Qualifying to do Business with BHA

A procurement may be cancelled before bids or proposals are due for any of the following reasons:

• The supplies, services or construction is no longer required.
• The funds are no longer available.
• Proposed amendments to the solicitation are of such magnitude that a new solicitation is deemed to be appropriate and in the best interest of BHA.
• Other similar reasons

A procurement may be cancelled and all bids or proposals that have already been received may be rejected for any of the following reasons:

• The supplies or services (including construction) are no longer required.
• Ambiguous or otherwise inadequate specifications were part of the solicitation.
• All factors of significance to BHA were not considered.
• Prices exceed available funds, and it would not be appropriate to adjust quantities to come within available funds.
• There is reason to believe that bids or proposals may not have been independently determined in open competition, may have been collusive, or may have been submitted in bad faith.
• For good cause of a similar nature when it is in the best interest of BHA

Because the Bremerton Housing Authority receives HUD financial assistance, we are required to comply with HUD’s Section 3 program. This program requires that BHA, to the greatest extent possible, provides job training, employment, and contract opportunities for low or very low-income residents in connection with projects and activities in Bremerton. HUD determines the definition of “low-income” and “very low-income” annually, so we are unable to provide those definitions here. However, Section 3 regulations were designed to encourage recipients of HUD funding to direct new employment, training, and contracting opportunities to low-income residents and the businesses that employ these people within their community regardless of race and/or gender.

You are a Section 3 resident if:

• You have proof that you reside in a public housing development; or
• You can provide evidence of participation in a HUD Youth build program operated in the metropolitan area (or non-metropolitan county) where the Section 3 covered assistance is spent; or
• You can provide evidence that you reside in the Section 3 area and are a low- or very low-income person, as determined by local HUD income limits.

You are a Section 3 business if your company is able to meet one of the following criteria:

• 51% or more of the company is owned by Section 3 residents; or
• The company has permanent, full-time employees at least 30% of whom are currently Section 3 residents or within three years of the date of first employment with the business concern were Section 3 residents; or
• The company has a commitment to subcontract in excess of 25% of the total dollar award of all contracts to Section 3 businesses.

HUD has established the following goals for organizations that must comply with Section 3 requirements:

• 30% of new hires by the agency are low- or very low-income residents.
• 10% of construction contracts are awarded to Section 3 businesses.
• 3% of non-construction contracts are awarded to Section 3 businesses.

BHA is required, to the greatest extent feasible, to meet these goals. We must make every effort and use any means at our disposal to meet the regulatory requirements. If we are unable to comply despite our best efforts, we explain in our annual report to HUD what efforts we made and what prevented us from meeting our goal.

We are eager to assist our residents and other low- and very low-income people in Bremerton to participate in the Section 3 program. If you need more information on the Section 3 program, please click here to be redirected to HUD’s web page which explains the details of the program. If you are interested in being certified by BHA as a Section 3 business, please click here to be redirected to the application. If you are already certified as a Section 3 business and are interested in registering with the HUD Section 3 Business Registry, please click here.

Being registered as a Section 3 business does not guarantee work with BHA; however, BHA gives preference to Section 3 businesses in its procurement procedures. Those preferences are explained in the material provided to apply to be certified as a Section 3 business by BHA.

The Bremerton Housing Authority strongly encourages responses to solicitations from Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) or partnerships comprised of DBEs. A Disadvantaged Business Enterprise is a for-profit small business concern that is owned by one or more individuals who are socially or economically disadvantaged. Although the program is geared toward businesses owned by women and minorities, other owners who demonstrate disadvantage can be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. BHA is interested in increasing the number of contracts awarded to DBEs and encourages all organizations to review the eligibility criteria on the website of the Office of Women and Minority Business Enterprises by clicking here.

Throughout the year, BHA solicits applications for qualified contractors who are interested in being added to BHA’s maintenance roster for minor maintenance projects at all of its properties. To qualify for the Maintenance Roster, contractors must complete and submit the application which includes the following forms:

• Profile of Firm Form
• Listing of maintenance services available
• Fee Structure Form
• W-9
• Section 3 Certification Paperwork (Optional)

In addition, contractors must have and submit the following with the application:

• A copy of its Bremerton Business License,
• A copy of its Master Business License or Legal Entity License with the State of Washington
• Evidence of Insurance

Before being placed on the roster, BHA will verify that the contractor is not on the Federal or State debarment list and is in good standing with state agencies.

Contractors will be required to submit a Statement of Intent to the Department of Labor & Industries when they have been retained for their first work with BHA. At the end of the calendar year, an Affidavit of Wages Paid will need to be submitted to the Department of Labor & Industries that includes all work performed for BHA during the calendar year. Contractors must pay employees at least the HUD wage and fringe rates appropriate to the work performed and as provided by BHA.

BHA will request bids from pre-approved contractors for up-coming work. BHA will request bids from contractors listed on the maintenance roster on a rotating basis to ensure that all contractors listed have the opportunity to bid work.

Contractors will periodically need to reapply to remain on the roster. Copies of licenses and insurance will need to be submitted annually. Debarment and agency checks will be conducted by BHA annually.

There is no deadline for the submittal of applications to be placed on the Maintenance Roster. Please click here to be directed to the Maintenance Roster Application.