About

Futurespec Consulting, LLC

Procurement and management consulting for public housing modernization programs throughout Mississippi and the Southeast.

The firm

Futurespec Consulting, LLC provides Capital Fund Program consulting to public housing authorities — from annual statements and procurement through construction contract administration and grant closeout. The firm was founded in 1990 by William J. "Bubba" Harper and is led today by Principal F.B. "Rusty" Walker, IV, with Mr. Harper continuing as of counsel. Together they have worked with housing authorities throughout Mississippi and Alabama for more than three decades.

Futurespec specializes in procurement of modernization activities — writing the bid documents, running the competitive process, evaluating contractors, and administering the resulting construction contract. The firm also handles annual CFP statements, 5-Year Action Plans, Davis-Bacon labor standards compliance, EPIC submissions, budget amendments, and audit-ready file management. Most technical specifications and construction drawings are prepared in-house, at no additional fee.

How Futurespec works

One firm. One point of contact. From grant to closeout.

Futurespec does not hand off work to sub-consultants or pass projects between staff. The same principal who writes the bid documents runs the procurement, reviews the pay applications, and closes out the grant. That continuity means nothing falls through the cracks between phases — and nothing gets lost when an auditor asks for the file.

The firm works at the agency level rather than adding headcount. Housing authorities get senior-level experience on every call, every site visit, and every submission — without the overhead of a full-time staff hire.

Principals

Principal

F.B. "Rusty" Walker, IV

F.B. "Rusty" Walker, IV is Principal of Futurespec Consulting, LLC. His career in public housing began in 1998 working with his father, Architect Ferdinand Walker, of F. Walker & Associates, Architects. Since then, Mr. Walker has specialized in construction documents, contract administration, and procurement for public housing and other government-funded programs. He has been engaged by, and worked on behalf of, Mississippi Regional Housing Authorities VIII, VII, and V, and the housing authorities of Hattiesburg, Bay St. Louis, Waveland, Picayune, Richton, Summit, Laurel, Baldwyn, McComb, Forest, Brookhaven, Winona, Waynesboro, Florence, Clarksdale, Biloxi, and many others.

Mr. Walker has performed work on more than 10,000 units of public housing — including asbestos and hazardous-materials mitigation, kitchen and bath renovations, Section 504/UFAS conversions, site improvements, leveling and shoring, HVAC and energy-efficiency upgrades, and full-system replacements. He has trained with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas on the AHP grant program and is experienced in energy performance contracting and Mississippi Home Corp low income tax credit project requirements.

Founder and of counsel

William J. "Bubba" Harper

William J. "Bubba" Harper founded Futurespec in 1990 after thirteen years as Director of Purchasing, Contracting, and Maintenance for the Mississippi Regional Housing Authority Number VIII in Gulfport. Often called the "father of public housing modernization consulting" in Mississippi, he has trained the personnel of HUD's Jackson, MS Hub office at the Hub Director's request, and is a recognized expert in CFP procurement, modernization, audit response, and labor standards compliance.

Mr. Harper holds training and certifications in lead-based paint and asbestos abatement, federal procurement, low-income tax credit allocations, maintenance efficiency, and REAC preparedness. His grant management method has consistently exceeded the expectations of HUD auditors and grant agencies. He is of counsel to the firm and continues to be available on complex engagements.