National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Backlog Inspections

Sources Sought Notice / Market Research

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is conducting market research to identify interested and capable 8(a) small businesses for National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Backlog Inspections. This notice is not a request for offers but a tool to determine acquisition methods. The applicable NAICS code is 541350.

HUD has transitioned from UPCS to the NSPIRE inspection protocol. This requirement involves a contractor to manage and execute NSPIRE inspections for Public Housing, Multifamily, and other properties. The contractor will be responsible for human resource management, recruiting inspectors, monitoring performance, inspection planning, and performing the inspections. HUD will provide NSPIRE training. The estimated contract duration is one 12-month base period with two 12-month option periods.

• Program and Project Management Support: Develop a Project Management Plan (PMP) and a Master Schedule (MS). Submit weekly MS updates and monthly performance reports detailing progress, staffing, risks, and quality control.

• NSPIRE Inspections: Conduct physical inspections in accordance with HUD standards and procedures for Multifamily and Public Housing properties. This includes scheduling, conducting inspections, and reporting health and safety (H&S) findings.

• Quality Control: Develop, maintain, and document a Quality Control Plan (QCP) to ensure services meet contractual requirements.

• Eligibility: This Sources Sought is for 8(a) Small Businesses ONLY.

• Response Format: Submit responses to the provided Questionnaire via email to Christopher.j.rodriguez@hud.gov.

• Subject Line: "Name of Your Company – CDBG-DR– SS – 866141-26-SS-0001"

• Content: Answer questions directly below each prompt in the Questionnaire. Do not include supplemental information, technical proposals, or cost proposals.

• Formatting: Responses must be in MS Word, not exceed 15 pages, use 11-point Times New Roman font, 1-inch margins, and be UNCLASSIFIED. Graphics are not allowed, but tables and charts are permitted.

• Due Date: Responses are due by 1:00 PM Central Time on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Respondents must provide corporate details, experience in housing research, inspection services, and compliance with FAR 52.219-14 (Limitation on Subcontracting).

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This PWS outlines the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Assessment and Recovery Center (ARC) requirement for contractor support in executing the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) inspection protocol. The goal is to eliminate the backlog of NSPIRE inspections and provide accurate data on property conditions.

The contractor will provide program and project management support, schedule and conduct NSPIRE inspections for Public Housing and Multifamily properties, and manage human resources for inspectors. Services include detailed observations, comprehensive analysis, and utilizing established business processes and technology solutions. The contractor must adhere to NSPIRE standards, guidance documents, and notices.

Key performance areas include:

• Submission of a Project Management Plan (PMP) and Master Schedule (MS) within specified timelines.

• Monthly Performance Reports detailing progress, staffing, risks, and quality control.

• Weekly submission of the Master Schedule.

• Scheduling at least 10% of assigned inspections within 30 calendar days of receipt.

• Providing a 28-calendar-day notice for inspections.

• Submitting raw inspection data within 24 hours of inspection completion.

• Moving inspections to HUD's "Ready-for-Review" stage within 72 hours of raw data submission.

• Health and Safety (H&S) reports provided within 24 hours of inspection conclusion.

• Quality Control Plan submission.

• Period of Performance: One base period of 12 months and two (2) 12-month option periods.

• Place of Performance: Contractor's Facilities and Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) property locations within the jurisdiction of the U.S.A., covering specific regions (Atlanta, Denver, Philadelphia, Santa Ana).

• Inspector Qualifications: High school diploma, specific technical knowledge, computer skills, minimum of 25 inspections completed, ability to interpret inspection standards, background check, and no sex offender registration. Inspectors must complete lead-based paint and NSPIRE training.

• Insurance: General All Risk Liability insurance with specific limits ($1M/$2M per occurrence/aggregate, and $4M/$12M per occurrence/aggregate).

• Security: Inspectors must pass a Tier 2 background investigation and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

• IT Security: Compliance with Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), Privacy Act, E-Government Act, and other relevant regulations and NIST publications.

• Data: All inspection data is the sole property of HUD. Contractor assumes liability for misuse or dissemination.

• Conduct: Inspectors must act as neutral observers, respect resident privacy, and adhere to strict conduct guidelines, avoiding conflicts of interest and prohibited actions.

• Technology: Contractor must use HUD's NSPIRE Salesforce instance or successor systems and provide their own hardware for data collection.

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP)

This document outlines the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for the "Backlog Inspections" contract. Its purpose is to detail the procedures and guidelines used by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and Program/Project Manager (P/PM) to ensure the contractor meets the performance standards and service levels specified in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• Performance-Based Approach: The government focuses on the outcomes and results required, allowing the contractor flexibility in how the work is performed, as long as legal and safety constraints are met.

• Contractor Quality Control (QC): The contractor is responsible for its own QC program to ensure the quality, timeliness, and responsiveness of all work performed.

• Government Surveillance: The COR and other representatives will monitor performance through various methods, including document reviews, field inspection oversight, and customer feedback.

• Surveillance Techniques: Methods include manual review of documents, field inspection oversight (assessing technical knowledge, compliance, and conduct), and customer feedback.

• Intervention Protocols: Federal inspectors may intervene during field observations under specific conditions (e.g., failure to identify life-threatening deficiencies) but will not provide technical direction or supervision.

• Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs): Defined in the Surveillance Matrix (Appendix 1), these specify the required performance levels. Meeting these levels is necessary for payment.

• Contracting Officer (CO): Responsible for contract administration and resolving disputes.

• Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): Responsible for technical administration and government surveillance, including completing QA monitoring forms.

• Performance Standards: Detailed in the PWS and Surveillance Matrix, these define required outcomes and service levels.

• Graduated Escalation Framework: A four-level system (Notice of Deficiency, Corrective Action Plan, Enhanced Surveillance, Contractual Remedies) is used to address performance failures.

• Contractual Remedies: Include payment deductions, withholding of invoices, negative CPARS ratings, or termination for cause, implemented at the CO's discretion.

• Incentives: Positive (credit) and negative (monetary) incentives may be applied based on performance against specific standards, with a grace period for the first two billing cycles.

• Monitoring Forms: Corrective Action Reports (CAR), Customer Complaint Records, and Performance Assessment Reports (PAR) are used to document government assessments.

• Reporting: Monthly reports summarizing surveillance results are provided to the COR.

This QASP details how the government will measure and manage contractor performance. Bidders should pay close attention to the performance standards, AQLs, surveillance methods, and the graduated enforcement framework to understand the expectations and potential consequences related to contract execution.