Direct Lease for DR-4860-KY

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) to identify contractors capable of providing temporary housing assistance through a Direct Lease program for disaster DR-4860-KY in Kentucky. The contractor will be required to identify and lease 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom turnkey residential properties in 14 specified Kentucky counties including Breathitt, Clay, Estill, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Martin, Owsley, Perry, and Pike, with potential for additional counties to be added. Properties must be located within 30-60 minutes of affected areas, comply with Housing Quality Standards and HUD habitability requirements, include complete living facilities with furnished accommodations, and be accessible with functional utilities. FEMA will pay rent based on Fair Market Rent (FMR) rates and requires properties to be available for a minimum 18-month lease term. Interested parties must submit capability statements by 3:00 PM ET on August 20, 2025, to the specified email address, with an Industry Day webinar scheduled for August 11th at 1:00 PM to provide additional information.

This procurement opportunity does not utilize any set-aside designation and is open to all qualified contractors under NAICS code 531110 (Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings). No incumbent contractors or current service providers are identified in the documentation, nor are specific award values or budget ranges disclosed at this RFI stage. The lease duration is structured for 18 months from the disaster declaration date of February 25, 2025, through August 24, 2026, with potential for renewal, and the base contract period includes 12 months with one six-month option. FEMA has not yet determined the exact number of housing units needed per county but emphasizes the need for wide geographic distribution of housing options across the affected region. The agency acknowledges that securing adequate housing in Eastern Kentucky has historically been challenging due to limited resource availability, and they are seeking a flexible approach that includes corporate apartments, vacation rentals, and second homes that meet their requirements.