Office RFI Questions_23 Sep 2026.pdf

Question Answer Backup Info:

Facility Configuration: Must the approximately 11,200 ABOA SF be located within a standalone building, or may the requirement be satisfied within a dedicated suite or floor of a multi-tenant facility?

A single contiguous floor is preferred for operational efficiency and security administration; however, contiguous multi-floor configurations within the same facility will be evaluated as potential suitable options.

Space may be provided in a standalone building or as a dedicated suite/floor within a multi-tenant commercial facility. A standalone facility is not a mandatory minimum requirement. The Government will evaluate both facility types based on mission feasibility, security suitability, cost, and schedule.

The Government is highly receptive to larger space options, including the approximately 11,200 ABOA SF referenced in the question. If a larger footprint is proposed, a single contiguous floor remains preferred to streamline physical security and operational flow; however, multi-floor layouts that meet or exceed the SF minimum will be fully evaluated during market research.

Neither Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) nor DoD Impact Level 5 (IL5) inherently mandates a standalone building by default. Both frameworks require a Controlled Environment and strict physical access separation, which can be satisfied within a multi-tenant or multi-story facility—provided specific physical, structural, and operational controls are met.

- CUI (32 CFR 2002 / NIST SP 800-171) Controlled Environment: Physical perimeter, access logs, visitor controls, and protection against unauthorized visual/acoustic observation. Fully allowed within a locked, dedicated suite with perimeter boundary controls.

- DoD IL5 (Cloud SRG / FedRAMP High) Dedicated Hardware & Physical Separation: Physical isolation of servers/racks from non-DoD/non-federal commercial tenants; US Person staffing. Allowed in multi-tenant data centers if dedicated cages/suites and physical boundaries exist.

-- You do NOT strictly need a standalone building to host a SIPR room or JWICS access. Both capabilities can be built inside a multi-tenant facility or leased commercial space as a dedicated "box-within-a-box" buildout

Exclusive Occupancy: If a multi-tenant facility is acceptable, must the Government have exclusive control of the entire leased premises, including controlled access from common areas?

The Government requires exclusive control only over its demised leased premises, including dedicated, access-controlled entry points separating the Government space from common areas. Exclusive use of the entire building is not required. In multi-tenant properties, shared building entrances, lobbies, passenger elevators, parking areas, and common corridors are permissible. Access from common areas into the Government's leased space must be restricted and controlled. Dedicated or in-suite restrooms are preferred if secure compartmentalization is developed, but are not mandatory for initial market research submissions.

While the Government does not need exclusive control over the building's public common areas (e.g., shared main lobbies, public stairwells, or central elevator banks), it must establish a continuous, hardened security perimeter at every boundary where common areas meet the leased premises.

Adjacent Occupants: Are there restrictions concerning the types of businesses, tenants, contractors, laboratories, technology companies, or other organizations that may occupy adjacent or nearby space?

There is no formal exclusion list at the RFI stage. However, respondents must identify existing adjacent co-tenants. Co-tenancies with high public foot traffic (e.g., public walk-in retail, medical clinics), entities with significant Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI), hazardous and heavy operations (such as industrial laboratories or chemical processing), high-power radio frequency facilities, or regulated/restricted retail (such as cannabis dispensaries, gambling establishments, or adult entertainment/retail) will be reviewed during subsequent security risk assessments if secure space (Secret / TS-SCI) is built out.

Under Interagency Security Committee (ISC) standards, ICD 705 (for JWICS/SCIFs), and federal leasing guidelines (GSA / DoD), certain co-tenants and adjacent activities are either strictly prohibited or trigger substantial security mitigation requirements. Co-tenancy restrictions focus on counterintelligence risks, physical and blast vulnerabilities, hazardous materials, visual/acoustic exposure, and high uncontrolled public foot traffic.

- Not allowed: Foreign entities, NDAA Section 889 Covered Vendors, Hazardous Materials & Heavy Labs, High-Power RF and broadcast facilities, Public Surge High-Volume Traffic, Cannabis/Gambling/Adult Retail.

Physical Separation: Are there minimum separation, setback, perimeter, or access-control requirements between the Government's leased premises and other occupants?

Physical security and setbacks will align with applicable Department of Defense (DoD) Antiterrorism/Force Protection (ATFP) standards (e.g., Unified Facilities Criteria: DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings (UFC 4-010-01)) and applicable classification directives (e.g., DoDM 5205.07 or ICD 705) for any secure spaces. For this RFI, respondents should detail existing setback distances, perimeter boundaries, and suite demising wall construction (e.g., slab-to-slab coverage).

For off-installation leased space in the United States, DoD Instruction 2000.12 mandates that the ISC's Physical Security Criteria for Federal Facilities are applied instead of the strict military installation standards of UFC 4-010-01. However, the structural, glazing, and blast-mitigation philosophies remain highly aligned.

Department of Defense Manual 5205.07 - Special Access Program (SAP) Security Manual

Common Areas: May parking, building entrances, elevators, corridors, restrooms, or other common facilities be shared with unrelated tenants?

In multi-tenant properties, shared building entrances, lobbies, passenger elevators, parking areas, and common corridors are permissible.

Access from common areas into the Government's leased space must be restricted and controlled. Dedicated or in-suite restrooms are preferred if secure compartmentalization is developed, but are not mandatory for initial market research submissions.

Security Upgrades: Should proposed facilities already possess the required security capabilities at occupancy, or will the Government consider properties capable of being upgraded to the required classification levels as part of the tenant-improvement process?

Upgrades during the Tenant Improvement (TI) phase are fully acceptable. As stated in RFI Section 3, the Government encourages responses featuring partial, mixed, or upgradeable space configurations. Offerors should outline current capabilities, feasible upgrade paths to requested classification levels, and estimated lead times/costs to complete improvements prior to target occupancy.

Contiguous Space: Must the approximately 11,200 ABOA SF be contiguous on one floor, or may it be configured across multiple floors within the same facility?

The Government is receptive to larger space options, including the approximately 11,200 ABOA SF referenced in the question. If a larger footprint is proposed, a single contiguous floor remains preferred to streamline physical security and operational flow; however, multi-floor layouts that meet or exceed the SF minimum will be fully evaluated during market research.

Standalone Preference: Although not identified as a minimum requirement in the RFI, is a standalone facility preferred when otherwise comparable to a suitable multi-tenant property?

A single contiguous floor is preferred for operational efficiency and security administration; however, contiguous multi-floor configurations within the same facility will be evaluated during market research.

Are there any specific neighboring tenant types, commercial uses, or adjacent organizations that would make an otherwise suitable property unacceptable?

There is no formal exclusion list at the RFI stage. However, respondents must identify existing adjacent co-tenants. Co-tenancies with high public foot traffic (e.g., public walk-in retail, medical clinics), entities with significant Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI), hazardous and heavy operations (such as industrial laboratories or chemical processing), high-power radio frequency facilities, or regulated/restricted retail (such as cannabis dispensaries, gambling establishments, or adult entertainment/retail) will be reviewed during subsequent security risk assessments if secure space (Secret / TS-SCI) is built out.

Does the Government require exclusive use of the building, or would a dedicated, access-controlled suite within a multi-tenant facility be acceptable?

The Government requires exclusive control only over its demised leased premises, including dedicated, access-controlled entry points separating the Government space from common areas. Exclusive use of the entire building is not required. In multi-tenant properties, shared building entrances, lobbies, passenger elevators, parking areas, and common corridors are permissible. Access from common areas into the Government's leased space must be restricted and controlled. Dedicated or in-suite restrooms are preferred if secure compartmentalization is developed, but are not mandatory for initial market research submissions.

Are shared building entrances, lobbies, elevators, parking areas, or other common areas permissible?

Shared building entrances, lobbies, passenger elevators, parking areas, and common corridors are permissible. Access from common areas into the Government's leased space must be restricted and controlled. Dedicated or in-suite restrooms are preferred if secure compartmentalization is developed, but are not mandatory for initial market research submissions.

Would a property requiring build-out or security upgrades be considered if the required configuration can be completed prior to occupancy?

The Government encourages responses featuring partial, mixed, or upgradeable space configurations. Offerors should outline current capabilities, feasible upgrade paths to requested classification levels, and estimated lead times/costs to complete improvements prior to target occupancy.

Would the Government consider a property that is currently offered for sale if the owner is willing and authorized to provide the required lease?

Yes. Properties offered for sale will be considered provided that the property owner or authorized representative demonstrates legal authority to execute a binding 3- to 5-year Government lease and manage the required tenant improvements to meet move-in milestones.

Are there specific perimeter, setback, access-control, or physical-security requirements that prospective properties should be screened against?

Physical security and setbacks will align with applicable Department of Defense (DoD) Antiterrorism/Force Protection (ATFP) standards (e.g., UFC 4-010-01) and applicable classification directives (e.g., DoDM 5205.07 or ICD 705) for any secure spaces. For this RFI, respondents should detail existing setback distances, perimeter boundaries, and suite demising wall construction (e.g., slab-to-slab coverage).