Under the Housing Counseling statute, the Office of Housing Counseling (OHC) must contract with one entity to develop training and certification testing for housing counselors. HUD’s Contracting Office published a market research notice in FEDBIZOPPS on June 18, 2013. The OHC reviewed the responses to identify a qualified certified 8(a) small business entity registered with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to conduct business with the federal government. HUD awarded a contract to Bixal Solutions, Inc. on September 30, 2013 to develop the housing counselor certification training, examination, and host website. Information on the requisition and award is located at FedBizOpps.gov. Bixal Solutions, Inc. (Bixal) founded in 2001 and based in Fairfax, Virginia, is an SBA certified 8(a) minority owned firm that helps government agencies and organizations engage the public and hard to reach communities using strategic communications and sophisticated technologies. Bixal provides a combination of web and mobile strategy development and online training and knowledge management services. Some of its clients include HUD, the Department of Treasury, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the March of Dimes, and the World Bank. Bixal’s experienced team of instructional designers, adult learning specialists, housing counseling subject matter experts, psychometrician, and technology specialists support the OHC on this multi-year program. The program includes the development and management of a website featuring an interactive online training course and a downloadable study guide, as well as a practice test, to help housing counselors prepare for and pass the housing counselor certification exam.