Request for Proposal Questions and Answers
- We understand that sometime within the past five years Congress appropriated $2 million for this project. Is that appropriation still available?
- Please provide examples of successful EUL developments. Have any parking garages been constructed under the VA’s EUL program?
- The VA itself is a key source of customers for any retail development that might be part of this project. The parking study provided on the project website provides data on the number people working at and visiting the VA Hospital. Does the VA have any demographic information on these people, for example age, income, purpose and length of visit, place of residence?
- Does the VA intend to favor proposing firms who are Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses or teams that include such firms?
- What is the VA’s policy on charging hospital visitors and employees for parking? Is this policy controlled by regulations, laws or VA policy?
- Does the VA have a possible source of revenue to cover the cost of some of the desired 1,100 parking spaces if the economics of the project do not support 1,100 free parking spaces?
- The parking study provided on the project website indicates that the VA had a parking deficit of 1,169 spaces in 2002. Presuming this deficit continues today, where are these cars parking? Is the VA currently paying for parking spaces to meet this excess demand? How much and to whom? Does the VA currently pay any other parking related costs, for example shuttle buses? Are there particular arrangements for employees?
- Does the VA want all of the 1,100 parking spaces called for in the RFP to be constructed immediately or can they be added in phases?
- We understand that the VA has other EUL related RFP’s for parking garages out in the market but that the projects are stalled because there is not enough value in those deals to support the number of free parking spaces that the VA is seeking. Is this true? What other parking RFP’s does the VA currently have out in the market?
- What are the VA’s expansion plans for the facility in the short and longer terms? How much parking is included in these plans and how does that parking, if any, relate to the parking requested in the RFP? Are the current expansion plans consistent with the parking study provided on the website?
Q 1: We understand that sometime within the past five years Congress appropriated $2 million for this project. Is that appropriation still available?
A 1: At this point in time VA does not anticipate any capital contribution to the EUL project.
Q 2: Please provide examples of successful EUL developments. Have any parking garages been constructed under the VA’s EUL program?
A 2: VA has entered into numerous EUL developments, some of which include a regional office building in Milwaukee, WI, and transitional housing project in Roseburg, OR. Other projects can be found on VA’s OAEM website. We have mixed use EULs which included parking garages in Chicago, IL and Atlanta, GA. These parking garages were constructed under VA’s EUL Program, but are auxiliary, supporting structures within developments.
^ Back to TopQ 3: The VA itself is a key source of customers for any retail development that might be part of this project. The parking study provided on the project website provides data on the number people working at and visiting the VA Hospital. Does the VA have any demographic information on these people, for example age, income, purpose and length of visit, place of residence?
A 3: Please refer to “Industry Forum Q&A” on the project website. No additional information is available.
^ Back to TopQ 4: Does the VA intend to favor proposing firms who are Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses or teams that include such firms?
A 4: At this time, there are no preferences indicated in the Request for Proposal.
^ Back to TopQ 5: What is the VA’s policy on charging hospital visitors and employees for parking? Is this policy controlled by regulations, laws or VA policy?
A 5: The policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs is detailed in 38 U.S.C. § 8109(d), which identifies when fees are charged and when fees are not charged.
^ Back to TopQ 6: Does the VA have a possible source of revenue to cover the cost of some of the desired 1,100 parking spaces if the economics of the project do not support 1,100 free parking spaces?
A 6: None is anticipated at this time. Each offeror should put forth the best value proposal, incorporating the development of both parcels and income potential from the proposed development. Each offeror is encouraged to present creative solutions to meet the requirements of the project.
^ Back to TopQ 7: The parking study provided on the project website indicates that the VA had a parking deficit of 1,169 spaces in 2002. Presuming this deficit continues today, where are these cars parking? Is the VA currently paying for parking spaces to meet this excess demand? How much and to whom? Does the VA currently pay any other parking related costs, for example shuttle buses? Are there particular arrangements for employees?
A 7:
VA is paying for leased parking spaces throughout the neighborhood: 209 spaces from Center City Parking in a lot at 634 N. Grand Boulevard and 190 spaces at the Scottish Rite Garage located at 3634 Olive Street. Shuttle services are operated by VA from these locations to the VA Medical Center. VA also encourages ridesharing and other forms of commuting not requiring a parking space.
Under existing leases, VA is the tenant and pays rent for use of parking spaces. This would not be the case under an Enhanced Use Lease agreement, where the parking is an in-kind consideration for development on the Yeatman Property.
Q 8: Does the VA want all of the 1,100 parking spaces called for in the RFP to be constructed immediately or can they be added in phases?
A 8: The offeror should put forth the best value proposal to meet the requirements of the Request For Proposal. Creative solutions to meet the requirements of the RFP are encouraged.
^ Back to TopQ 9: We understand that the VA has other EUL related RFP’s for parking garages out in the market but that the projects are stalled because there is not enough value in those deals to support the number of free parking spaces that the VA is seeking. Is this true? What other parking RFP’s does the VA currently have out in the market?
A 9: VA is not aware of any Enhanced Use Leasing RFPs for parking garage that are currently outstanding.
^ Back to TopQ 10: What are the VA’s expansion plans for the facility in the short and longer terms? How much parking is included in these plans and how does that parking, if any, relate to the parking requested in the RFP? Are the current expansion plans consistent with the parking study provided on the website?
A 10: While there are expansion plans for the Medical Center, the plans are not finalized at this time. The specific scope and timing of any expansion plans cannot be stated. The parking study provided on the website indicates that the parking deficit increases by 2022, based upon anticipated increase in annual outpatient visits.
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