USDA Rural Development Audit Guide Development

Amendment / Modification

• Amendment 0003 incorporates "Question and Answer Form_0003" into the solicitation.

• All other sections of the RFQ remain unchanged.

• Solicitation (specifically, the incorporation of Q&A Form_0003).

• The document indicates that the "hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended" but does not specify the new date or time. It also notes that offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to industry questions regarding the submission of Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) and the use of Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) evaluations.

• PPQ Submission: Offerors are instructed not to submit PPQs directly to the Contracting Officer. The appropriate point of contact should complete and submit the PPQ directly to the Contracting Officer's email address specified in the solicitation.
• Use of CPARS: The Government may utilize references provided by the Contractor, along with information available from past contracts/orders with the USDA, and any information found using sources such as Federal Government sources or CPARS.
• Previously Completed PPQs: The Government will not accept previously completed PPQs in lieu of newly completed signed PPQs.

This Q&A clarifies the process for submitting PPQs and the types of past performance information the Government will consider, impacting how bidders should gather and present their past performance data.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) under solicitation number 12C0BZ26Q0002. It seeks quotations for Audit Guide Development and Pilot for Lenders participating in Rural Development Guaranteed Loan Programs. This acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• Development and piloting of an Audit Guide for lenders in Rural Development Guaranteed Loan Programs.

• The Performance Work Statement (PWS) details the complete list of requirements.

• Anticipated Award Type: Firm-fixed-price contract.

• Period of Performance: One (1) eight (8) month base period and two (2) eight (8) month option periods.

• The Government intends to make one award.

• Evaluation Method: Lowest price technically acceptable.

• Pricing: Offerors must provide pricing in Attachment 2 – Price Workbook, completing all yellow-highlighted cells. This includes quantity price discounts and prompt payment discounts.

• Technical Acceptability: Evaluated as "acceptable" or "unacceptable" based on the offeror's ability to meet requirements, develop guides, incorporate risk-rating methodologies, and utilize standardized reporting. A Project Plan and resumes for key personnel are required.

• Past Performance: Up to five Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) will be considered. The Government may also use other sources like CPARS.

• Submission Deadline: May 22, 2026, at noon ET.

• Submission Method: Via email to Christopher.Bany@usda.gov.

• Quote Format: Specific page limitations, font requirements (Times New Roman, 12-point), and margin requirements must be followed. Electronic files must be unrestricted.

• This acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• Supporting documents include: Attachment 1 – Performance Work Statement, Attachment 2 – Price Workbook, Attachment 3 – QASP, and Exhibit A – Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ).

• Questions are due no later than May 1, 2026, at 12:00 PM EST, submitted via email to Christopher.Bany@usda.gov.

• Offerors must comply with numerous FAR and AGAR clauses and provisions, including those related to small business concerns, personal identity verification, and DEI compliance.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document contains questions submitted by potential bidders and the Government's responses regarding the solicitation for USDA Lender Review Guides for three Guaranteed Loan Programs. It clarifies requirements, deliverables, and submission details.

• Primary Goal: The primary goal is to develop, test, and refine lender review guides for three USDA Guaranteed Loan Programs. Each program requires 5 lender reviews, with 5 loan files per lender.
• Incumbent Contractor: The Government states this is a new requirement and does not identify an incumbent contractor.
• Staffing: Offerors are responsible for proposing staffing levels and resource estimates necessary to meet the PWS requirements.
• Technical Proposal: Page limitations and specific submission instructions for technical and price proposals are detailed in the amended RFQ.
• Key Personnel: Specific minimum qualifications, years of experience, and certifications for key personnel are detailed in the amended PWS.
• File Transfer: USDA will provide a secure file transfer platform for exchanging lender files and deliverables.
• Lender Reviews: Each lender review will include a minimum of five loan files. Offerors should use their knowledge and experience to determine the most appropriate methodology and price their offer accordingly.
• Travel: Travel is not anticipated, and all lender reviews are expected to be conducted remotely. Should on-site travel become necessary, it will require advance approval and will be reimbursed in accordance with FAR.
• Security: Offerors must safeguard sensitive and PII information. Specific security frameworks, encryption standards, and the need for a System Security Plan (SSP) will be detailed in the amended RFQ.

This Q&A document, along with the amended RFQ and PWS, provides significant clarifications that bidders must consider when preparing their proposals. Key details regarding scope, deliverables, evaluation, and submission requirements have been updated or clarified.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for the Rural Development Guaranteed Loan Programs – Lender Review Support Services. It outlines the procedures and guidelines the USDA will use to ensure the contractor meets the required performance standards and service levels specified in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

• Purpose of QASP: To describe systematic methods for measuring contractor performance and identifying required reports, ensuring alignment with PWS requirements.
• QASP Revisions: The Government reserves the right to revise QASP procedures and surveillance methods.
• Surveillance of Performance Progression: Surveillance levels may be adjusted based on consistent performance (reduced for excellent, increased for unsatisfactory).
• QASP vs. QCP: The QASP details how the Government will evaluate performance, while the Contractor's Quality Control Plan (QCP) describes how the Contractor will ensure quality.
• Performance Standards & AQLs: Defines how contractor performance will be assessed against specific standards and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs), including allowable deviations.
• Non-Performance: Outlines procedures for addressing contractor performance that does not meet AQLs, including documentation and potential remedial actions.
• Responsibilities: Details the roles of the Contractor (implementing QCP, ensuring quality) and Government personnel (Contracting Officer - CO, Contracting Officer Representative - COR) in contract administration and surveillance.
• Surveillance Methods: Describes the tools the Government will use to monitor contractor performance, including inspection of service products and analysis of results.
• Appendices: Includes a Performance Requirement Summary (PRS), Discrepancy Report form, Customer Feedback Record, and Quality Assurance Monitoring form.

This QASP is crucial for bidders as it defines the Government's methodology for evaluating contractor performance. Understanding these surveillance methods, performance standards, AQLs, and the roles of the COR and CO will help bidders develop a robust Quality Control Plan (QCP) and accurately estimate the resources needed to meet and exceed contract requirements. It highlights the importance of timely submission of deliverables, accuracy of developed guides, and responsiveness to feedback.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Past Performance Questionnaire designed to collect information from references regarding an offeror's past performance. This information will be used by the government in the evaluation of the offeror's proposal.

• Offeror Information: Requires the name of the company being evaluated, contract number, period of performance, contract value, and contract type.
• Past Performance Reference Information: Requires the name of the reference company, point of contact details (name, title, address, phone, email), and the date the questionnaire is completed.
• Description of Services Provided: A section for the reference to describe the services rendered under the contract.
• Performance Elements: The core of the questionnaire, where references rate the offeror on specific elements using a defined scale (Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, Unsatisfactory). Key performance elements include:
  • Timeliness of Performance (resource use, schedule adherence, corrections)
  • Quality Control / Customer Satisfaction (quality control procedures, responsiveness to changes, professionalism, overall performance)
• Re-solicitation Question: Asks if the reference would do business with the firm again.
• Additional Comment Form: A space for detailed comments, especially for "Marginal" or "Unsatisfactory" ratings, and for attaching supporting documentation.

Offerors should use this questionnaire to understand the type of past performance information the government will be seeking from their references. It outlines the specific criteria and rating scales that will be applied, allowing offerors to prepare their references and potentially gather relevant supporting documentation to demonstrate strong past performance.

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

To develop standardized lender review guides and conduct lender compliance reviews for USDA Rural Development (RD) guaranteed loan programs. The goal is to ensure consistent processes for evaluating lender compliance, identifying risk, and improving program oversight.

• Review Guide Development: Create guides for evaluating lenders in RBCS, SFH, and MFH guaranteed loan programs. Guides must be based on regulatory requirements, include a method for identifying and rating risk, and have a standard reporting format. Each guide must include evaluation of at least five loan files, covering origination, underwriting, servicing, program compliance, industry best practices, and lender policies.

• Lender Reviews: Conduct reviews of at least five lenders per program using the approved guides. The government anticipates approximately five lenders per program.

• Reporting: Provide a comprehensive report for each lender reviewed, including objectives, results, findings, and conclusions. A program-level summary identifying trends and recommendations is also required.

• Feedback Reports: Provide feedback on common findings and potential solutions for RBCS, SFH, and MFH programs.

• Timely submission of reports and deliverables by the required due date and meeting content/quality standards (100% acceptance).

• Review Guides must meet all regulatory and PWS requirements (100% acceptance).

• Updates to Review Guides based on findings and feedback must be timely, accurate, and address identified issues (95% completed within 2 business days of identification).

• The contract will have an initial term for RBCS, followed by optional terms for SFH and MFH programs.

• No travel is anticipated.

• Key Personnel: Contractor must provide personnel with extensive accounting, forensic, banking, and/or auditing experience, with a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in accounting. Certified Public Accountants require a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and at least five years of Attestation experience.

• Security: Contractor must safeguard sensitive information and PII. A Government-furnished laptop will be used for data storage and transfer. All employees working with PII must obtain USDA credentials.

• Section 508: All electronic deliverables must comply with Section 508 requirements.

• Onboarding: Contractor must manage the onboarding of staff requiring access to USDA systems and facilities.

• Data Rights: All deliverables are property of the Government and USDA-RD.

• Invoicing: Invoices must be submitted via the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) with specific required information.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0002) to solicitation 12C0BZ2600002, dated 04/24/2026, incorporates several changes and provides new documents:

• Incorporates a Question and Answer form into the solicitation.

• Provides a revised Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement (PWS) with changes highlighted in yellow.

• Provides Attachment 2 - Price Workbook.

• Provides Attachment 3 - QASP (Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan).

• Provides Exhibit A - Past Performance Questionnaire.

• Provides a revised RFQ Combined Synopsis Solicitation with changes highlighted in blue font.

• Attachment 1 (PWS) is revised.

• RFQ Combined Synopsis Solicitation is revised.

• New attachments and exhibits are provided (Attachment 2, Attachment 3, Exhibit A).

• The purpose of this amendment is to incorporate these changes into the solicitation. Bidders should review all provided documents for updated requirements and information. All other sections of the RFQ remain unchanged.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a price workbook, likely intended for bidders to detail their proposed pricing for the opportunity. It outlines the structure for calculating the Total Evaluated Price (TEP) across different contract periods.

• TEP Sheet: Details the Total Evaluated Price across a Base Period (8 months), Option Period 1 (8 months), Option Period 2 (8 months), and a Six-Month Extension (FAR Clause 52.217-8). All periods are currently listed with a value of 0.0.
• Base Sheet: Outlines CLIN 0001 for the Base Period, covering "RBCS audit guide, development, and piloting." It specifies 8 months for the Base Period with a Firm-Fixed Price per Month and a Total of 0.0.
• OP 1 Sheet: Outlines CLIN 1001 for Option Period 1, covering "SFH audit guide, development, and piloting." It specifies 8 months for Option Period 1 with a Firm-Fixed Price per Month and a Total of 0.0.
• OP 2 Sheet: Outlines CLIN 2001 for Option Period 2, covering "MFH audit guide, development, and piloting." It specifies 8 months for Option Period 2 with a Firm-Fixed Price per Month and a Total of 0.0.

Bidders should use this workbook to input their pricing for each CLIN and period. The structure indicates the government's expectation for cost breakdown and the components of the Total Evaluated Price. Note that all price fields are currently populated with 0.0, requiring bidders to provide their specific cost proposals.

Amendment / Modification

• Extends the solicitation due date from May 8, 2026, to May 22, 2026.

• This extension is intended to provide additional time for respondents to address questions.

• Solicitation due date.

• The deadline for submitting offers has been extended to May 22, 2026.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a combined synopsis/solicitation (RFQ) for Audit Guide Development and Pilot for Lenders participating in Rural Development Guaranteed Loan Programs. The USDA Rural Development (RD) Finance Office (FO) Office of Compliance (OC) is seeking contractor support to develop standardized lender review guides and pilot them by conducting reviews of participating lenders. The goal is to ensure consistent processes for evaluating lender compliance, identifying risk, and improving program oversight.

• Review Guide Development: Create standardized review guides for RBCS, SFH, and MFH guaranteed loan programs, including a method for risk identification and rating, and a standard reporting format. Guides must be based on regulatory requirements.

• Lender Reviews: Conduct lender reviews using the developed guides. The government anticipates at least five lenders per program.

• Reporting: Provide a report for each lender reviewed, including scope, key findings, identified risks, and recommended corrective actions. A program-level summary of trends and recommendations is also required.

• Deliverables Schedule: Includes a Project Plan, Recurring Status Reports, Review Guides for RBCS, SFH, and MFH, Lender Review Reports (5 per program), and Feedback Reports for each program.

• Contract Type: Anticipated firm-fixed-price contract.

• Period of Performance: One (1) eight-month base period and two (2) eight-month option periods. The base period covers RBCS audit guide development and piloting (05/15/2026 to 04/14/2028). Option periods cover SFH and MFH audit guides and piloting.

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but pricing for all items (base and options) is required for responsiveness.

• Offer Due Date: May 8, 2026, 1300 ET.

• Submission: Quotations are requested. A separate written solicitation will not be issued.

• Evaluation: Quotes will be evaluated based on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). Price will be evaluated for the base period, all option periods, and a potential six-month extension. Technical Acceptability will be evaluated for the lowest priced offer, followed by Past Performance if needed.

• Questions: Due May 1, 2026, 12:00 PM EST, via email to Christopher.Bany@usda.gov.

• Set-Aside: This acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

• NAICS Code: 541219 (Auditing Services)

• Size Standard: $25.0 Million

• Eligibility: All responsible small business sources may submit a quotation.

• The contract will be split into an initial term for RBCS and two optional terms for SFH and MFH.

• Travel is not anticipated but will be pre-approved if necessary.

• Contractor personnel require extensive accounting, forensic, banking, and/or auditing experience.

• All deliverables are property of the Government and USDA-RD.

• Electronic deliverables must comply with Section 508 requirements.

• Numerous FAR and AGAR clauses and provisions are incorporated by reference.