Construction Review and Evaluation for a Large Affordable Housing Construct

The Washington State Department of Commerce's Multifamily Housing Unit (MHU) is issuing a Request for Qualifications and Quotations (RFQQ No. MHU-2025-01) to procure comprehensive construction review and evaluation services for an affordable housing construction loan portfolio across multiple Washington counties. The primary objective is to secure an organization with at least 4 years of experience in construction-related services to provide pre-construction evaluations, construction draw inspections, verification of Evergreen Sustainable Development Standards and Accessibility Standards, and project completion monitoring. The solicitation covers a wide range of jurisdictions, including but not limited to Franklin, Grant, Grays Harbor, Chelan, and Yakima Counties, with services expected to span 250-300 housing projects during the 2025-2027 biennium. Proposals are due on May 19, 2025, at 5 PM Pacific Time, with electronic submissions only. The evaluation will be weighted 60% on qualifications and 10% on cost, with potential additional points for organizations that do not require employees to sign mandatory arbitration clauses. Respondents must be licensed to do business in Washington and registered on the Department of Enterprise Services' WEBS for Vendors site.

The contract will have a maximum funding amount of $3,000,000, sourced from state and federal funds including the Housing Trust Fund, National Housing Trust Fund, and HOME program, with an estimated $500 million allocated for the biennium. The current contract with Washington Community Reinvestment Association will expire on June 30, 2025, and this new contract will run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027, with potential extensions for two additional two-year periods. The state has a statutory requirement to target a minimum of 30% of competitively awarded funds to rural areas, ensuring geographic dispersion of resources. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, the evaluation criteria suggest a focus on organizational capabilities and service quality. The procurement aims to select a contractor capable of providing statewide construction review services for affordable housing projects, with a comprehensive approach to monitoring and verifying construction standards and accessibility requirements.