Innovative Construction Techniques Selection Criterion
Narrative
Last Updated: March 2025
Instructions: Complete and submit this narrative with the required supporting documentation to be eligible for the Innovative Constructions Techniques (ICT) selection criterion by the required pre-application deadline for the 2025 and 2026 Multifamily Consolidated Request for Proposals (RFP) and 2026 and 2027 Housing Tax Credit (HTC) funding rounds. Interested applicants must meet the pre-application deadline listed in the Multifamily Request for Proposals Standards, which can be found in Minnesota Housing’s website. Minnesota Housing will review pre-applications and inform applicants whether their proposed ICT is eligible for the ICT selection criterion prior to the full application deadline.
Projects applying via 4% HTC Only Round are not required to submit a pre-application and can submit this narrative and supporting materials as part of the application.  
For more information about the requirements for the ICT selection criterion, refer to the Self-Scoring Worksheet. 
Eligibility Information
Eligibility determination for the ICT selection criterion will be made at Minnesota Housing’s sole discretion and is binding. Meeting all six conditions of the ICT selection criterion per the Self-Scoring Worksheet does not automatically grant eligibility.
ICT does not include items such as strategies for reducing acquisition and soft costs, donated land, fee waivers, tiny homes, micro units, or higher density housing.
Additional information must be provided to Minnesota Housing, at Minnesota Housing’s request, as needed for clarification.
Project Information 
Project Name	     
Project Address, City Zip	     
Developer	     
Project Description 
1.	Provide a summary of the project, including type of activity (new construction, rehabilitation, adaptive-reuse), type of building (walk-up, elevator, townhome, etc.), number of units by bedroom size, number of stories, intended population to be served (supportive housing, workforce, seniors, etc.), and key amenities.
     

2.	Describe the ICT and explanation (no more than five pages) of how the project using the technique will meet each of the six conditions listed in the Self-Scoring Worksheet. For the fourth condition (public release report), the goal is to advance the residential construction industry by sharing the information learned. The summary must outline the type and nature of the information that the applicant will provide, if funded.
     

3.	A list of potential partners who have the capacity and capability to effectively use the ICT for this project – for example, manufacturers of modular housing, architects, contractors, etc. The list should include a brief (one paragraph) description of the experience, capacity, and capability of each potential partner using the technique.
     

4.	A list of Minnesota Housing’s requirements, standards, and policies with which the project using the ICT may conflict. The list should include those items for which the project would likely seek a waiver. 
     
Additional Required Supporting Documentation
1.	Documentation of the potential cost and time savings that compares the total construction costs and construction schedule for this project using the ICT versus traditional techniques.
a.	To document the construction cost savings, the applicant may:
•	Provide two sets of cost estimates – one using the innovative technique and the other using traditional techniques; or
•	Provide one cost estimate that also includes an alternate price if the innovative technique were used. 
Cost estimates must be from a general contractor or architect with no identity of interest with the developer/owner/sponsor. The construction cost estimate must be in an industry standard Construction Specifiers Institute (CSI) format with itemized divisions plus separate itemized general conditions, overhead, and profit. Do not include construction/design contingency or cost escalators in the construction cost estimate.
b.	To document time savings, the applicant may:
•	Submit two project schedules – one with and one without the innovative technique.
The applicant must show the potential to attain the cost and time saving goals. If the cost/time documentation does not indicate that this project is likely to achieve the cost and/or time saving goals, the applicant must explain how the project will increase the knowledge and expertise to achieve the savings in future projects. This knowledge, expertise and lessons-learned must be shared in the public release report.
2.	At minimum, two research documents which:
a.	Support the proposed technique has the realistic potential to achieve the cost and/or time saving goals and can be used broadly in multifamily residential construction; and
b.	Completed by independent experts who are experienced with the proposed technique and are familiar with the multifamily construction industry.