VA Building Utilization Review and Repurposing (BURR) Project Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

BURR Project FAQs: General Information
EUL Program FAQs: General Information | Developer Selection Process | Project Financing Information | Process Information
Project Information

BURR General Information FAQ

What is BURR?
Will there be any event information given out after the BURR Industry Forum? Where can I find the solicitations once they are released?
Who is eligible to submit proposals?
Can we partner with multiple organizations on a development project(s)?
Can developers respond to more than one opportunity?
How do we obtain more information about the Initiative and specific sites?
Does the BURR initiative focus only on permanent housing or can there also be a transitional element?
Do you have a sense of what proportion of the assets available are buildings vs. vacant parcels of land?
Will there be an attendance list on the VA BURR website, or somehow made available to those who attended the July 13th Industry Forum?
In some cases, some of the sites that are indicated on the map have recently had RFPs issued. Does this indicate that for each of the dots on the map there will be additional RFPs coming out?
Are the locations shown on the map the only places that a BURR initiative could be completed? I work in Fort Worth, Texas. Is it possible to do a BURR initiative there?
Are local units of government eligible to submit proposals under the BURR initiative?
Is VA considering entering into leases with contingencies? In other words, execute the lease but maybe with contingency for financing or completion of the development plan?
What if we need more specifics?
Who can we contact with follow-up questions?

1. What is BURR?

The Building Utilization Review and Repurposing (BURR) initiative is a capital asset management strategy that allows VA to leverage greater value from its unused buildings and land and expand affordable housing opportunities for Veterans and their families.

Under the BURR initiative, VA has identified vacant and underutilized properties (buildings and land) at multiple VA medical centers. These properties will be made available to private sector developers, including not-for-profits, under VA’s Enhanced-Use Lease (EUL) Program. Developer will create housing for homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families, including senior Veterans and returning OEF/OIF Veterans.

2. Will there be any event information given out after the BURR Industry Forum? Where can I find the solicitations once they are released?

3. Who is eligible to submit proposals?

Offerors (including team members as appropriate) with a proven track record of developing and operating affordable housing. Teams may include one or more development/supportive services organizations.

4. Can we partner with multiple organizations on a development project(s)?

Yes, you can.

5. Can developers respond to more than one opportunity?

Yes, proposals will be evaluated primarily on VA’s determination of the Offeror that will provide the "best overall value" to VA.

6. How do we obtain more information about the Initiative and specific sites?

For more information about the BURR initiative, please visit the following website: http://www.va.gov/assetmanagement/burr/.

7. Does the BURR initiative focus only on permanent housing or can there also be a transitional element?

The focus of the BURR Initiative is on permanent housing; however VA will consider all development plans, including a mix of permanent and transitional housing.

8. Do you have a sense of what proportion of the assets available are buildings vs. vacant parcels of land?

Approximately half of the assets available are buildings and half are parcels of land. Fact Sheets for each site will be posted to the VA BURR website. These Fact Sheets will describe the specific buildings and land parcels available for development at each site.

9. Will there be an attendance list on the VA BURR website, or somehow made available to those who attended the July 13th Industry Forum?

Yes. The attendance list is available on the VA BURR website.

10. In some cases, some of the sites that are indicated on the map have recently had RFPs issued. Does this indicate that for each of the dots on the map there will be additional RFPs coming out?

There may or may not be. Some of the sites identified currently have ongoing projects and that will be the BURR development project for that site. But for some sites, we have found additional assets for which VA hopes to execute additional EULs. This determination will be made on a case-by-case basis. VA does not want to saturate the market by providing more housing than is needed.

11. Are the locations shown on the map the only places that a BURR initiative could be completed? I work in Fort Worth, Texas. Is it possible to do a BURR initiative there?

The sites indicated on the map are the 34 sites that VA feels have the highest likelihood for success; however, VA will consider other sites to the extent both available assets and market demand exist.

12. Are local units of government eligible to submit proposals under the BURR initiative?

Yes, in the past VA has partnered with local and state authorities. VA has done work with a multitude of different entities.

13. Is VA considering entering into leases with contingencies? In other words, execute the lease but maybe with contingency for financing or completion of the development plan?

VA’s preference is to avoid entering into leases with contingences. However, this will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

14. What if we need more specifics?

You email VA_BURR@va.gov or refer to the BURR website at http://www.va.gov/assetmanagement/burr/.

15. Who can we contact with follow-up questions?

You may email VA_BURR@va.gov with any follow up questions and refer to the BURR Initiative website at for further documents and recorded webcast.