How to Manage a Housing Authority Construction Gantt Chart

Public housing construction involves HUD compliance, Section 3 hiring, Davis-Bacon wages, and environmental review. Here's the Gantt chart template.

How to Manage a Housing Authority Construction Gantt Chart

The Problem: Housing Authority Construction Carries Federal Compliance Overhead That Doubles the Timeline

A housing authority developing new affordable units or rehabilitating existing stock isn't just managing construction — it's managing a federal compliance environment that includes environmental review under HUD's Part 58 requirements, Davis-Bacon prevailing wage monitoring for every construction worker, Section 3 hiring goals for low-income residents, and Fair Housing Act design standards. Any one of these can stop a project: an environmental review finding, a wage restitution order, a Section 3 non-compliance determination.

The environmental review alone — even for a straightforward rehabilitation project — requires a Responsible Entity to certify environmental conditions, publish a finding for public comment, and obtain HUD's Approval to Use Grant Funds (AUGF) before any project costs can be incurred. Starting construction before the AUGF is received is a fatal compliance error that can require returning all grant funds. Housing authorities that haven't done this before routinely underestimate these timelines by 6 months. gantt-chart.io maps the compliance milestones alongside the construction schedule so nothing proceeds out of sequence.

Prerequisites

HUD grant agreement or financing commitment letter received
Responsible Entity designated for Part 58 environmental review
Davis-Bacon wage determination obtained from SAM.gov for project trade categories
Section 3 hiring plan developed and submitted to HUD if required
Architect and contractor selection process planned per HUD procurement requirements
Relocation plan developed if existing tenants will be displaced during construction

Housing Authority Construction Gantt Chart Template

Phase 1: Environmental Review and Pre-Development (Months 1–4)

[ ] Complete all environmental review studies: Phase I ESA, flood zone determination, noise, historic
[ ] Publish combined FONSI/Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds for public comment (15-day period)
[ ] Respond to any public comments; obtain local certifying official signature
[ ] Submit Request for Release of Funds (RROF) to HUD; await AUGF (15-day waiting period)
[ ] Receive Approval to Use Grant Funds — NO project costs may be incurred before this date
[ ] Complete relocation notices to affected residents; begin relocation assistance

Phase 2: Design and Procurement (Months 3–8)

[ ] Issue RFQ for architectural services; evaluate and select design firm per HUD procurement standards
[ ] Complete schematic design and design development; submit for HUD and local review
[ ] Complete construction documents; obtain all required permits
[ ] Obtain Section 3 business registry listings for targeted subcontractor outreach
[ ] Issue invitation for bids with required Davis-Bacon wage rates included in specifications
[ ] Conduct public bid opening; verify low bidder's license, bonding, and Section 3 compliance
[ ] Execute construction contract; obtain performance and payment bonds

Phase 3: Construction (Months 8–20)

[ ] Conduct pre-construction meeting; brief contractor on Davis-Bacon, Section 3, and reporting requirements
[ ] Collect certified payrolls weekly from contractor and all subcontractors
[ ] Review payrolls for Davis-Bacon compliance; issue wage interviews with workers on site
[ ] Track Section 3 hiring against goals monthly; document new hire certifications
[ ] Process monthly pay applications; verify progress against schedule before approving
[ ] Conduct HUD required inspections at critical construction milestones
[ ] Document all change orders with justification before authorizing additional work

Phase 4: Completion and Occupancy (Months 18–24)

[ ] Obtain certificate of occupancy from local building department
[ ] Conduct HUD inspection (REAC or equivalent) before occupancy
[ ] Process tenant applications and certify income eligibility per HUD standards
[ ] Execute leases and move residents in per relocation plan
[ ] Submit final Davis-Bacon compliance certification to HUD
[ ] Complete Section 3 final report documenting hiring outcomes

Phase 5: Grant Closeout (Months 22–26)

[ ] Submit final financial report to HUD; reconcile all project costs
[ ] Complete HUD grant closeout documentation
[ ] Archive all project records for HUD record retention requirements (typically 10 years)
[ ] Conduct post-construction debrief; document lessons for next development project

Common Pitfalls

Incurring costs before AUGF: Any project cost — design fees, studies, legal costs — incurred before the Approval to Use Grant Funds is received may be declared ineligible and require repayment. The AUGF is a hard start gate.
Davis-Bacon enforcement gaps: Contractors who don't receive certified payroll requirements at contract execution often don't maintain the records needed. Brief contractors on Davis-Bacon at award, not mid-construction.
Section 3 documented but not achieved: HUD expects documented good faith efforts toward Section 3 goals, but actual hiring outcomes matter. Track Section 3 hiring monthly and address shortfalls proactively.
Relocation plan delayed: Residents who aren't given adequate relocation notice and assistance have legal remedies that can delay construction. Initiate relocation as soon as the environmental review allows.

What Good Looks Like

A successful housing authority construction project delivers quality affordable housing on schedule, completes HUD closeout within 6 months of project completion, and produces a Davis-Bacon and Section 3 compliance record that supports future HUD grant awards. Residents in the completed units have stable, affordable housing — which is the outcome everything else exists to deliver.