Housing Standards Home Inspections

Volusia County, through its Community Assistance Division, is seeking licensed home inspectors to conduct comprehensive housing standards inspections for federal and state-funded housing programs. The Invitation to Bid (ITB #24-B-15MC) requires contractors to perform three types of inspections: Housing Quality Standards (HQS), Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS), and National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE). These inspections will support rental assistance, homebuyer assistance, and affordable housing development programs funded by HUD, the Housing Choice Voucher Program, State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP), and HOME Investment Partnerships Program. Bidders must be Florida Licensed Home Inspectors capable of conducting initial, annual, quality control, and failed follow-up inspections for various housing properties. The evaluation criteria will assess proposals based on total cost (30 points), contractor qualifications (20 points), ability to meet timelines (30 points), and experience (20 points). The bid was released on March 6, 2024, with a pre-proposal meeting scheduled for March 12, 2024, and final responses due by April 10, 2024, at 3:01 pm. The initial contract term will be three years, with options for two additional one-year renewals.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Contractors must provide three professional references from similar projects completed within the last three years, with Volusia County explicitly excluded as a reference. Insurance requirements are stringent, including Workers Compensation, Commercial General Liability (with $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate limits), and Auto Liability with a $500,000 combined single limit. While specific budget ranges are not directly stated, the Price Sheet suggests a per-inspection fee model with varying rates for different inspection types and scenarios. The project will transition to NSPIRE inspections by October 1, 2024, requiring vendors to adapt their methodologies and potentially update their inspection processes. Contractors must also be prepared to comply with comprehensive federal contract provisions, including equal employment opportunity requirements, Davis-Bacon Act compliance, and restrictions on telecommunications equipment procurement.