Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) face mounting challenges in managing housing programs effectively amid limited resources and growing demand. Procurement, while essential, can be time-consuming and complex. One practical solution that streamlines this process is contract piggybacking — a strategic method that allows PHAs to utilize an existing contract awarded by another agency without issuing a separate competitive bid.

What Is Contract Piggybacking?

Contract piggybacking enables one agency to “ride” an existing, competitively procured contract from another agency, provided the contract covers similar goods or services. This approach saves time and administrative burden, offering PHAs a way to secure needed services quickly while remaining compliant with HUD regulations and local procurement rules.

PHAs can piggyback off another agency’s contract if several key criteria are met:

• Original contract must explicitly allow for cooperative purchasing
• Scope of work and pricing must align with the piggybacking agency’s needs
• Procurement policies for both agencies support piggybacking; local and state laws must permit intergovernmental purchasing, and vendor consent may be required—especially if there are changes to contract terms

Why Piggybacking Makes Sense for PHAs

Piggybacking offers numerous advantages. It streamlines procurement by avoiding the lengthy RFP process and reduces administrative workload, allowing staff to focus on core responsibilities. It also expedites service delivery and lowers costs by leveraging pre-negotiated, competitive pricing.

Most importantly, piggybacking minimizes risk by using contractors like Quadel who are already vetted for compliance and vendor performance. Piggybacking allows Quadel’s experts to deliver services quickly and cost-effectively, while expanding opportunities to serve more agencies without the delay of separate procurements.

For PHAs, this means faster results, reduced administrative burden, and a proven partner.

Quadel’s Common Piggyback Services

Quadel has successfully partnered with PHAs nationwide using piggybacked contracts to deliver a range of services. These scopes of work are particularly well-suited to piggybacking because they are often urgent, standardized, and easy to scale.

These include:

• interim HCV management staffing during periods of transition
• remote recertification services to enhance accessibility and efficiency
• and general program technical assistance such as policy and procedure development and organizational assessments

Let’s Work Together

If your agency is seeking a faster, more efficient way to secure services, piggybacking with Quadel may be the solution. We offer a variety of ready-to-use contracts and will guide your agency through every step of the process—clearly, compliantly, and with your agency’s goals in mind.

To request more information about piggybacking opportunities, email Hannah Troyer, Proposal Associate.