Research Based Evaluations of Housing Counseling Initiatives

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Housing Counseling is issuing a Sources Sought Notice. The purpose of a Sources Sought Notice is to determine if there are two (2) or more capable Small Businesses that can perform the requirements of a planned contract. The Capability Statements received by our contracting office in response to this Sources Sought Notice may lead to a Small Business set-aside if two (2) or more Small Businesses can be determined by the Government to be capable of performing the work. If a set aside is achieved, the benefit to Small Business is competition that is restricted to only Small Businesses. This specific Notice is being issued to determine the capabilities within the small business community to provide research based evaluations of federal housing regulations and housing counseling initiatives. An assessment is needed to determine whether the rules that were promulgated and implemented were effective in achieving programmatic goals. Quantitative and Qualitative data need to be collected and then analyzed by a contractor; the assessment cannot be conducted until the raw data has been analyzed and interpreted. This effort will likely result in a Firm Fixed-Price Contract. The period of performance will be for a total of 5 years. One (12 month) base period and 4 (12 month) option periods. This is a new requirement; it will be the first time a contract has been planned for these services. The NAICS Code is 541611 with a small business size standard of $15 million. The contractor will provide mission support and be responsible for designing a management work plan and creating an Analysis Design and Data Collection Plan. They will also be responsible for organizing and facilitating seminars, conferences, and focus groups relating to research and policy issues. The contractor should have: 1) A comprehensive understanding of The Dodd-Frank Act; 2) A thorough above-average understanding of current financial regulatory reform; 3) A comprehensive understanding of mortgage products and the ability to identify the elements and current trends in predatory lending; 4) Familiarity and/or the human capital necessary to become familiar with the infrastructure of the HUD Housing Counseling program and credentialing procedures for HUD Counseling Agencies (HCA); 5) An understanding of the pass through funding concept for nonprofit organizations; and 6) The human capital to develop a methodology that can provide support for the robust integration of housing counseling both externally and internally. Although previous knowledge or experience of the regulations listed above is not absolutely necessary at this point in time, you must demonstrate your existing capability, or your potential to acquire capability, to meet requirements at some time in the future. Interested vendors should submit their capability statements via email to Robert Caldwell, at robert.e.caldwell@hud.gov and Donald Comer, at donald.m.comer@hud.govno later than Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. (EST). In order to assist in any determination to set-aside the requirement under any of the socio-economic programs of FAR Part 19, vendors must indicate that they are a small business and also whether they are an 8(a) certified small business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), veteran and service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses or women-owned small business. Please be advised that generic capability statements are not sufficient for effective review of respondents' capacity and capability to perform the specific work. Responses must directly demonstrate the company's capability, experience, and/or ability to marshal resources to effectively and efficiently perform requirements as it relates to Housing Counseling programs, data collection and data analysis. Teaming arrangements are acceptable, and the information required for 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. Capability Statements must include: 1. Company name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone numbers, website address and the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses. Name and contact information including email address for SBA representative. 2. Information regarding your small business qualification (e.g. 8(a) certified, HUBzone, etc.) and also information that states the company is within the business size standard. The calculations used for a size standard for a business under this NAICS Code (541611) can not be above $15Million or the company will no longer qualify as a small business for Federal Government Programs. 3. The 2 strongest attribute of your company. The company philosophy or mission. Identification of core competencies, relevant past experience, factors that contribute to company uniqueness, etc. 4. Identification of the firm's GSA Schedule contract(s) by Schedule number and contract number and SINs that are applicable to this potential requirement are also requested (If applicable). Information obtained as a result of this announcement may be reflected in a subsequent solicitation, and HUD may contact one or more respondents for clarifications and to enhance the governments understanding. This announcement is Government market research, and may result in revisions in both its requirements and its acquisition strategy based on industry responses. Basics steps including the registration process necessary for small businesses entering the federal market place can be found at sba.gov. Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) http://www.aptac-us.org/ also provides guidance to businesses including non-profits interested in working on federal government contracts. This notice is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute a request for proposal, a solicitation, a request for quote, or an indication the Government will contract for the services contained in this announcement. This Notice is just one form of market research HUD is utilizing to determine if there are small businesses that have experience with different methods of data collection and conducting complex data analysis.