Housing Developer for Design–Build and Long-Term Operations/Maintenance Services

The University of West Florida is soliciting responses through an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) for a housing developer to establish a long-term strategic partnership for design-build and operations/maintenance services for replacement military barracks facilities, with responses due July 31, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. UWF will enter into an Intergovernmental Support Agreement with the Department of the Navy, creating a flexible framework for future task orders and development agreements to provide unaccompanied housing capability to the Navy.

The developer must demonstrate experience in military housing, university housing, or large-scale residential construction. The scope spans master planning, site evaluation, feasibility analysis, project structuring and financing, design coordination and construction delivery, and long-term operations, maintenance, and lifecycle management. Respondents must provide at least five current and verifiable references, with three demonstrating comparable project experience, and submit audited financial statements for the prior three years. Commercial General Liability insurance of $2 million is required. Responses must be submitted as a single PDF document not exceeding 80 consecutively numbered pages through BidNet Direct and must include affidavits, E-Verify certifications, professional licenses, and Florida business licenses.

No minimum or maximum contract value or term is assigned; these will be negotiated based on specific project requirements. UWF seeks off-balance-sheet financing solutions with neutral or accretive credit-rating impacts, with financial returns structured through upfront payments, revenue/cash flow participation, guaranteed annual ground rent, or profit participation. Facility ownership structures must preserve the Navy's long-term interest in the underlying real property, with improvements conveyed to UWF or its designated entity upon agreement expiration.

The evaluation committee meets August 12, 2026, with finalist interviews potentially occurring August 26. Written requests for explanation are due July 22 at 10:00 a.m. CT. The evaluation criteria include overall competence and compliance, experience with similar projects, financial capacity and sophistication, understanding of the local market environment, ability to structure flexible long-term partnerships, and team qualifications. UWF reserves the right to negotiate with any vendor, request additional information, award to single or multiple vendors, or reject any or all submissions.