Grant Evaluation

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE to determine the availability and capability of qualified small businesses (including certified 8(a), Small Disadvantaged, HUBZone firms; Veteran and Service-disabled Veteran-owned Small Businesses, Women-owned Small Businesses and Economically Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business (EDWOSB). This work will involve designing an assessment tool and performing a climate assessment for up to eight Community Planning and Development Offices in Headquarters and the Field, five identified offices and the potential for three additional ones. The Contractor will submit individual reports after each assessment, outlining current conditions and recommended steps to improve climate. The contractor will also provide a final report outlining the climate and recommended actions across the offices assessed. This contract is for grant management and support services and is located in the Fair Housing Initiatives Program Division (FHIP), Office of Programs, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO). The Office is responsible for developing fair housing policies, developing and implementing program management and administration of FHIP. FHEO is seeking contractor support to provide analytical experience relating to FHIP ARP funds. The primary objective is for the contractor to conduct spending analysis, comment, monitor, prepare reports and other post award tasks. The Fair Housing Initiatives Program statue (Sec. 561 of the 1987 Housing Community Development Act, as amended in 1992) authorizes the Secretary to make funds available through grant agreements or by contract in support of activities that assure compliance with the Fair Housing Act (FHAct) and substantially equivalent State and local laws. The FHIP Division administers and manages the FHIP grant agreements and contracts according to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars and Departmental grant policies. SCOPE OF WORK The contractor shall provide architectural expertise that will independently provide support services to satisfy the overall operational objectives of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The architect will serve as a subject matter expert and consultant re: Case Name: HUD v. City of Los Angeles, FHEO Case Nos.: 09-11-R008-4 (504), 09-11-R008-D (ADA), which are the subject of a Voluntary Compliance Agreement (VCA) entered into between HUD and the City of Los Angeles on August 2, 2019. The primary objective is to review, analyze, comment, revise and prepare reports on deliverables produced by the City and/or accessibility consultants under the VCA, including architectural survey protocols, survey forms and checklists, applicable accessibility standards, survey reports, certifications of compliance with applicable accessibility standards, and other technical documents related to the monitoring and implementation of the VCA. WORK DESCRIPTION/ TASKS TO BE COMPLETED 1. Reviews and evaluates agency grant applications for funding under the FHIP. Prepares HUD required award documents. 2. Reviews and recommends eligibility of application by using FHIP's eligibility criteria during the competition. 3. Participates in regular meetings with FHIP partners and grantees. 4. Conducts post-award reviews and analyses to identify management, financial, and administrative issues. 5. Prepares monitoring reports and final grantee performance assessments for grantee. 6. Monitors, assesses, and ensures awardee compliance with all terms and conditions of award. 7. Performs review of completed awards, recommends appropriate adjustments or disallowances, and processes close-outs. 8. Serves as a Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) member to review and evaluate applications. 9. Makes recommendations to the TEP Chairpersons, as well as managers and supervisors on the Technical Evaluation Panel. 10. Participates in the development and evaluation of policies that affect the selection process. 11. Continually reviews and prepares written updates for the three FHIP policy and procedures guidebooks. 12. Recommends audits to be performed. Gathers required information and data for audits involving the grantee. 13. Assists and provides recommendations for audit resolutions. 14. Reviews program regulations, notices, handbooks, and other materials relating to fair housing grant programs and prepares comments and recommendations for the Division Director. 15. Provides technical assistance by telephone or in writing in response to inquiries from HQs and field office staff, outside organizations including applicants, grant recipients, outside organizations, industry groups, and other federal agency staff. 16. Provides technical assistance, training, and direct support to FHIP fair housing organizations on FHIP administration requirements. Develops and explains recommendations to resolve grant management requirements to managers located in headquarters and field offices. 17. Prepares necessary documents to publish Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) in the Federal Register and respond to telephone, e-mail and letter inquiries form organizations applying for FHIP grants. 18. Reviews and evaluates the content of newer or modified NOFA for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program for projected impact upon the Division's staff. 19. Determines the applicability and effect of the new or proposed NOFA. 20. Prepares comments, impact statements and recommendations on the NOFA for managerial review. 21. Serves as liaison with other HUD components, field offices, other federal agencies, and outside organizations or individuals as needed in connection with work assignments. 22. Serves as contact between the Division/Office and certain specified field offices of FHEO. 23. Provides technical assistance to senior staff, including FHIP organizations in the negotiation, development, and execution of the FHIP grant agreements. 24. Responds to controlled and uncontrolled correspondence, and prepares letters, memoranda, or internal reports on a variety of subjects to answer questions asked by the public, agency officials, industry groups, consumers and others. SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS The individual shall be a licensed architect who has expertise in the accessibility requirements and architectural standards of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as the design and construction requirements of the Fair Housing Act. 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 there 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, 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 it's requirements and it's acquisition strategy based on industry responses. RESPONDENTS MUST SUBMIT CAPABILITY STATEMENT VIA E-MAIL to Aaron.N.Cauthen@hud.gov no later than June 4 2021, 3:00 PM Eastern Time for consideration.