RFI_Lease_Questions and Answers_8262026.pdf

RFI GM-8262026 Questions and Answers, Page 1

Questions and answers regarding RFI GM-8262026

U.S. Agency for Global Media. Office and Broadcast Studio Space, Washington, DC Central Employment Area.

This document contains the questions received from all respondents by the question deadline of September 16, 2026, together with the Government’s answers. Questions have been consolidated and edited to remove duplication and any information identifying the respondent or property. All respondents receive the same answers. Answers are based on RFI GM-8262026 and Amendment 1. Where a topic is not addressed in the RFI, requirements will be set out in the solicitation and Lease to be issued.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND RFI ADMINISTRATION

Question 1. The RFI refers to both a fifteen (15) page limitation and a five (5) page maximum response length. Please confirm the applicable page limit.

Answer: Both provisions appear in the Submittal Information section. The controlling page limit will be established by amendment to this RFI and will be 15 pages.

Question 2. Does the page count include attachments such as authority to represent letters and floor plans?

Answer: The five page provision states that the limit includes the cover page, the capability statement and the responses to USAGM’s RFI questions. The fifteen page provision states that the Government will not review other information or attachments in excess of that limit. Expressions of Interest item 7 separately requires scaled as built floor plans, and the final paragraph of the RFI separately requires written evidence of exclusive authorization from ownership for any property submitted by a broker or agent. The treatment of these attachments will be addressed in the same amendment that establishes the page limit.

Question 3. Company business size and status: what information is being sought?

Answer: The NAICS code for this requirement is 531120 with a size standard of $40 million.

Respondents should state whether they qualify as a small business or as other than small under that NAICS code and size standard, together with the other items listed in the initial paragraph requirements of the Submittal Information section.

Question 4. If requesting small or other than small business classification, what is the annual revenue threshold for small business status?

Answer: The RFI states a size standard of $40 million for NAICS 531120.

Question 5. Socioeconomic status: please clarify what information is being sought.

Answer: The RFI requires socioeconomic data in the initial paragraph of the submission.

Respondents should provide the socioeconomic classifications reflected in their SAM.gov registration.

Question 6. Existing contract vehicles: please clarify what information is being sought.

Answer: The RFI requires respondents to identify existing contractual vehicles and gives GWAC, FSS and SEWP as examples. Respondents should list any such vehicles held, or state that they hold none.

Question 7. To whom should RFI responses be submitted?

RFI GM-8262026 Questions and Answers, Page 2

Answer: Per Amendment 1, responses and the RSVP should be submitted electronically to Krista Jones, Contract Specialist, at USAGMRFQCON@USAGM.gov, and to the JLL representatives Chris.bynum@jll.com and Creighton.armstrong@jll.com. "RFI USAGM Lease" shall be in the subject line.

Question 8. Please confirm the response due date and time.

Answer: Per Amendment 1, RFI responses and the RSVP are due no later than 1:00PM Eastern, Friday, September 25, 2026. Questions were due Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 3:00PM Eastern.

Respondents should confirm that the date shown on the SAM.gov notice reflects Amendment 1 before submitting.

SPACE REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRAM

Question 9. Has USAGM identified a preferred occupancy size within the 100,000 to 150,000 RSF range?

Answer: The Statement of Need establishes a minimum of 100,000 RSF and a maximum of 150,000 RSF and requires that offered space be contiguous within a single building. The RFI does not identify a preferred size within that range. Respondents should offer space within the stated range.

Question 10. Please describe the broadcast studio requirement in greater detail. Is the studio area inclusive of supporting control rooms, editing suites and production support space, or studio space only?

Answer: The RFI identifies the space type as Office and Broadcast Studio Space, states that higher ceilings are preferred for broadcast studios with 14 feet preferred over approximately 6,000 to 15,000 RSF, and requires the ability to house television production studios with unusual floor load, clear space and ceiling height requirements. The RFI does not allocate the studio component among control rooms, editing suites or production support areas. Detailed program requirements will be provided with the solicitation.

Question 11. Does USAGM anticipate a requirement for specialty spaces such as SCIFs, secure communications rooms, network operations centers, master control rooms or other mission critical broadcast infrastructure?

Answer: The RFI does not identify these spaces individually. It requires that the building have the ability to meet ISC Level IV security requirements and allow for an area for a security station on the ground level for screening and badging. As stated in the RFI, not all minimum requirements are stated in the RFI, and offered buildings must be able to meet all Government requirements contained in the RFI and in the Lease to be issued.

Question 12. Is there a preferred stacking arrangement for office and production functions?

Answer: The RFI does not state a preferred stacking arrangement. The studio/production space does not need to be contiguous with the office space within the single building.

Question 13. Does the 14 foot ceiling height preference for studio space refer to a clear dimension or a slab to slab dimension?

Answer: The Statement of Need states a minimum ceiling height of 8 feet 0 inches clear for office space, with higher ceilings preferred for broadcast studios and 14 feet preferred over approximately 6,000 to 15,000 RSF. Respondents should state both the clear and the slab to slab dimensions available in the offered space.

RFI GM-8262026 Questions and Answers, Page 3

Question 14. Please clarify the reference to "unusual floor load."

Answer: The RFI states minimum live load capacities of 50 pounds per ABOA SF for office areas plus 20 pounds per ABOA SF for moveable partitions, and 100 pounds per ABOA SF for storage areas including moveable partitions. The reference to unusual floor load appears in connection with the ability to house television production studios and is not quantified in the RFI. Respondents should state the live load capacity available in the offered space.

Question 15. Does USAGM prefer, or have the ability to utilize, existing office space or existing studio infrastructure?

Answer: The RFI does not state a preference regarding reuse of existing improvements. Expressions of Interest item 3d requires the date the space will be available to commence tenant improvements.

Respondents may describe existing conditions and any existing studio infrastructure within the applicable page limit.

Question 16. Are technical requirements, a program of requirements, or a statement of work available for respondent review? The Submittal Information section refers to an attached SOW.

Answer: No technical program of requirements, design documents or basis of design is included with this RFI. The reference to an attached statement of work will be addressed by amendment.

Question 17. May the requirement be expanded to include additional USAGM entities, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia or the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, in order to increase the occupied area within a single building?

Answer: The requirement stated in the RFI is 100,000 RSF minimum to 150,000 RSF maximum of contiguous space within a single building. The RFI does not contemplate the addition of other occupants or entities to this requirement. Respondents should respond to the requirement as stated.

BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE

Question 18. Can USAGM provide preliminary electrical load requirements for studio and broadcast operations, and state the required level of emergency power and redundancy for power, cooling, telecommunications and broadcast systems? Would existing generator capacity in a building be of interest?

Answer: The RFI does not state electrical load, emergency power capacity or redundancy requirements. It requires that the building show areas for tenant rooftop equipment including but not limited to HVAC, generator and satellite dish or dishes, and that the building allow for overtime HVAC by floor or area for specialty spaces supporting the studios and surrounding areas.

Respondents should disclose the electrical capacity available to the offered space and any existing emergency power capacity that could be made available. Detailed technical requirements will be set out in the solicitation and Lease to be issued.

Question 19. Does USAGM have minimum rooftop area requirements or anticipated equipment quantities?

Answer: The RFI does not state a minimum rooftop area or an anticipated equipment count.

Respondents should identify the rooftop areas available for tenant equipment, consistent with the Statement of Need.

Question 20. Does USAGM have live broadcast requirements for outdoor or rooftop terrace areas?

RFI GM-8262026 Questions and Answers, Page 4

Answer: The RFI does not state a requirement or preference for live broadcast from an outdoor or rooftop terrace area. The Statement of Need requires that the building show areas for tenant rooftop equipment including but not limited to HVAC, generator and satellite dish or dishes.

Question 21. Please define "USAGM’s standard building shell requirements" as used in Expressions of Interest item 3a.

Answer: The term is not separately defined in the RFI. As stated in the RFI, offered buildings must be able to meet all Government requirements contained in the RFI and in the Lease to be issued, and not all minimum requirements are stated in the RFI. Respondents should state the shell condition and the assumptions underlying the quoted full service rate.

SECURITY

Question 22. Please describe the key building and site security features USAGM expects in connection with the stated ISC Level IV requirement, including any anticipated needs for secured parking, controlled access points, visitor screening, loading dock controls, rooftop security or vehicle standoff.

Answer: The RFI requires that the building have the ability to meet ISC Level IV security requirements, that it allow for an area for a security station on the ground level for screening and badging, and that respondents identify parking available on the premises for USAGM with ISC Level IV security capability. The RFI does not enumerate individual countermeasures. Specific security requirements will be set out in the solicitation and Lease to be issued.

PARKING

Question 23. Please confirm the amount of parking required and the parking characteristics USAGM considers important, such as secured parking, dedicated operational parking, visitor parking or expansion capability.

Answer: The Statement of Need lists total parking spaces as per zoning requirements and does not state a specific space count or a set of parking preferences. Expressions of Interest item 4 requires respondents to state the number of total parking spaces in the building and the parking available on the premises for USAGM with ISC Level IV security capability.

LEASE TERM AND ECONOMIC TERMS

Question 24. The RFI states a full term not to exceed 20 years. Please provide the lease term structures under consideration, including firm term, option periods, renewal rights and termination rights, and confirm whether a specific term will be fixed in the solicitation.

Answer: The Statement of Need states a full term not to exceed 20 years. The RFI does not identify firm term, option periods, renewal rights or termination rights, and does not state whether a specific term will be fixed in the solicitation. Expressions of Interest item 3c asks respondents to state the desired lease term within which the Tenant Improvement Allowance will be amortized in whole, or upon cancellation paid in the unamortized amount. Term structure will be set out in the solicitation and Lease to be issued.

Question 25. Please detail the appropriations language to which USAGM is subject.

RFI GM-8262026 Questions and Answers, Page 5

Answer: The RFI states that no funds have been authorized, appropriated or received for this effort, that the synopsis is for information and planning purposes only, and that it is neither to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. The RFI does not set out specific appropriations, availability of funds or termination for lack of appropriations clause language. Applicable clauses will be included in the solicitation and Lease to be issued.

Question 26. Expressions of Interest item 3c addresses repayment of unamortized tenant improvements upon cancellation. Would repayment also apply to commissions paid by the Lessor on a proportionate basis?

Answer: The RFI addresses the Tenant Improvement Allowance only and contains no provision addressing broker commissions or their repayment.

EVALUATION AND PROCUREMENT SCHEDULE

Question 27. Beyond rental rates and economic concessions, what factors will USAGM consider most important in identifying properties that advance to subsequent phases of the procurement?

Answer: This RFI is issued for information gathering and market research purposes only in accordance with FAR 15.201(e) and is not a solicitation, an invitation for bid, a request for quotation or a request for proposal. No evaluation factors have been established, and the RFI states that respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Respondents should address the requirements set out in the Statement of Need and provide the seven items listed under Expressions of Interest. Any evaluation criteria will be set out in the solicitation to be issued.

Question 28. Will single tenant buildings, properties with high quality existing buildout or amenities, properties with existing generator capacity, or properties able to provide building signage be evaluated more favorably?

Answer: No evaluation criteria have been established in this RFI. The Statement of Need requires that offered space be contiguous within a single building; it does not state a requirement or preference for a single tenant building. The RFI does not address building signage. Offered buildings must meet the requirements of the Statement of Need, including firesafety, amenities, sustainability and handicapped access in accordance with ABAAS guidelines, and the space must be located in the Washington, DC Central Employment Area within a prime commercial office district with attractive, professional surroundings with a prevalence of modern design or tasteful rehabilitation in modern use. Any evaluation criteria will be set out in the solicitation to be issued.

Question 29. What is the anticipated timing for issuance of a formal solicitation following review of RFI responses?

Answer: The RFI does not state an anticipated date for issuance of a solicitation. As stated in the RFI, there is no obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services described in the RFI.

Question 30. What is the target occupancy date?

Answer: The RFI does not state a target occupancy date or a required lease commencement date.

Expressions of Interest item 3d requires respondents to state the date the space will be available to commence tenant improvements. Schedule requirements will be set out in the solicitation and Lease to be issued.