Community Development Agency
www.santa-ana.org/cd
Item # 3
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
May 19, 2026
TOPIC: Housing Authority Management Software
AGENDA TITLE
Purchase Order to Insight Public Sector, Inc. for MRI / HAPPY Software PHA Pro Housing Authority Management Software (Specification No. 26-016) (Non-General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize a Purchase Order to Insight Public Sector, Inc. to provide MRI Software / HAPPY Software PHA Pro housing authority management software for a term beginning June 1, 2026 and expiring April 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $147,344.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
The Santa Ana Housing Authority has utilized MRI / HAPPY Software PHA Pro since May 2021 as the core housing authority management software for the administration of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. This software is essential to the operation of the Housing Authority and its obligation to electronically transfer data to the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on a regular basis and disburse over $65 million in rental assistance funds every year. The software tracks program information for thousands of applicants, participants, and owners served by the program; schedules and maintains records on all Housing Quality Standards inspections; performs income and payment calculations; and creates and transmits all HUD-required reports, among other functions. MRI / HAPPY Software PHA Pro is essential for the administration of the HCV Program and the distribution of millions of dollars in monthly rental assistance to extremely low-income families in the city.
The Housing Authority’s current agreement with MRI Software LLC expires on May 31, 2026. Santa Ana Municipal Code, Section 2-807(d), authorizes the City to purchase against contracts from any public agency utilizing a competitive bid process. The OMNIA Partners contract No. 23-6692-03 with Insight Public Sector, Inc. for Technology Product Solutions and Related Services was awarded as a result of open, competitive bidding, and meets the City’s requirement (Exhibit 1). Staff researched available procurement options, and determined that Insight Public Sector, Inc. meets the City’s specifications and can provide the MRI / HAPPY Software PHA Pro that is needed by
Housing Authority Management Software
May 19, 2026
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the Santa Ana Housing Authority. By leveraging cooperative purchasing, the Housing Authority is able to obtain nationally vetted, high-quality products at competitive volume pricing, in accordance with the City’s existing Purchasing Guidelines.
MRI Software LLC has provided an outstanding quality of service to the Housing Authority over the last five years. Transitioning to an alternate software platform would require up to six months of staff training and implementation. As such, staff recommends continuing the use of MRI / HAPPY Software PHA Pro for the next 23 months through the cooperative purchasing agreement (Exhibit 2). All of the Housing Authority’s existing software services will continue uninterrupted during the term of this agreement. The proposed 23-month term aligns with the expiration date of the OMNIA Partners Cooperative purchasing contract with Insight Public Sector, Inc., which expires April 30, 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this Purchase Order is available in the FY 2025-26 Housing Authority Computer Software Subscriptions account (no. 14018760-66511) and will be budgeted in the future fiscal years for expenditures as shown in the table below:
Fiscal
Year
Accounting Unit
- Accounting #
Accounting Unit, Account
Description Amount
FY 25-26
(June) 14018760-66511 Housing Authority-Vouchers ADM,
Computer Software Subscriptions $6,406
FY 26-27
(July-June) 14018760-66511 Housing Authority-Vouchers ADM, Computer Software Subscriptions $70,469
FY 27-28
(July-April) 14018760-66511 Housing Authority-Vouchers ADM, Computer Software Subscriptions $70,469
Total Contract Amount $147,344
The above spending plan is only an estimate and subject to change.
EXHIBITS
1. OMNIA Partners Agreement No. 23-6692-03
2. MRI / HAPPY Software PHA Pro Quotation
Submitted By: Michael L. Garcia, Executive Director of Community Development Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager