Sources Sought
Department of Veterans Affairs HISTORIC REUSE OPPORTUNITY Robley Rex VAMC located in Louisville, KY
Department of Veterans Affairs · Sol. 36C10F26Q0080
Due in 14 days
AI summary Beta
The VA wants a developer to take a long-term ground lease on the historic Robley Rex VA Medical Center campus in Louisville, KY, and redevelop it at the developer's own cost. This is a real-estate redevelopment deal (a 'Historic Reuse Program' outlease), not a normal service or construction contract. Building 1 (the 475,123 sq ft main hospital) must be included, and work can only start after VA moves out, expected in late 2027.
Watch out for
- Large real-estate development, not a typical contract. A small business must be able to finance and rehabilitate a 475,123 sq ft historic hospital plus other buildings with no VA money.
VA will not provide any capital to fill any funding gaps or shortfalls.
- Financial guaranties and full capitalization required. VA will not sign the lease until the project is fully funded, and the bidder must offer payment and completion guaranties.
Developer's providing VA development and completion
- Site offered as-is with environmental risk. The selected developer pays for all environmental cleanup, including asbestos and lead, and VA gives no warranty on site condition.
The Site shall be conveyed in “as-is” condition, without representation or warranty by VA
- Predevelopment costs are at the bidder's risk. Money spent on studies and predevelopment during negotiations is not reimbursed, even if the deal falls through.
VA expects the Selected Respondent to proceed immediately with predevelopment work
- No construction until VA moves out. Physical work cannot start until VA fully vacates the campus, expected late 2027, so financing and schedules must account for a long wait.
No physical construction, renovation, or improvement work may commence on the
- Deadline times do not match. SAM.gov shows a 5:00 PM Eastern deadline, but the RFP says 3:00 PM ET, so plan for the earlier time.
by 3:00pm ET on the closing date of Friday October 23, 2026.
- Late submissions are rejected. Proposals that arrive after the closing time are returned without review.
Responses received after the Closing Time will not be considered and will be returned to
- Site tour already held. The only scheduled site visit was September 1, 2026, which has passed.
This event will be held on Tuesday
- Notice labeled Sources Sought but attached document is an RFP. The SAM.gov notice type says Sources Sought, while the attached document is a full Request for Proposals with a proposal due date.
- Strict page limit. Responses over the page limit may be treated as non-responsive.
Responses must not exceed a total of 120 pages, including appendices, on 60 sheets
Read from the notice and 2 attachments.
- HRP_RFP Solicitation_Robely Rex 2026_FINAL_19JUNE2026.pdf
- 36C10F26Q0080.docx
Full brief
What they want
- Propose a ground lease (outlease) of Building 1, the main hospital building
- Optionally add the 10 other historic buildings and up to 4 non-historic buildings
- Rehabilitate the buildings to Secretary of the Interior's historic preservation standards
- Fund 100% of predevelopment, construction and operation with no VA money
- Offer rent or other consideration to VA (base rent, rent increases, share of cash flow)
- Meet at least LEED Silver, Two Green Globes, or an equivalent green building level
- Handle environmental cleanup, permits and Davis-Bacon wage rules
- Contract type
- Ground lease (outlease) under VA's Historic Reuse Program; not a standard federal supply or service contract
- Period of performance
- Ground lease term to be proposed by the bidder; the program allows outleases up to 99 years. Work cannot start until VA fully vacates the campus, expected late 2027.
- Place of performance
- Robley Rex VA Medical Center campus, Louisville, Kentucky
- How they'll choose
- Best value selection based on weighted factors; VA may select on initial proposals without discussions
- Offers due
- SAM.gov lists 2026-10-23 5:00 PM Eastern; the RFP itself says 3:00 PM ET on Friday October 23, 2026
- How to submit
- Electronic upload to a VA Box folder (link in the RFP). Questions go by email to the VA project manager.
- Page limits
- 120 pages total including appendices, on 60 double-sided sheets; 11 pt font or larger
What they'll judge offers on
- Project Concept (22.5%)
- Evidence of Capability to perform (22.5%)
- Financing Strategy (22.5%)
- Financial Capacity (22.5%)
- Offer of Consideration to VA (10%)
What to include when you submit
- Use 12 numbered tabs: transmittal letter, project team, team qualifications, litigation and liabilities, project concept, financial offer, financing strategy, budget and pro forma, financial capacity, schedule, minimum terms, community outreach
- Budget and operating pro forma must be one MS Excel workbook with live formulas and no hidden or locked sheets
- Complete the Schedule of Performance (Appendix A) and the Statement of Minimum Business Terms (Appendix B)
- Only a ground lease may be proposed
- Responses stay irrevocable for 90 calendar days after the closing time
- Include a certificate of good standing for entities that file reports in their home state
You must have
- Every proposal must include Building 1, the main hospital building
475,123 GSF). No proposal that excludes Building 1 will be considered responsive to this RFP.
- Team members must be eligible to do business with VA and in Kentucky
team must be eligible to transact business with VA and in the State of Kentucky.
- At least two completed projects of similar size, scope and complexity, at least one a historic preservation or reuse project
least one past performance example should be a historic preservation/reuse project).
- Ability to fund 100% of the project and give VA payment and completion guaranties
Developer's obtaining financing and equity to fund 100% of the development.
- Green building certification of at least LEED Silver, Two Green Globes, or an equivalent
- Davis-Bacon prevailing wages apply unless a written Department of Labor exemption is shown
Not in the notice text
- Any dollar value or minimum rent: bidders propose their own rent and ground lease term
- Past environmental studies and historic records are only available by contacting VA
- Whether any addenda or Q&A answers have changed the RFP (check SAM.gov for updates)
- The notice's own 'Place of performance' field is blank; the RFP says Louisville, KY
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 23, 2026, 9:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Jun 26, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Solicitation
- 36C10F26Q0080
- Agency
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Office
- Office of Construction & Facilities MGMT (36C10F)
- NAICS
- 531120
- Product/service code
- X1DB
- Business type
- Real estate & leasing
- Contracting contact
- Nam TranNam.Tran3@va.gov504-491-0496
Full notice text from SAM.gov
Please See Attached
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