RFR for Post Occupancy Evaluation House Doctor Services

The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) is seeking architectural and engineering firms to provide "House Doctor" services for its Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) Program, focusing on evaluating previously funded K-12 public school projects. The primary objective is to systematically assess MSBA-funded school building projects approximately three years after substantial completion, collecting both qualitative user satisfaction data and quantitative building system performance metrics. Firms will be responsible for supporting data analysis, developing reporting tools, performing at least two post occupancy evaluations per fiscal year, and researching opportunities to present findings to industry peers. The evaluation process will involve comprehensive site visits, stakeholder surveys, and detailed assessments of building conditions, spatial utilization, and system performance. Key evaluation criteria include demonstrated experience, organizational capacity, approach to services, business references, and overall value, with a two-phase review process that assesses responsiveness and uses a point-scoring methodology. Critical deadlines include a question submission deadline of November 21, 2025, an RFR response deadline of December 10, 2025 at 12:00 PM, virtual presentations tentatively scheduled for the week of February 23, 2026, and an anticipated contract award date of April 22, 2026.

The MSBA actively encourages participation from minority and women-owned businesses, veteran-owned enterprises, disability-owned enterprises, and LGBT-certified firms. The contract will initially qualify one or multiple respondents for a two-year period beginning July 1, 2026, with potential options to renew for up to two additional one-year periods. Respondents must submit detailed cost proposals on an hourly fee basis with a "Not to Exceed" price, including itemized hourly rates for each team member. While the MSBA reserves the right to select multiple firms, it does not guarantee any specific amount of work to awarded contractors. Successful respondents will be required to comply with the Supplier Diversity Program, documenting quarterly spending with certified diverse suppliers and maintaining their committed diversity spending percentage. The contract will be structured through individual Work Orders issued under a Master Services Agreement, with compensation determined on a per-Work Order basis and typically structured as hourly rates up to a maximum fee amount. Firms must also demonstrate the ability to perform at least 50% of work hours within Massachusetts and provide appropriate insurance coverage as specified by the MSBA.