The Housing Authority of the County of Marin (MHA) Procurement Department is committed to MHA’s mission of providing decent, safe, and sanitary housing for low- and moderate-income residents. We do that by making government contracting easier, more accessible, and more effective.
     
    We oversee the procurement/contract administration of all goods and services for MHA, ensuring full compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations. But compliance shouldn’t champion quality. That’s why we prioritize simplifying complex processes — “de-legaleezing” our documents and reducing red tape — so we can attract more qualified vendors and improve outcomes for the important communities we serve.
     
    Research and common sense both show: when we streamline procedures, we remove barriers. Skilled vendors - especially small businesses - frequently avoid government contract-bureaucracy. Our goal is to change that by promoting transparency, building partnerships, and reducing friction wherever possible. 


    Doing Business with MHA: A Basic Guide


    MHA partners with qualified, licensed, and insured vendors/contractors to provide essential goods/services in support of affordable housing and community development. Below is a simplified overview of key requirements for doing business with MHA.


    This guide is for informational purposes only and does not create any rights or obligations. Formal requirements are governed by applicable law, MHA’s Procurement Policy, and individual solicitations and contracts. 


    1. How to Find Opportunities


    All formal bidding opportunities are posted on MHA's OpenGov e-procurement platform:
     https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/marinhousing , and you must submit your MHA bids/proposals electronically through this platform.


    To view and respond to current opportunities:


    

    Using MHA’s OpenGov procurement portal is completely free. However, if you also track solicitations from other government agencies, an OpenGov subscription fee may apply

    2. Key Requirements for Vendors


    To contract with MHA, vendors typically must:


    A. Have Required Insurance
    Standard coverages may include:

    • Workers’ Compensation (if you have employees)
    • General Liability (min. $1 million per occurrence/$2 million aggregate)
    • Auto Liability ($1M for owned, hired & non-owned vehicles if driving for MHA work)
    • Professional Liability ($1 million per occurrence for professional services, if applicable)


    Policies must name "The Housing Authority of the County of Marin" as an additional insured where applicable and be issued by insurers admitted in California with an A.M. Best rating of A:VIII or higher. MHA must receive your certificates of insurance before you start work.


    Need to share this information with your insurance broker? [Click here for our summarized insurance instructions.]


    B. Hold Proper Licenses

    • Business license and/or California Secretary of State registration
    • Contractor’s license (if applicable to the work)
    • Other professional licenses as required


    C. Submit a W-9 Form
    This is required for payment setup.


    3. What We Buy


     MHA contracts for a wide variety of goods and services, including:


    • Construction and maintenance
    • Architecture and engineering
    • Environmental and general consulting
    • Janitorial, landscaping, and painting
    • Office equipment and supplies
    • Resident services and training programs


    4. Different Property Types, Different Rules


    MHA owns and manages a variety of properties subject to different funding sources and procurement rules. Varying requirements apply depending on the location of the work:


    • Golden Gate Village and Asset Management Project 2 (AMP 2): HUD-funded public housing subject to federal procurement standards.
    • “The Quads” and affiliated sites: Owned or operated in partnership with non-profit entities and/or subject to State funding and procurement rules.
    • Other MHA-managed properties: May include mixed-funding or privately managed sites with unique compliance needs.


    Click Here to see summarized list of MHA’s properties.


    In addition, wage requirements may differ. For example:


    • Federally funded work may be subject to the Davis-Bacon Act (e.g., GGV/AMP2) or California prevailing wage laws and DIR registration
    • State-funded or local projects may require compliance with California prevailing wage laws and DIR registration

     

    Before bidding, review the solicitation to understand which procurement rules apply.


    You can view MHA’s portfolio of properties here: Click here to view a list of MHA properties.


    5. Small and Local Businesses


    MHA encourages participation by small businesses, minority- and women-owned businesses, and Section 3 businesses. We may break larger contracts into smaller scopes in order to create more opportunities for such firms. 


    6. Questions or Help?


    For MHA procurement-related questions or help understanding a solicitation, contact:


    Chris Barta
    Procurement Manager, Marin Housing Authority
    Email: cbarta@marinhousing.org
    Phone:         415-491-2559


    For help responding to bid requests/IFB/RFP/RFQ, etc., or answers to general questions about government contracting, MHA has partnered with Norcal APEX Accelerator, a government-funded nonprofit that provides one-on-one counseling, custom bid matching, and training resources for businesses interested in public sector work.


    Contact them for one-on-one counseling, custom bid matching, and various training resources, at www.apexnorcal.org


    This page is intended as a basic guide only and does not override the formal terms of any solicitation or contract.

    ________________________________________________________

    

    MHA has also partnered with -and is grateful for - the Center for Plain Language – Make it clear! (https://centerforplainlanguage.org/)