Purchase of Twenty-Six Housing Units and Five Vacant Lots Owned by the Wichita Housing Authority located in the area of N Summitlawn Lane, W Newell Street, Frazier Street, and W Freeman Lane

The City of Wichita Housing & Community Services is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to purchase twenty-six housing units and five vacant lots currently owned by the Wichita Housing Authority in the Country Acres neighborhood. The properties consist of eleven four-bedroom, eight five-bedroom, and seven six-bedroom single-family homes constructed in the 1970s with slab-on-grade construction and HVAC systems installed in 2010, plus 4.4 acres of vacant land. Qualified proposers must demonstrate proof of funds and the capacity to complete necessary renovations and lease or sell properties within 18 months of purchase. Properties will be sold in "as-is" condition with appraisal values ranging from $94,000 to $162,000 per housing unit and $1,100 to $16,000 per vacant lot. The evaluation process will assess proposals based on adequacy and completeness (10%), understanding of requirements and presentation (20%), buyer's qualifications and resources (20%), community impact of the proposed project (15%), proposed compensation (15%), and alignment with City affordable housing goals (20%). Key deadlines include property walk-throughs scheduled for January 13-16, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., written questions due by January 23, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., and electronic proposal submission through the City's Procurement Portal by 10:00 a.m. on February 13, 2026. The Affordable Housing Review Board will conduct evaluations the week of February 23, 2026, with tentative award in March 2026 and an estimated evaluation period of 60 to 90 days before City Council approval.

The solicitation does not specify designated set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or specific organizational restrictions. However, use restrictions prohibit the development of adult entertainment establishments, correctional facilities, drug rehabilitation facilities, gambling operations, car sales, payday loan establishments, and commercial billboards on the properties. Purchasers should note that properties currently exempt from ad valorem taxes will become subject to taxation upon sale, and final closings cannot occur until the Department of Housing and Urban Development issues Releases of the Declarations of Trust, a process that typically requires 60 to 120 days after sales contract execution. The City reserves the right to award to multiple proposers and to make selections based on greatest benefit to the City rather than highest purchase price, meaning proposers offering greater consideration by including the maximum number of properties in their proposals may receive preferential evaluation. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are referenced in the solicitation materials. Purchase price represents the primary cost consideration, with individual property appraisals ranging from approximately $95,000 to $162,000 for housing units and $1,100 to $16,000 for vacant lots.