Research Services

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). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Single-Family Insurance Operations Division (SFIOD) is seeking a contractor to provide access to software as a service that allows SFIOD staff to research online current addresses of approximately 700,000 previous borrowers owed an FHA refund. SFIOD has approximately 700,000 unpaid cases that are entitled to a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) refund. Many of these do not have a valid address to send a claim form to the homeowner. Since the US Postal Service will not forward a government check even if a change of address notification has been filed, these checks are returned to HUD as undeliverable. To assist in locating these homeowners, contractor services are needed. This data access is needed to meet vital components of HUDs Strategic Plan with respect to a high level of accountability in the financial management of the FHA insurance programs. From an operational standpoint, such data are used for modeling and predicting FHA loan performance and for computing impacts of the FHA insurance programs and the Federal budget, and for designing risk-management tools. SCOPE OF WORK The objective of this requirement is to provide online research services to assist the Single-Family Insurance Operations Division. From an operational standpoint, data is used for modeling and predicting FHA loan performance and for computing impacts of the FHA insurance programs and the Federal budget, and for designing risk-management tools. SFIOD is responsible for providing information services, via SFIOD Systems, to homeowners, lenders, the public, Home Ownership Centers (HOCS) and other government organizations related to Single Family Mortgage Insurance premium refunds for homeowners and lenders. WORK DESCRIPTION/TASKS TO BE COMPLETED Ability to search for people with or without entering the Social Security Number Ability to enter multiple types of personally identifiable information to narrow down search results Ability to see date of death Identify a deceased person’s true next of kin Has mapping functionality Reverse-chronological listing of locations resided and the time of residence Possible past addresses are shown on same page Secure log-in process Provides all versions of a name associated with a Social Security Number/address SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS Research Services This procurement is for online research services to assist the Single-Family Insurance Operations Division. The Period of Performance shall be for one (1) base period of 12 months and four 12-month option periods. This is a web-based data research service. Access to the databases shall be from the user’s workstations. The Contractor is responsible for providing services between the hours of 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday except for Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closing, or similar Government directed facility closings. The Government reserves the right to change hours of operation or restrict contractor access. Government agencies will not be available during scheduled holidays, inclement weather, weekends, and after duty hours. The Contractor shall maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within the contract when the Government facility is not closed for the above reasons. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce is essential. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this research services requirement. 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 561611, Investigation and Personal Background Check Services. 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. 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 this 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. RESPONSE INFORMATION THIS IS AN RFI ONLY to identify sources that can provide Research Services to the Single-Family Insurance Operations Division (SFIOD). Interested vendors are those vendors who have interest in providing a response to RFI and who can provide a vendor capability statement demonstrating a commercial solution and technical experience for this requirement, including relevant scope in terms of its size, complexity and magnitude to the tasks/activities to be performed under this requirement. All capable and available firms are encouraged to participate. Please be advised that generic capability statements are not sufficient for effective review of respondents’ response. It must directly demonstrate the company’s capability, experience, and/or ability to marshal resources to effectively and efficiently perform each of the tasks described above in sufficient level of detail to allow definitive numerical evaluation; and evidence that the contractor can satisfy the minimum requirements listed above in compliance with FAR 52.219-14 (“Limitations of Subcontracting”). Failure to definitively address the requirement will result in a finding that respondent lacks the capability of performing the work. Responses to this notice shall be limited to ten pages, and must include: 1.Company name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone and FAX numbers, website address (if available), and the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives. 2.Name, title, telephone number, and e-mail addresses of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the responses. 3.Business size for NAICS 561611 (size standard or number of employees) and status, if qualified as an 8(a) firm (must be certified by SBA), Small Disadvantaged Business (must be certified by SBA), Woman-Owned Small Business, HUBZone firm (must be certified by SBA), and/or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (must be listed in the VetBiz Vendor Information Pages). 4.DUNS number, CAGE Code, Tax Identification Number, Unique Entity ID (UEI), and company structure (Corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.). Companies also must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/portal/SAM/#1 to be considered as potential sources. 5.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. 6.If the company has a government approved accounting system, please identify the agency that approved the system. 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 will there be 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 its requirements and its acquisition strategy based on industry responses. RESPONDENTS MUST SUBMIT A CAPABILITY STATEMENT VIA E-MAIL to [email protected] no later than Monday, August 16, 2024, 3:00 PM Eastern Time for consideration.