Bid Opening Soon

Seeking 11 total homes within the city of Philadelphia for rent by employees of: AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF

REQUEST FOR BID (RFB)

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Solicitation No.: HIDDEN
Expected Issue Date: December 12, 2025
Response Due Date: January 7, 2026, 4:00 PM EST

1. Purpose

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) seeks bids from qualified housing providers for the temporary rental of eleven (11) single-family residential units to accommodate USDA personnel assigned to operational and research duties in the region. This requirement supports ongoing field operations during the 2027 agricultural pilot expansion program.

The performance period is January 3, 2027 through September 9, 2027 (total of 249 days)

2. Housing Requirements

All proposed properties must meet or exceed the following minimum criteria:

2.1 Unit Specifications

Each of the 11 required homes must include:

3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms
Fully furnished, turnkey-ready interior
Full kitchen with modern appliances
On-site washer and dryer (in-unit required)
High-speed internet (minimum 50 Mbps recommended)
Central heating and air conditioning
Clean, well-maintained interior and exterior

2.2 Location Requirements

Units must be located within a 20-mile radius of the designated USDA regional operations center (exact location provided upon pre-award clearance). CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.
Proposed properties must be situated within residential neighborhoods appropriate for federal personnel. Properties within CITY OF PHILADELPHIA that are in dense crime neighborhoods will not be considered for federal usage.
Proximity to critical infrastructure (highways, medical services, groceries, etc.) is preferred.

2.3 Parking & Access

Minimum of one (1) off-street or on-street parking space per unit
24-hour access to the premises for assigned USDA occupants

3. Budget & Pricing Structure

3.1 Budget Ceiling

USDA has established a not-to-exceed ceiling of $1,452,000 for this housing requirement.

This reflects premium market-rate housing appropriate for long-term federal deployment.

3.2 Expected Monthly Rate Range

Based on GSA locality caps, recent displacement housing precedents, and extended-stay contractor benchmarks, USDA anticipates fair and reasonable pricing in the following range:

$2,300 – $6,000 per month, per property.

This rate is all-inclusive, covering:

Monthly rent
Electricity, water, gas
Trash and sewer
Internet service
Parking
Basic groundskeeping (if applicable)
Routine maintenance

No deposits or administrative fees will be paid by USDA.

Premium amenities (office space, fenced yard, garage, upgraded appliances, proximity to federal sites) may justify rates at the upper end of the range.

4. Performance Period

Start Date: January 3, 2027
End Date: September 9, 2027

Optional early occupancy (Dec. 27–30, 2026) may be negotiated.

5. Mandatory Compliance Requirements

All properties must meet:

Local and state habitability codes
Federal temporary-occupancy standards under 41 CFR Part 102-85
Operational smoke & carbon monoxide detectors
Hazard-free, pest-free living conditions

Insurance minimums:

$1,000,000 general liability coverage per occurrence
Proof of active property insurance
Coverage must extend to federal occupants

6. Bid Submission Requirements

All proposals must include:

Completed USDA-HOUSING-27-0041 Response Form
Detailed property description(s) and amenity list
High-resolution photos of each proposed unit
Proposed monthly rate (all-inclusive)
Statement of availability for the entire performance period
Utilities and services included
Property management point of contact
Description of the property’s suitability for long-term federal occupancy

7. Evaluation Criteria

USDA will evaluate proposals based on:

Compliance with minimum specifications
Property condition, furnishings, and amenities
Location suitability
Price fairness (within $2,300–$6,000/mo target range)
Ability to provide multiple units under a unified point of contact
Demonstrated reliability and past performance (if applicable)

A Best Value Tradeoff decision will be used.

USDA may conduct virtual or in-person inspections prior to award.

8. Award & Contracting

USDA anticipates issuing a single Firm Fixed-Price (FFP) multi-unit housing contract; however, multiple awards may be made if advantageous to the government.

Contracting authority derives from FAR 12.207.