Sources Sought
Department of Veterans Affairs HISTORIC REUSE OPPORTUNITY Robley Rex VAMC located in Louisville, KY Amendment for EXTENSION
Department of Veterans Affairs · Sol. 36C10F26Q0080
Due in 132 days
Track this notice by email. We'll email you if it's amended or awarded, and a week and two days before responses are due.
AI summary Beta
The Department of Veterans Affairs wants a developer to take a long-term ground lease on the historic Robley Rex VA Medical Center campus in Louisville, Kentucky, including the 475,123 sq ft Main Hospital (Building 1), and renovate and reuse it. This is a real estate redevelopment deal, not a services contract: the developer pays VA rent and funds all costs, and VA contributes no money. VA expects to move out of the campus by late 2027.
Watch out for
- Not a normal contract: developer funds everything. VA pays nothing and will not fill funding gaps, so this only suits a small business that can raise large private capital for a 475,000 sq ft hospital renovation.
VA will not provide any capital to fill any funding gaps or shortfalls.
- Guaranties and proof of financing. Respondents must show they can self-fund predevelopment and give VA payment and completion guaranties, with the money at their own risk.
provide VA with full payment and completion guarantee for
- Large, proven-experience bar. You need completed projects of similar size, scope and complexity, including historic reuse, which few small firms have without partners.
VA seeks evidence of at least two (2)
- As-is site with environmental clean-up on you. The developer bears the cost of remediation, including asbestos and lead, and VA gives no warranty on condition.
The Site shall be conveyed in “as-is” condition, without representation or warranty by VA
- Construction cannot start until VA moves out. The campus is an active hospital until late 2027, so schedules and financing must absorb a long wait, with only due diligence allowed before then.
VA anticipates fully vacating the campus by late 2027,
- Heavy proposal package. Twelve required tabs, an Excel pro forma, and a 120-page cap make this expensive to prepare, and VA will not reimburse proposal or due diligence costs.
Responses must not exceed a total of 120 pages, including appendices, on 60 sheets
- Selection does not guarantee a lease. VA can reject all proposals, and if no lease is signed within 180 days of selection it can move to another respondent.
VA reserves the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to reject any proposal it deems
- Notice details do not match. SAM.gov labels this Sources Sought with a 5:00 PM ET deadline, while the RFP says 3:00 PM ET, the RFP's question contacts changed in the amendment, and the older RFP had different dates.
- Some buildings may not be available. Buildings 12, 19, 7 and 24 are under additional review, so their availability is tentative.
availability for outlease is tentative at this time.
- Communication limits. Until final selection you may only contact VA through the channels the RFP allows.
Upon release of this RFP and until final selection, Respondents shall not communicate with
Read from the notice and 5 attachments.
- HRP_RFP Solicitation_Robely Rex 2026_Amended_25SEP2026.pdf
- HRP_RFP Solicitation_Robely Rex 2026_FINAL_19JUNE2026.pdf
- 36C10F26Q0080_2.docx
- 36C10F26Q0080.docx
- Robley Rex VAMC Industry Day Flyer_18SEP2026.pdf
Full brief
What they want
- A developer to outlease and redevelop Building 1 (Main Hospital Building, 475,123 sq ft), which every proposal must include
- Optionally include any of 10 other historic buildings (Buildings 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 15, 19, T-1); proposals with more of them score better
- Optionally include four non-historic buildings (T-20, T-22, 7, 24), which cannot be leased alone
- A reuse concept that preserves the historic property under the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and fits the campus and neighborhood
- Full private financing of the project, with payment and completion guaranties to VA
- Rent or other consideration paid to VA through a ground lease
- LEED Silver (or Two Green Globes or equivalent) and Davis-Bacon wages, plus environmental clean-up at the developer's cost
- A community and stakeholder outreach plan
- Contract type
- Historic Reuse Program ground lease (outlease of VA property) under 54 U.S.C. 306121-306122, not a FAR service contract; the developer proposes the lease term and rent
- Period of performance
- Lease term to be proposed by the respondent; the program allows outleases of up to 99 years. VA expects to vacate the campus by late 2027, and no construction can start until it has.
- Place of performance
- Robley Rex VA Medical Center, 800 Zorn Ave, Louisville, Kentucky 40206
- Contract vehicle
- VA Historic Reuse Program (Section 111 of the National Historic Preservation Act)
- How they'll choose
- Best value, using an integrated assessment of weighted factors. VA may decide on initial proposals without discussions, or ask for revised proposals and best and final offers.
- Offers due
- February 19, 2027 at 3:00 PM ET per the amended RFP (the SAM.gov listing shows 5:00 PM ET, so confirm). An earlier version of the RFP had October 23, 2026, which the amendment replaces.
- How to submit
- Electronic upload to the VA Box folder link given in the RFP; wait for the on-screen success message
- Page limits
- 120 pages total including appendices (60 double-sided sheets), letter size, 11 pt or larger font, 11x17 allowed for plans, renderings or tables only
What they'll judge offers on
- Project Concept (22.5%): development concept, historic preservation and architecture quality, environmental remediation plan, evidence of market demand
- Evidence of Capability to Perform (22.5%): experience rehabilitating and reusing historic properties
- Financing Strategy (22.5%): realistic sources and uses, named lenders and equity partners
- Financial Capacity (22.5%): ability to self-fund predevelopment costs and give VA payment and completion guaranties
- Offer of Consideration to VA (10%): rent or other value offered to VA
What to include when you submit
- Organize the response in 12 tabs in order: Transmittal Letter, Project Team, Team Qualifications, Litigation and Liabilities, Project Concept, Financial Offer, Financing Strategy, Budget and Pro Forma, Financial Capacity, Schedule, Statement of Minimum Terms, Community Outreach
- Include a table of contents, numbered pages and tabs; color plans and renderings
- Provide the development budget and operating pro forma as one Excel workbook with live formulas, no hidden or locked sheets, covering stabilization plus 10 years
- Complete Appendix A (Schedule of Performance) and Appendix B (Statement of Minimum Business Terms)
- Include certificates of good standing for team entities and statements on debarments, bankruptcies, tax liabilities and litigation
- Send questions by email to Nam.Tran3@va.gov with a copy to Shahidat.Abbas@va.gov
- Proposals stay irrevocable for 90 calendar days after the closing time
- Mark any FOIA-exempt material with the legends the RFP gives
You must have
- Every proposal must include Building 1 or it is non-responsive
Building 1 is required. Every proposal must include Building 1
- Evidence of at least two completed projects of similar size, scope and complexity, at least one of them a historic preservation or reuse project
VA seeks evidence of at least two (2)
- Team principals 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.
- Ability to fund 100% of the project and to give VA payment and completion guaranties
Developer shall be responsible for obtaining financing and equity
- Meet at least LEED Silver, Two Green Globes, or an equivalent green building certification
the project achieve at least LEED Silver, Two Green Globes, or an equivalent certification
- Comply with Davis-Bacon prevailing wages unless the Department of Labor confirms an exemption
Offeror shall comply with the requirements of the Davis-
- No set-aside applies
Not in the notice text
- Lease length VA would accept and any minimum rent or consideration (respondents fill these in on the term sheet)
- Past environmental studies and historic records, which are only available by contacting VA
- Dates in the Schedule of Performance (Appendix A), which are blank or TBD
- The deadline for submitting questions
- Whether SAM.gov's 5:00 PM ET or the RFP's 3:00 PM ET is the real closing time on February 19, 2027
- Whether Buildings 7, 12, 19 and 24 will be available for lease
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Key facts
- Response due
- Feb 19, 2027, 10:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Sep 25, 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
What similar contracts paid
54 contracts at this agency under the same NAICS code had activity in the last 5 years, according to USAspending.gov. Small businesses won 31% of the dollars in this market over the last 3 fiscal years.
Typical contract$45.5KMiddle half: $20.8K to $193K
Typical per year$62.2KValue divided by years of performance
Before you respond
Full notice text from SAM.gov
See Attached
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