[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14677-14678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04146]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[FR-6452-N-01]


Exhibitors Sought for Innovative Housing Showcase 2024

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and 
Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HUD, in collaboration with other organizations, will present 
the Innovative Housing Showcase in June 2024 on the National Mall in 
Washington, DC. The Innovative Housing Showcase (Showcase) is a public 
event to raise awareness of innovative housing designs and technologies 
that have the potential to increase housing supply, lower the cost of 
construction, and/or reduce housing expenses for owners and renters. 
HUD is especially interested in innovative housing designs and 
technologies that, in addition to reducing costs and expenses for 
builders, owners and renters, can expand quality, affordable, 
accessible and healthy housing options for low- and moderate-income 
households; support aging in place; improve climate mitigation and 
resilience and disaster recovery; and/or increase energy efficiency and 
support decarbonization in the housing sector. HUD is seeking 
exhibitors to showcase innovations, and this notice solicits proposals 
for the Innovative Housing Showcase, with a preference for full-scale 
housing models and technology demonstrations that the public can tour 
and interact with.

DATES: All proposals must be received no later than March 29, 2024. 
Proposals will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until March 
29, 2024, or until HUD reaches capacity for exhibitor space on the 
National Mall, whichever comes sooner. HUD encourages early submission 
of proposals.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be in writing and submitted via email to 
[email protected]. Individuals who do not have internet access 
may submit proposals to the Office of Policy Development and Research, 
Affordable Housing Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 8134, Washington, DC 
20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Blanford, Research Engineer, 
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy 
Development and Research, 451 7th St. SW, Washington, DC 20410, 
telephone number 202-402-5728 (this is not a toll-free number). HUD 
welcomes and is prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf 
or hard of hearing, as well as individuals with speech and 
communication disabilities. To learn more about how to make an 
accessible telephone call, please visit: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs. Individuals with questions 
may also email [email protected] and in the subject line write 
``2024 Showcase Questions.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    This year will be the fourth time HUD has hosted the Showcase on 
the National Mall, having done so in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Prior 
Showcases were attended by several thousand members of the public, as 
well as housing practitioners and government leaders, and received 
coverage in both popular media and trade press. Given HUD's mission to 
create ``quality, affordable homes for all,'' this event offers a 
unique opportunity to highlight innovative housing designs and 
technologies that can improve quality and deepen affordability for 
leaders in the housing sector, from policymakers and planners to 
funders, architects, and builders.
    The National Mall is a landscaped park that is always open to the 
public, which brings certain expectations when presenting housing 
innovations on a large scale. Exhibitors are responsible for complying 
with all National Park Service (NPS) rules and regulations as 
identified in the NPS Event Planning Guide (https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/management/event-planning-guide.htm). As the National Mall is 
part of the National Park System, there is no review or permit required 
to meet building codes within the District of Columbia (DC); however, 
the NPS may require a review by the NPS Lift Safety and Compliance 
office.
    Approach to the National Mall involves DC streets or interstate 
highways, local and federal restrictions pertaining to weight, and 
compliance with width of load and height restrictions. There are two 
primary DC routes approaching the National Mall that can accommodate 
13'6'' clearance. The Showcase Management team will advance the arrival 
and departure routes as well as the set-up and tear-down schedule to 
each exhibitor.

II. Showcase Information and Exhibit Requirements

    Showcase management is overseen by HUD and HUD-designated entities 
responsible for Showcase planning and event logistics. The Innovative 
Housing Showcase host exhibits in three primary categories:

--Tabletop Displays--these displays are typically housed in an 
individual tent or space within a larger tent.
--On-Ground Exhibit--these displays may showcase a particular 
technology or method of construction within the given footprint that is 
too large for a tabletop and cannot be entered.
--Enterable Exhibit--these displays may involve a structure that 
showcases a technology or method of construction that can be entered by 
the public present at the showcase site.

    Each exhibit shall be positioned and equipped to allow persons who 
have mobility restrictions to approach the threshold of an enterable 
exhibit. The Showcase Management team will provide a list of 
contractors that are prepared to provide ADA compliant ramps for 
Enterable exhibits.
    The Showcase Management team will review the public-facing branding 
of each exhibit and can provide advice and

[[Page 14678]]

direction to remain compliant with the NPS guidelines.
    Exhibits must be presented in a manner that can sustain a 30-mph 
wind and should not exceed 45' in height. HUD will make available the 
use of a crane or forklifts for installation. Typically, the crane 
provided has a 20-ton capacity and will be apportioned to accommodate 
the needs of all exhibitors. Exhibits that exceed 400 sq ft will 
require the NPS review of floor plans and engineering to establish an 
occupancy load as well as any ballast that may be required to satisfy 
the wind load guidelines.
    Exhibits will be delivered by truck and placed on the gravel 
walkways of the National Mall. To maintain adequate pathways for the 
public to traverse between monuments and museums adjacent to the event 
site, exhibit areas are apportioned based on individual footprints. 
Exhibits including outdoor space and handicap accessibility shall not 
exceed 30' in depth and are generally 60' to 80' in width.
    For each exhibit type, HUD provides a standard tent with side 
walls, tables, and chairs as well as a sign identifying the Exhibitor. 
The sign includes the exhibitor's brand and features the event brand 
consistent with the NPS guidelines. The Showcase Management team will 
also provide electricity for each exhibit whether Tabletop, On-Ground 
or Enterable.
    Exhibitors are responsible for their own expenses, personnel, and 
resources. Exhibitors will bear the cost to manufacture the exhibit, 
deliver and remove the exhibit from the Showcase Site, and staff the 
exhibit during the run of show. HUD will not provide any funding to 
exhibitors. HUD will provide support to manage the event.

III. Proposals, Proposal Submission, and Exhibitor Selection 
Information

    HUD seeks housing designs and technologies that have the potential 
to increase supply and lower the cost of construction, and/or reduce 
housing expenses for owners and renters. This could include designs 
that reduce building footprints, like Accessory Dwelling Units and 
multi-unit manufactured and modular housing, or that impact on-site 
construction efficiency, like three-dimensional (3D) printing and 
panelization. HUD is especially interested in innovative housing 
designs and technologies that, in addition to reducing costs and 
expenses for builders, owners and renters, can expand quality, 
affordable, accessible and healthy housing options for low- and 
moderate-income households; support aging in place; improve climate 
mitigation and resilience and disaster recovery; and/or increase energy 
efficiency and support decarbonization in the housing sector. Potential 
exhibits could range from tabletop displays to on-ground exhibits to 
enterable homes.
    Interested potential exhibitors should submit via the methods 
discussed previously in this notice and include responses to the 
following:
    1. Exhibitor name.
    2. Exhibit category: tabletop display, on-ground exhibit, or 
enterable.
    3. A short narrative description of the exhibit including 
attributes that make it appropriate for the Showcase, specifically how 
the product advances the goals listed above.
    a. If proposing an enterable exhibit, a short narrative description 
of any accessibility features.
    4. A photo or rendering of your exhibit, including links to 
websites and videos (if available).
    5. Description of the installation process on the Mall, including 
essential specifications.
    6. Transportation requirements, including need for special road 
clearances for oversize/overweight loads.
    7. Description of previous exhibits or demonstrations of the 
product (this could include home shows and other exhibits).
    8. Any other substantial partners involved in the proposed exhibit.
    9. Contact information for the exhibitor (with the authority to 
commit).
    Responses should be limited to 1-2 pages.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency 
may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, 
a collection of information, unless the collection displays a currently 
valid OMB control number. The information collection described above to 
collect proposals for the Showcase has been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) and assigned OMB control number 2528-0346.
    HUD will select exhibit proposals that align with the above themes 
and areas of focus, particularly housing affordability, quality, 
accessibility, decarbonization and resilience, as well as other 
considerations such as novelty and overall composition of submitted 
responses. For the sake of visitor engagement, we will prioritize 
exhibits that can be displayed in person and that are enterable or are 
otherwise feature visually interesting and interactive presentations. 
Other factors that may impact exhibitor selection include National Mall 
site limitations and potential expense to HUD (e.g., crane time).

Todd M. Richardson,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 2024-04146 Filed 2-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P