Inactive Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (specific to Department of Veterans Affairs)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY) for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) / Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare ... REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY) for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) / Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Notice This advertisement is a notice of a potential opportunity. This Request for Expressions of Interest (the advertisement ) is not a solicitation for offers, nor is it a request for proposals. Respondents are advised that the Government assumes no responsibility to award an Enhanced-Use Lease (EUL), or Historic Reuse Program (HRP) based upon responses to this advertisement. This Sources Sought Notice is to identify potential sources for information and planning purposes only and is not intended to pre-qualify or disqualify any potential Respondents. The purpose of this Sources Sought is to conduct market research to determine if responsible and qualified sources exist to redevelop the assets described in Section III. The information gained from this Sources Sought will be used to assist the Government in determining if this development opportunity can be competitive and/or a total Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) or Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Set-Aside. The Government will use this information to determine the best acquisition strategy for this procurement. The Government requests that interested parties respond to this Notice with the specific information requested in Section V of this Notice and identify their small business status. Only SDVOSBs and VOSBs are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. VA is seeking information on the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent s qualifications only to confirm the Respondent s capability to perform a minimum of 51% of the development opportunity described in this Notice. Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research should be aware that participation in this survey may not ensure that they qualify for any underlying future solicitation or contract award. Additionally, responding to this Sources Sought Notice is NOT a prerequisite to respond to any future subsequent solicitations. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this Sources Sought. The Government cannot provide any warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information contained in this Notice. Overview and Objectives This Sources Sought notice is for the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reuse and development of vacant and underutilized buildings at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System; Eugene Towbin Campus located at 2200 Fort Roots Drive. North Little rock, AR. 72114 These following buildings are available for outlease under the EUL or HRP: Buildings Quarters 12, 13, and 24; buildings 32, 37, 41, and 58. The EUL projects are to be a long-term outlease or exchange. The Enhanced-Use Lease Authority, Title 38 United States Code Sections 8161-8169 and as amended, allows VA to outlease facilities (available land, buildings, and other resources) to provide supportive housing that engages tenants in on-site and community-based support services for Veterans or their families who are at risk of homelessness or are homeless. Enhanced-Use Leases are long-term leases (up to 99 years) of facilities under VA s jurisdiction of control to the public or private sector. This program is administrated by VA s Office of Asset Enterprise Management (OAEM). VA is seeking expressions of interest from qualified SDVOSBs and VOSBs to serve as a Developer for purposes of redeveloping underutilized vacant buildings for services that benefit Veterans (directly or indirectly) and/or creating permanent supportive housing for the homeless and/or at-risk of homeless Veterans or families. For purposes of this effort, the Developer would be a non-VA entity who has the qualifications outlined in Section V of this Notice. The Developer will be expected to develop services and/or permanent supportive housing for homeless and at-risk Veterans at the Central Arkansas Healthcare System North Little Rock campus. The opportunity would involve a Developer entering into a EUL with VA and financing, renovating/constructing, operating, and maintaining facility(s) and on-site community-based support services for Veterans and their families. VA conducted a Public Hearing on the EUL concept on January 23, 2025, via virtually though video conference utilizing Microsoft Teams application. The objectives of this development opportunity include but are not limited to: To provide an innovative solution within current authority to preserve a VA-owned, historic property; To enable a productive use of these properties that do not involve VA capital dollars and benefits all stakeholders; and To meet VA s obligations under Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) to better preserve and protect the property. Repurpose historic buildings for purposes of permanent supportive housing; and, Develop a housing model geared towards enabling Veterans to achieve self-sufficiency and live independently. Additional information on the VA s EUL program may be obtained at: http://www.va.gov/assetmanagement/. Development Scope The intent of this Notice is to determine if there are experienced SDVOSB or VOSB developers that can develop scenarios and implement the agreed upon scenario to transform the Central Arkansas Healthcare System underutilized assets for services that benefit Veterans (directly or indirectly) and/or creating permanent supportive housing for the homeless and/or at-risk of homeless Veterans or families on a priority basis. The Developer would undertake all necessary investigation activities to produce development with the underutilized historic buildings at the Central Arkansas Healthcare System North Little Rock campus. The assets to be developed by the Developer are the following: Buildings 12, 12, 24, 32, 37, 41, and 58 for Veterans on a priority basis. Please see Attachment A for a building location map. Please note the parcel outline shown in Attachment A is subject to change. Medical Center Background The VA Central Arkansas Healthcare System is one of the largest and busiest VA medical centers in the country. Conducting research to discover knowledge, develop VA scientists and health care leaders, and create innovations that advance health care for Veterans and the nation. The Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System (CAVHS) campus located in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The campus consists of approximately 200 acres, with 64 major buildings and some smaller auxiliary support buildings. The Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center in North Little Rock is located on the grounds of an old Army post known as Fort Roots. Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center also provides a full complement of services to patients, including chronic pain management, rehabilitation, mental health services, and more. . Sources Sought Response Requirements VA is seeking qualified SDVOSB/VOSB developers who have a proven company track record of: Adaptively reusing historic assets for a multitude of end uses and financial wherewithal to successfully operate the new entity. Developing supportive housing projects; Financial wherewithal required to successfully develop housing communities with associated infrastructure, roads, and amenities; Securing public and private financing for multi-family residential, affordable, and supportive housing projects; Redeveloping historic assets; and, Operating and staffing affordable and supportive housing projects. Note: VA is seeking information on the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent s qualifications to confirm the Respondent s ability to perform a minimum of 51% of the development opportunity described in this Notice. Responses should be submitted on official letterhead, must include a point of contact and the signature of at least one organization officer. Responses must address the following elements in sufficient detail to highlight the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent s ability to undertake the Principal Developer scope as set forth in this Sources Sought Notice. Responses must not exceed 20 pages, single spaced with a minimum 12-point font. Response content should consist of the following: Business Information Please provide the following for your company: Company Name Address Point of Contact Phone Number E-mail Address Web Page URL DUNS CAGE Code Based on the NAICS Code identified in the Sources Sought, please state whether your company is: Veteran Owned Small Business* (Yes / No) Service Disabled Veteran Small Business* (Yes / No) Small Business (Yes / No) Woman Owned Small Business (Yes / No) Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes / No) 8(a) Certified (Yes / No) HUBZone Certified (Yes / No) *If your company is SDVOSB and/or VOSB, please attached VIP verification. Qualifications to Undertake this Development Opportunity Corporate Overview: Provide overview of SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent s organization; indicate type of organization (for-profit, non-profit, etc.) and core business activities; specify age of organization; identify leadership. Housing Development Experience: Summarize the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent s similar housing development experience and provide brief descriptions of at least three (3) similar scale housing projects that the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent has developed, including any associated project infrastructure, within the last 10 years. Include information such as: name, location, description of housing type, number of units (specify market rate, affordable supportive, etc.), associated project infrastructure, new construction/renovation, age, the number of years involved with the development, and the role of the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent. Affordable and/or Supportive Housing Financing Experience: Summarize the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent s experience directly securing financing for similar scale affordable and/or supportive housing developments in the last 10 years. Provide brief descriptions of at least three (3) similar affordable and/or supportive housing developments for which the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent has directly secured financing. Include project information such as: name, location, description of housing type, number of units (specify market rate, affordable supportive, etc.), total development cost, specific funding sources secured, and role of SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent. Supportive Housing Development Experience: Summarize the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent s supportive housing development experience and provide brief descriptions of at least three (3) similar supportive housing development projects that the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent has developed within the last 10 years. Include information such as: name, location, description of project (including supportive services), age, the number of years involved with the property, and the role of the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent. Supportive Housing Management Experience: Summarize the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent s on-site supportive housing management experience and provide brief descriptions of three (3) similar supportive housing development projects that the SDVOSB/VOSB Respondent has directly managed/operated/owned within the last 10 years. Include information such as: name, location, description of facilities (including supportive services), on-site staff (if any), age, the number of years involved with the property, and the extent of your company s participation. Supportive Services Experience: Summarize briefly your experience providing supportive services to Veterans who are homeless and/or at risk of homelessness. Historic Rehabilitation Experience: Summarize briefly your experience developing, managing, and operating historic rehabilitation projects. Summary should demonstrate a proven track records in the development, and experience in redevelopment, reuse and operation, of historic structures. Financial Wherewithal: Provide evidence of your firm s financial wherewithal to develop similar scale housing communities or adaptively reuse historic building(s) and attach supporting documentation (Note: Supporting documentation is excluded from the page limitation). Deadline to Submit Questions regarding Notice Any and all questions regarding the contents of this Notice should be submitted via to Richelle Wagner at Richelle.Wagner@VA.gov by February 24, 2025, at 5:00pm ET. Questions will be answered as an amendment to the advertisement. Deadline to Submit Responses to Notice If your organization has the qualifications set forth in Section VI of this Notice and is interested and capable of executing all aspects of this opportunity, please EMAIL your response as an attachment to Richelle Wagner at Richelle.Wagner@va.gov [February 24, 2025, by 5:00pm ET.