FIRST Accessibility

Sources Sought Synopsis The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is issuing this source sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for training and technical assistance on HUD's design and construction requirements. 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 is NAICS Code: 541611 with the PSC Code: R799. 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. If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: 1) organization name, address, email address, website address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) TAILORED CAPABILITY STATEMENT addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. 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 the 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. Small Business is encouraged to respond. Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by 01/22/2024, 2:00pm EST. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to: Diane.e.Toledo-Gaskins@hud.gov. Please title the response to notice, FIRST Accessibility APP-E-2024-017. If you have any questions concerning this opportunity, contact: Diane.e.Toledo-Gaskins@hud.gov. Please entitle all correspondence please entitle all correspondence: FIRST Accessibility APP-E-2024-017. Information on the required services is listed below: Background: The purpose of this project is to create the availability of accessible and affordable housing by providing a one-stop resource for development, design, and construction professionals implementing HUD's legal design and construction accessibility requirements. This project is an increases the services currently being offered under the Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST ( http://www.fairhousingfirst.org ) program on behalf of the HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO).This program will provide training and technical guidance to real estate developers, architects, builders, code officials, and others in the housing industry on the accessibility design and construction requirements covered by the Fair Housing Act (the Act), HUD's section 504 regulations under the Rehabilitation Act Titles II and III of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA.) The essential goals then, as now, is to provide accessibility training and technical guidance based on a robust training curriculum and technical guidance plan. Additionally, to effectively implement a training and technical guidance program, including essential marketing, outreach, and performance measuring activities ensuring that audience needs are met and affected stokeholds are reached. The program, officially launched in January 2003, is currently underway. The project has been designated Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST (Fair Housing Instruction, Resources, Support and Technical Guidance). The contractor for this project is expected to expand the work of FIRST project, both in terms of volume of services provided, scope of legal requirements addressed, and number of people served. Project Goals and Work FHEO seeks to obtain services to provide a one-stop technical assistance and training resources to architects, builders, code officials, and individuals with similar roles in the design and construction industry. Services provided must work cohesively and strategically with the overall intent to increase utilization of relevant design and construction requirements while increasing the availability of accessible and affordable housing. FHEO, HUD requests a contractor with expertise in the accessible design and construction requirements under: Title II and III of the ADA; Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 as amended in 1988 by the Fair Housing Act (FHA) at 42 U.S.C. - 3604(f)(3)(C); HUD recognized safe harbors listed at 24 C.F.R. - 100.205(e) with a focus on the 2009 ICC A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities Standard; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (including effective communication); HUD's Section 504 implementing regulations at 24 C.F.R. Part 8; The ABA; All accessibility standards and guidelines set under the above mandates including the FHA Guidelines, the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, the 2010 ADA Standards, and the ABA; and Any new or updated regulations and associated standards, guidelines, policy, or guidance affecting accessible design and construction requirements issued by the Department. Required Work Products (build off existing FIRST products): A technical assistance line (phone and electronic communication) that provides a one stop point of contact for technical assistance on legal requirements covered by the project. 100 hours of a to-be-determined combination of in-person and virtual training related to design and construction requirements. Training and recipients should represent a strategic approach to covering legal requirements across a intentionally identified group of training recipients. Maintain and revise current FIRST Training Curriculum and resources. Develop new course materials on Section 504 requirements and issues of accessibility in affordable housing. Collaborate extensively with HUD on efforts to include coverage of accessible design and construction requirements into existing educational and training organizations efforts. Includes colleges, universities, other educational programs and entities that provided certification and ongoing professional education. Professional and dynamic web pages that provide an effective method to store and facilitate access to all resources, including specific documents and training. Ongoing awareness of any changes to relevant laws, regulation and guidance and ability to make relevant changes to ongoing efforts. HUD approved training, marketing, and outreach plan that maximizes project effectiveness across all efforts. Internal data tracking tools and policies that enables contractor to track and integrate program performance data by a) Geography b) Disability c) Socio-economic d) Professional field. Use this data to improve program effectiveness. High-Level Expectations for Training and Web products Training HUD-approved methodology for curriculum development (ADDIE or other iterative design process). Adaptive learning (based on learns answers to assessments, questions, and interaction with the learning content). Offline access to learning modules Instructional Design Content Authoring Delivery appropriate for remote, distance, and e-learning Mixed Media, including audio, text, and video. Assessments of learner knowledge. Evaluation of training. Evaluation of learner performance (design and execution). Continues improvement and refinement of content based on results from analytical/evaluation plan. Review of HUD trainer efficacy to provide recommendations on enhancements to materials or for professional development of the trainer. Accessible content - Electronic media, documents, and trainings are accessible to people with a variety of disabilities, including but not limited to individuals with cognitive disabilities, who are deaf, hard of hearing, have mobility disabilities, or visual impairments. All work must meet legal requirements defined by Section 504, 508, and any other applicable laws and regulations. Web based and electronic presence: Dynamic and engaging look and content that engages adult learners. Images and narrative that portray all people with disabilities in a positive, diverse, and integrated manner. Content organized in a manner that facilitates access to information for adults, technical professionals. Structure and tools that allow users to efficiently identify answers to specific questions. Utilize all relevant legal requirements for web access, including the most up-to-date Web Accessibility Guidelines Standard (WCAG.)