitation, and HUD, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) may contact one or more respondents for clarifications and to enhance the Government’s understanding. This announcement is Government market research and may result in revisions in both its requirements and its acquisition strategy based on industry responses. RESPONDENTS MUST SUBMIT CAPABILITY STATEMENT VIA E-MAIL to Monica.Brown@hud.gov no later than Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 2:00 PM Eastern Time for consideration.