Assessment of Title Complexity Associated with Informally Owned Real Property

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the "Assessment of Title Complexity Associated with Informally Owned Real Property" opportunity.

• Contract Type: This is a new contract, not an incumbent one.
• Geographic Definitions: Specific definitions are provided for Atlanta (city limits), Asheville (Buncombe County, NC), Greenville (Greenville County, SC), and Tampa (Hillsborough County, FL).
• Accuracy of Heirs' Parcels: For title searches, accuracy should be +/-1% or less. For methods using indicators, no specific accuracy can be guaranteed as the true number of parcels is unknown.
• Scope of Title Searches: The project assumes calculations using indicators in parcel records. Title searches will be conducted on a maximum of twelve properties (three per city/county) to develop a legal opinion on title complexity, not for 75,000 verifications.
• Genealogical Research: In-depth genealogical research is not supported or required. The focus is on standard real estate title searches.
• Data Access: USDA will not provide access to the Social Security Administration's Death Master File or similar data.
• Mapping Tools: GIS or geospatial programming and mapping are required. Standard programs like ARCGIS are acceptable. Precise geospatial location and street addresses are needed.
• Deliverables: Twelve legal memos (one per title search) and an academic paper (max 100 pages) are expected. Geospatial data layers compatible with ArcGIS Pro are required for heirs' property estimates.
• Data Sourcing: The contractor is expected to source all data sets; none will be provided by the Forest Service. Parcel records should be the most recent available (ideally 2024-2025).
• Informal Ownership Definition: The definition includes fractional ownership where heirs have confirmed ownership through judgment of possession, conveyance, or death transfer. Marketability of the title will determine if it's classified as heirs' property.

Clarifies the scope of work, data requirements, and deliverables, particularly regarding the number of title searches and the use of indicators versus extensive title searches for identifying heirs' property. It also confirms that the government estimate/budget is not being disclosed.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the "Assessment of Title Complexity Associated with Informally Owned Real Property" opportunity.

• New Contract: This is a new contract, not a continuation of incumbent services.

• Geographic Definitions: Atlanta is defined by city limits; Asheville by Buncombe County, NC; Greenville by Greenville County, SC; and Tampa by Hillsborough County, FL.

• Parcel Identification: The project will use indicators in parcel records for identification, not broadscale title searches for all parcels. A title search will be conducted on a maximum of twelve properties (three per city/county) to develop a legal opinion on title complexity.

• Accuracy Level: For heirs' parcels identified via title searches, accuracy should be +/-1%. For parcels identified using indicators, no specific accuracy level can be specified as the actual number is unknown.

• Genealogical Research: In-depth genealogical research is not supported or required. Access to the Social Security Administration's Death Master File is not provided.

• Mapping Tools: GIS or geospatial programming and mapping are required. Standard programs like ARCGIS are acceptable. Precise geospatial location and street addresses are required for maps, but this detail will be obscured when shared externally.

• Deliverables: Twelve legal memos are expected, corresponding to the twelve title searches. An academic paper (max 100 pages) addressing disasters, environmental threats, and tenuous property ownership is also required.

• Data Provision: The Forest Service will not provide any data sets; the contractor is expected to source all data.

• Title Complexity: Title complexity classifications are meant to be determinative.

• Clarifies the scope of work regarding property identification methods and the extent of title searches.

• Specifies the required tools and formats for deliverables (GIS layers, MS Word).

• Indicates that the government estimate/budget is not being disclosed at this time and pricing negotiations are not anticipated, with an award based on initial quotes.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Informal Property Identification. The contract aims to research the distribution of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) to communities and private property owners with informal homeownership. The goal is to understand how informal ownership constrains access to CDBG-DR funding, particularly after natural disasters.

• Assess the state of informal property ownership in Asheville, NC; Tampa, FL; Greenville, SC; and Atlanta, GA.

• Categorize different levels or types of informal property ownership.

• Determine the legal services and costs required to formalize property titles for informally held properties.

• Identify properties most likely eligible for CDBG-DR funding.

• Contract Type: Firm-fixed price.

• Period of Performance: One (1) two-year base period and one (1) one-year option period, for a total duration not exceeding three (3) years.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but the North American Industry Classification Standard (NAICS) code is 541191 with a small business size standard of $20 million.

• Submission: Quotes are requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

• Evaluation Criteria: Offers will be evaluated based on Technical Approach, Qualifications of Key Personnel, and Price. Award will be made to the offeror representing the best value to the Government.

• Key Deadlines: Questions are due by January 20, 2026. The period for acceptance of offers is 90 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of offers.

• This acquisition is an unrestricted requirement and is not set-aside for small business concerns.

• The solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference, accessible at www.acquisition.gov.

• Attachment 1 – Statement of Work is included.

• Key personnel are required, including a Project Administrator. Substitutions are restricted during the first 90 days.

• Travel is an optional line item (0003) with a notional value of $3,000.00, which will be used for total evaluated price calculation.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This contract supports research examining the distribution of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) to communities and private property owners, specifically focusing on those with informally owned property who may face constraints in accessing disaster relief funding.

• Examine informal property ownership in four cities and surrounding counties impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Fall 2024: Asheville, NC; Tampa, FL; Greenville, SC; and Atlanta, GA.

• Assess the number of informal properties and forestland owners holding property informally.

• Categorize different levels of informal property ownership.

• Determine the legal services and costs required to formalize property titles.

• Identify properties most likely eligible for CDBG-DR funding.

• Trace CDBG-DR funding from HUD to state and local levels.

• Deliverables must be submitted in a timely manner.

• Specific deliverables include:

  • Informal Property Database (within 6 months of project start)
  • Title Complexity Stratification (within 6 months of project start)
  • Heat Maps (within 8 months of project start)
  • Title Work Case Studies (12 total, within 12 months of project start)
  • Trace CDBG-DR funding (pending additional funding, within 12 months of project start)
  • Written Contribution to USDA Forest Service Final Report (as requested, by project end)

• Project start date: March 1, 2026.

• Specific locations for research include Asheville, NC; Tampa, FL; Greenville, SC; and Atlanta, GA.

• Potential travel for meetings includes Knoxville, TN; Atlanta, GA; and Cambridge, MA.

• Contractor's Key Personnel must have expertise in Geographic Information Systems, statistical analyses, and natural resource management. The Project Administrator must have a law degree, a minimum of 5 years of experience as a real property attorney, and 5 years of experience with heirs' property title clearance.

• All data collected must be kept strictly confidential.

• Data ownership resides with the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station.