Section 3 reporting system relaunched

This week in a letter sent out to covered recipients, HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) announced the relaunch of the Section 3 Performance Evaluation and Registry System (SPEARS) for the submission of annual summary reports (Form HUD-60002) and to notify Section 3 businesses about the availability of local HUD-funded contracts. In 2012, the system had been disabled due to fatal technical errors and lapses in information security, leaving PHAs, PJs, and other covered recipients unable to submit reports for the 2013 and 2014 reporting periods.

As previously reported, no recipients were penalized for failing to submit Form HUD-60002 while the system was disabled, although grantees were encouraged to maintain sufficient records to facilitate report submission once the system had been relaunched. With SPEARS officially back on-line as of August 24, 2015, however, electronic submission of Form HUD-60002 for the 2013 and 2014 reporting periods can resume. Submissions are due no later than October 30, 2015. Agencies who fail to submit by this date will be subject to penalties in accordance with the type of covered assistance.

To access SPEARS, users must obtain an ID and password in HUD’s Web Access Secure System (WASS). User registration instructions, submission instructions, FAQs, video training, and additional information can be found on HUD’s Section 3 webpage.

Looking for further guidance? We can bring our Procurement and Section 3 seminar to your PHA. Email sales@nanmckay.com for more information about our affordable onsite training options. And if you missed it the first time, check out our blog series on what you need to know about Section 3.