USDA Rural Development Audit Guide Development

The USDA Rural Development (RD) has issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Audit Guide Development and Pilot for Lenders participating in RD Guaranteed Loan Programs. This acquisition, solicited under number 12C0BZ26Q0002, is a total small business set-aside with NAICS code 541219 and a $25 million size standard. The contractor will develop review guides, conduct lender compliance reviews (anticipated five per program), and provide reports with findings, risks, and recommendations for RBCS, SFH, and MFH Guaranteed Loan Programs. The contract includes an eight-month base period for RBCS and two eight-month option periods for SFH and MFH. Evaluation will be based on the lowest price technically acceptable criteria, considering price, technical acceptability, and past performance. Key personnel must have extensive accounting, forensic, banking, and/or auditing experience. The contractor must safeguard sensitive and PII information and comply with various FAR and AGAR clauses, including those related to anti-discrimination and workforce integrity. Questions are due by May 1, 2026, and offers are due by May 8, 2026.

Amendment 0001 for solicitation 12C0BZ26Q0002 extends the due date for offers from May 8, 2026, to May 22, 2026. This extension provides additional time for respondents to submit questions. The amendment emphasizes that offers must acknowledge receipt of this change by completing and returning copies of the amendment, acknowledging receipt on submitted offers, or by separate written or electronic communication referencing the solicitation and amendment numbers. Failure to acknowledge the amendment by the specified date and time may result in the rejection of the offer. All other terms and conditions of the original solicitation remain unchanged and in full effect.

This document is Amendment 0002 to a solicitation issued by the USDA Rural Development Business Center, Procurement Management Office. The amendment, effective April 24, 2026, modifies the original solicitation by incorporating a Question and Answer form, providing a revised Attachment 1 – Performance Work Statement with highlighted changes, and introducing three new attachments: Attachment 2 – Price Workbook, Attachment 3 – QASP, and Exhibit A – Past Performance Questionnaire. Additionally, a revised RFQ Combined Synopsis Solicitation with blue font highlighted changes is included. All other sections of the Request for Quotation (RFQ) remain unchanged. Offerors must acknowledge receipt of this amendment by completing items 8 and 15 and returning copies, acknowledging receipt on each offer copy, or by separate letter or electronic communication. Failure to acknowledge receipt by the specified hour and date may result in rejection of the offer. Changes to already submitted offers must also reference the solicitation and amendment numbers and be received prior to the opening hour and date.

The USDA Rural Development (RD) requires contractor support to enhance the oversight and compliance of its guaranteed loan programs. The contractor will develop standardized lender review guides for the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Single-Family Housing (SFH), and Multi-Family Housing (MFH) programs. This involves conducting lender compliance reviews (at least five per program), identifying risks and trends, and providing actionable recommendations. Deliverables include finalized project plans, recurring status reports, individual lender review reports, and program-level feedback reports. The contractor must have personnel with extensive accounting, forensic, banking, and/or auditing experience, holding a Bachelor's degree in accounting. The government will provide lender lists, initial contact with lenders, applicable guidance, and USDA laptops for sensitive data handling. All electronic deliverables must comply with Section 508, and the contractor must adhere to strict security requirements for sensitive and PII data.

The solicitation 12C0BZ26Q0002 is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Audit Guide Development and Pilot for Lenders in Rural Development Guaranteed Loan Programs, specifically set aside for small businesses (NAICS 541219, $25M size standard). The acquisition will result in a firm-fixed-price contract with an eight-month base period and two eight-month options. Evaluation will be based on the lowest price technically acceptable criteria, considering price, technical acceptability, and past performance. Key requirements include detailed explanations of the offeror's ability to perform services, a project plan, and resumes for key personnel. The document also incorporates numerous FAR and AGAR clauses, including specific provisions on anti-discrimination, DEI compliance, and unenforceable supplier terms. Quotations are due by May 22, 2026, at noon ET, and questions by May 1, 2026, at noon EST, both submitted via email.

The USDA is seeking a contractor to develop, test, and refine Lender Review Guides for three Guaranteed Loan Programs. This new requirement involves conducting five lender reviews per program, with each review encompassing five loan files. The contractor is responsible for proposing staffing levels, resource estimates, and the methodology for selecting loan files and evaluating adherence to industry best practices. The USDA will provide a secure file transfer platform, conduct initial lender contact, and facilitate document transfer. Lender reviews are expected to be conducted remotely. The contract consists of an 8-month base period and two 8-month option periods, totaling 24 months. The USDA will provide existing review guides and sample findings reports at kickoff to inform the contractor's work. Travel is not anticipated but will be reimbursed if required and pre-approved. Offerors must disclose potential conflicts of interest and propose mitigation plans. All personnel handling sensitive data will require USDA credentials and laptops. The USDA will provide access to privacy and security training, and contractors can self-certify Section 508 compliance for deliverables. Specific details regarding proposal format, page limits, and pricing templates are provided in the amended RFQ and Attachment 2 - Price Workbook.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) presents this Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for the Rural Development Guaranteed Loan Programs – Lender Review Support Services (Solicitation Number 12C0BZ26Q0002). This QASP outlines the systematic methods and procedures the USDA will employ to monitor and evaluate contractor performance against the established performance work statement (PWS) and acceptable quality levels (AQLs). It defines the roles and responsibilities of the contractor, the Contracting Officer (CO), and the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) in ensuring quality and compliance. The document details surveillance methods, documentation for non-performance, and potential remedial actions. The QASP is a dynamic document, subject to revisions, and complements the contractor's Quality Control Plan (QCP) to ensure successful service delivery.

Exhibit B, titled “Past Performance Questionnaire,” is designed to gather comprehensive past performance information from offerors for government contract evaluations. This questionnaire requires offerors to provide their company details, contract specifics, and period of performance. A designated reference then completes the questionnaire, rating the offeror on various performance elements such as timeliness, quality control, and customer satisfaction, using a five-tier rating scale: Exceptional, Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, and Unsatisfactory. The document provides detailed definitions for each rating to ensure consistent evaluation. References must also provide comments for “Marginal” or “Unsatisfactory” ratings and indicate whether they would do business with the firm again. An “Additional Comment Form” allows for further remarks and the attachment of supporting documents, offering a holistic view of the offeror’s past performance.

This document outlines a government contract for audit guide development and piloting, structured into a base period and two option periods, with a potential six-month extension. The base period covers the development of an audit guide for RBCS. Option Period 1 focuses on an audit guide for SFH, and Option Period 2 addresses an audit guide for MFH. Each period is eight months long and is priced on a firm-fixed-price basis. The