Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
BURR Project FAQs: General Information
EUL Program FAQs: General Information | Developer Selection Process | Project Financing Information | Process Information | Project Information
EUL Project Information FAQ
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Is permanent housing development allowable under the BURR initiative?
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Will a minimum project size be required?
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Can the project be a "Veterans-only" development?
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Can the projects serve homeless families, where at least one member of the family is a Veteran?
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Will VA allow mixed-income projects on-site?
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What are the income limits of prospective residents?
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Will VA allow mixed-use (e.g., commercial and residential) projects on-site?
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Please clarify the definition of "homeless".
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Can the projects serve homeless individuals who are not Veterans, or Veterans who are not homeless (but who are at risk of homelessness due to substandard housing conditions, economic circumstances, etc.)?
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Can the proposed project contain a mixture of housing units for homeless Veterans as well as (non-homeless) low-income Veteran families? Has the VA set a percentage (%) for the number of units that must house homeless Veterans?
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Are developers required to utilize furnishings and products from GSA contracts to furnish these developments?
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Are there opportunities for GSA vendors and furniture suppliers to participate with developers?
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What are the standards used for green construction and sustainability, including furnishings and interior elements of the housing?
1. Is permanent housing development allowable under the BURR initiative?
Yes. Permanent housing models are allowable. Please see the site-specific RFPs for more information concerning VA’s goals and objectives for each site.
2. Will a minimum project size be required?
No. However, Offerors should specify the estimated number of housing units in the project, as well as the estimated breakdown of units among the selected target population(s), in their proposals. Offerors should support the proposed project size and selected target population(s) by citing available market demand data and local market knowledge. Upon selection of a preferred developer, VA will work closely with the preferred developer to determine the most appropriate project size.
3. Can the project be a "Veterans-only" development?
VA requests proposals in which homeless Veterans would have priority placement.
4. Can the projects serve homeless families, where at least one member of the family is a Veteran?
Yes. The projects can serve homeless Veteran singles and families.
5. Will VA allow mixed-income projects on-site?
Yes, mixed-income projects are acceptable as long as homeless Veterans are given priority placement for a mutually agreed upon number of units in the project.
6. What are the income limits of prospective residents?
The project must be affordable to the identified target population (e.g., homeless, at-risk, senior, disabled, etc.). Unless and to the extent VA otherwise agrees, rents can be set at no more than 30% of a tenant’s adjusted gross income. Mixed-income projects may be acceptable if the appropriate target populations are given priority placement.
7. Will VA allow mixed-use (e.g., commercial and residential) projects on-site?
Yes. VA will permit limited commercial and/or retail uses as a mechanism to enhance the economic viability of the project, but these uses must be compatible with VA’s mission and in no way interfere with VA’s patient care mission. If a retail use is proposed, VA’s Canteen Service must be given right of first refusal to provide sundry services.
8. Please clarify the definition of "homeless".
The definition of “homeless” can be found in the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, which reauthorized the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Projects are intended to provide priority placement for homeless Veterans. Residents may also include Veterans who are not homeless and homeless individuals who are not Veterans, as long as homeless Veterans are given priority placement for a mutually agreed upon number of units in the project.
The proposed development may contain a mixture of units for homeless Veterans and non-homeless low-income Veteran families. VA does not have a minimum unit requirement for Veterans, but requests proposals for projects in which homeless Veterans would have priority placement.
The Offeror must provide a description and justification for the proposed housing model (e.g., permanent, mixed-use, mixed-income, etc.) and target residents (single homeless Veterans, homeless Veteran families, eligible non-Veterans, etc.).
No, developers are not required to use the GSA schedule or any government schedule. This venture is the essence of public-private partnership. VA will look to the developer’s expertise to bring in what they may feel to be appropriate furnishings.
12. Are there opportunities for GSA vendors and furniture suppliers to participate with developers?
That would be up to the individual developer or team that responds to the proposal.
Offerors will be evaluated on their plan to meet federal mandates as outlined in VA’s Sustainable Design & Energy Reduction standards. In previous projects, some developers have proposed more aggressive energy efficiency and sustainability milestones that made their proposals, all other elements considered equal, more attractive.
To take advantage of existing sustainable work in the private sector that is well accepted by the construction industry, VA has determined that using a third-party rating system is the most efficient methodology for achieving the federal mandates. The Offeror may propose using either the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or the Green Globes rating system. VA requires that projects obtain a minimum of either LEED Silver or Two Green Globes certification by their respective rating organizations. However, VA encourages innovative thinking in terms of sustainability over and above the current EUL Standards.
