FEMA Temporary Housing Units

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 15.201(c)(7) AND FAR 52.215-3. This is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP). An RFP is not being issued at this time, and this notice shall not be considered as a commitment by the Government to issue a RFP, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Background The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognize suppliers are crucial partners in helping meet the challenges of supporting disaster survivors in the 21st century. Capitalizing on industry expertise, the Agency continues to work to improve how we provide temporary housing assistance. FEMA is authorized under Section 408 of the Stafford Act to provide assistance to individuals and households. As part of that assistance FEMA procures, stores, transports and installs, and maintains manufactured homes that are used as temporary housing units (THUs). In order for FEMA to be prepared to respond to disasters the Agency maintains readiness contracts to procure manufactured homes from commercial vendors. Historically, the Agency has allowed vendors and manufactures to provide a key and lock system of their choosing. This method has worked in the past; however, recently the Agency has experienced issues with the existing key and lock system. The major issues are: 1. The lack of consistency in key and lock systems does not allow FEMA field managers or THU maintenance staff to have a master key system that is consistent across all THUs. 2. Lack of consistency also complicates key control and lock changing when a THU is reused. 3. There are instances where keys have been used for unauthorized entry into THUs.