Request for Proposals
White Paper—Cybersecurity and the implementation, integration, and optimization of smart technology systems in the rental housing ecosystem
Proposal Deadline: July 1, 2025
Introduction
The Real Estate Technology and Transformation Center (RETTC) is seeking proposals to provide a white paper/resource related to cybersecurity and the implementation, integration, and optimization of smart technology systems in the rental housing ecosystem.
We invite submissions across the four categories outlined below. Respondents’ proposal may address a single category, multiple categories, or submit a comprehensive proposal that covers all four. Proposals should reflect the respondent’s expertise and capacity in the selected category or categories. Given the complex relationship between rental housing providers and their supplier partners (specifically smart tech software providers and hardware providers, along with the full suite of service providers), the white paper should explore the considerations and responsibilities of both supplier partners and rental housing providers in navigating the smart technology landscape.
About RETTC
Based in Washington, D.C., the Real Estate Technology & Transformation Center (RETTC), brings together real estate companies and technology providers to blaze a path forward for digital transformation in America. RETTC serves as the preeminent advocacy, resource and networking platform for real estate and tech leaders as they navigate a long-term and complex technology-enabled transformation. This evolution will impact the renters and communities we serve, help address our nation’s long-term housing challenges, improve business operations and enhance our ability to drive innovation across the economy.
Background Information
As smart apartment technologies become increasingly central to resident experience and property operations, rental housing owners and operators are rapidly deploying building-wide systems such as access control, leak detection, HVAC optimization, environmental sensors, and resident mobile apps. These systems, however, raise both integration challenges and cybersecurity risks, which have evolved significantly since NMHC published the 2018 Smart Communities: The Internet of Things & the Apartment Industry White Paper and the 2023 Cybersecurity Risks, Regulations & Considerations for the Multifamily Housing Industry White Paper.
RETTC aims to support rental housing providers and technology providers in their efforts to understand the deployment landscape, emerging risks, compliance obligations and best practices around secure and scalable smart tech implementations across rental housing. This knowledge product is designed to be a member resource that supports innovation while protecting resident data and building systems integrity.
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Categories for Proposal Submission
RETTC is open to additional areas of exploration, but the categories below have been identified as priorities.
• Category 1: Cybersecurity Risks and Mitigation in Smart Multifamily Environments
What are the key vulnerabilities associated with property-wide smart systems? How do cybersecurity practices vary among operators, and what frameworks or tools can help assess and mitigate those risks? RETTC seeks a landscape scan of current cybersecurity standards and risk profiles across apartment operators, as well as best practices and regulatory compliance tools.• Category 2: Policy and Standards Landscape
What are the existing federal, state, and local policies relevant to smart apartment technologies and cybersecurity in the built environment? RETTC is looking for a detailed regulatory landscape analysis, including data privacy, physical security, accessibility, and interoperability standards. This should also include emerging guidance from NIST, FCC, FTC, and housing-specific agencies with similar analysis on emerging state or local level tech policy regulations that could impact or guide smart technology deployments in rental housing communities.
• Category 3: Smart Technology Adoption and Integration
RETTC seeks a detailed analysis of how smart tech security (e.g., access control, water/leak sensors, energy management systems, elevators, package lockers) is approached across the apartment industry. What technologies are being implemented and how are privacy and security being integrated? Are there practical considerations that firms should be employing to ensure maximal efficiency while ensuring robust privacy and data security for their systems and residents?
• Category 4: Owner/Operator Value and ROI Analysis
Which smart systems are delivering the greatest return on investment for operators, and how are those returns measured? RETTC is seeking data and case studies that capture operating efficiencies, maintenance cost savings, resident satisfaction gains, and other metrics of performance and value.
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Proposal Submission Requirements
Please include the following information in your proposal:
• Company Overview
Provide a brief overview of your company, including your history, areas of specialization, experience with multifamily housing and/or building technologies, and relevant past projects.• Proposed Solution/Approach
Outline the format of the final product you intend to provide. Specify anticipated length, structure, and any key features (e.g., executive summary, case studies, data visualizations, actionable recommendations, etc.).• Team and Qualifications
List key personnel who will be involved in the project(s), along with their qualifications and experience related to the requested services. Please identify which elements of the project each individual will work on.• Timeline
Provide an estimated timeline for completion, including key milestones and deliverable dates. Please note that RETTC aims to have the final product released at OPTECH, November 17, 2025, and feature the paper during a session.• Cost Proposal
Include a category-by-category breakdown of costs; membership/sponsorship trade outs for RETTC may be available and are encouraged to be included.• References
Include at least two references from previous clients who have engaged you for similar services.• Other Relevant Information
Any additional information that may support your proposal (e.g., certifications, case studies, partnerships).
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Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
• Relevance and quality of the proposed solution
• Consultant’s experience and qualifications
• Project timeline and feasibility
• Ability to comply with relevant terms of the NMHC/RETTC Independent Contractor Agreement
• Cost-effectiveness
• Client references and past performance
• Ability to meet specific requirements for each category
Submission Instructions
All proposals must be submitted electronically via ideas@RETTC.org by July 1, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered. Please ensure that your proposal includes all required components as outlined in the third section, "Categories for Proposal Submission." Please attach as a single PDF file and include the subject line "Cybersecurity White Paper RFP."
Questions and Clarifications
If you have any questions or require clarification about this RFP, please submit them via email to ideas@RETTC.org by June 20, 2025.