About This Solicitation
The Houston Land Bank (HLB) seeks to engage one or more qualified and experienced firms to provide (1) Grant Writing Services and/or (2) Grant Management Services for the EPA Community-Wide Assessment Grant and Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants. Interested parties may submit proposals for either role individually or for both roles. Awards for Grant Management Services are contingent upon the availability and award of applicable grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The selected firm(s) will develop work that aligns with the program’s objectives — addressing environmental justice, enhancing community resilience to climate change, and promoting collaborative governance in disadvantaged communities — in alignment with HLB’s brownfields programs and core environmental justice principles.
Grant Management Services — Objectives
• Provide contractual services in project management, data collection & management, activity reporting, community outreach, reuse planning, and expense tracking.
• Perform programmatic tasks based on task-order requests from HLB.
• Attend meetings and communicate regularly with HLB staff, the EPA Region 6 Project Officer, and the environmental consulting firms contracted to perform assessments (procured separately by HLB).
• Prepare a variety of forms and reports, such as the Site Eligibility Determination Checklist, Property Profile Forms, Budget & Expense Tracking, EPA quarterly reports, and annual M/W/SBE reports.
Scope of Work (Summary)
The firm will be responsible for tasks including: initial consultation and planning (kick-off meeting); needs assessment; timeline development; research and data collection; proposal development (narrative, budget preparation, logic model and work plan) emphasizing the EPA NOFO objectives; for the RLF, a strong understanding of real estate financing (loan underwriting, servicing, and credit analysis), ongoing marketing of the RLF program during and after the grant performance period, and a commitment to properly manage RLF program income in perpetuity unless the agreement is terminated and the income returned to EPA; review and revision (draft review and compliance check); and final submission (final proposal preparation, submission, and post-submission support including follow-up and debriefing).
Deliverables
• A complete grant management proposal, including narrative, budget, logic model, and work plan, emphasizing environmental justice and brownfields redevelopment.
• A final submission-ready grant application meeting all EPA guidelines, submitted by the EPA application deadline (to be determined).
• A post-submission report summarizing the application process, including recommendations for future proposals in the context of environmental justice and brownfields programs.
Who Should Respond
• Firms experienced in federal grant writing and/or grant management, particularly EPA Brownfields programs (Community-Wide Assessment and RLF).
• Firms familiar with environmental justice, climate resilience, and disadvantaged-community engagement.
• For RLF grant management: firms with real estate financing, loan underwriting/servicing, and revolving-loan-fund management capability.
• Respondents may apply for Grant Writing only, Grant Management only, or both roles. (Separate applications required)
Evaluation Criteria (100 Points — Scored Per Role)
• Experience & Track Record — 20 points
• Proposal Quality — 40 points
• Budget — 40 points
Each role is evaluated independently. Selection for one role does not guarantee selection for the other.
Key Dates
• RFP issued: Friday, October 9, 2026
• Questions due: Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM CST — email procurements@houstonlandbank.org
• Submission deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST — via the Submittal Portal
• Anticipated Board consideration & notification of eligibility: November 2026
Application & Submission Rules
• Pay the $100 nonrefundable application fee for consideration — for Grant Writing only, Grant Management only, or both roles. If applying for both, only pay once. Pay Application Fee Here
• Firms applying for both roles must clearly identify each role within their proposal and address the relevant qualifications and approach for each.
• Each role is evaluated independently; selection for one role does not guarantee selection for the other.
• Grant Management Services are contingent on the successful receipt of EPA grant funding; HLB assumes no obligation to proceed with any award absent such funding.
• Submit by uploading to the Submittal Portal by October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST.
About This Solicitation
The Houston Land Bank (HLB) seeks to engage one or more qualified and experienced firms to provide Grant Writing Services for the EPA Community-Wide Assessment Grant and Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants. Interested parties may submit proposals for either role individually or for both roles. Awards for Grant Management Services are contingent upon the availability and award of applicable grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The selected firm(s) will develop work that aligns with the program’s objectives — addressing environmental justice, enhancing community resilience to climate change, and promoting collaborative governance in disadvantaged communities — in alignment with HLB’s brownfields programs and core environmental justice principles.
Grant Writing Services — Objectives
• Secure funding through the EPA Community-Wide Assessment Grant and Brownfields RLF Grants to support HLB’s initiatives in environmental justice, climate change mitigation, and community revitalization through its brownfields redevelopment efforts.
• Ensure the grant application meets all EPA technical and programmatic requirements, including compliance with federal regulations and grant guidelines.
• Submit a well-structured, persuasive, and competitive proposal that maximizes funding potential and highlights HLB’s commitment to environmental justice, sustainable community development, and the EPA’s strategic objectives.
Scope of Work (Summary)
The firm will be responsible for tasks including: initial consultation and planning (kick-off meeting); needs assessment; timeline development; research and data collection; proposal development (narrative, budget preparation, logic model and work plan) emphasizing the EPA NOFO objectives; for the RLF, a strong understanding of real estate financing (loan underwriting, servicing, and credit analysis), ongoing marketing of the RLF program during and after the grant performance period, and a commitment to properly manage RLF program income in perpetuity unless the agreement is terminated and the income returned to EPA; review and revision (draft review and compliance check); and final submission (final proposal preparation, submission, and post-submission support including follow-up and debriefing).
Deliverables
• A complete grant writing proposal, including narrative, budget, logic model, and work plan, emphasizing environmental justice and brownfields redevelopment.
• A final submission-ready grant application meeting all EPA guidelines, submitted by the EPA application deadline (to be determined).
• A post-submission report summarizing the application process, including recommendations for future proposals in the context of environmental justice and brownfields programs.
Who Should Respond
• Firms experienced in federal grant writing, particularly EPA Brownfields programs (Community-Wide Assessment and RLF).
• Firms familiar with environmental justice, climate resilience, and disadvantaged-community engagement.
• Respondents may apply for Grant Writing only, Grant Management only, or both roles.
Evaluation Criteria (100 Points — Scored Per Role)
• Experience & Track Record — 20 points
• Proposal Quality — 40 points
• Budget — 40 points
Each role is evaluated independently. Selection for one role does not guarantee selection for the other.
Key Dates
• RFP issued: Friday, October 9, 2026
• Questions due: Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM CST — email procurements@houstonlandbank.org
• Submission deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST — via the Submittal Portal
• Anticipated Board consideration & notification of eligibility: November 2026
Application & Submission Rules
• Pay the $100 nonrefundable application fee for consideration — for Grant Writing only, Grant Management only, or both roles. Only pay once if applying for both. Pay Application Fee Here
• Firms applying for both roles must clearly identify each role within their proposal and address the relevant qualifications and approach for each.
• Each role is evaluated independently; selection for one role does not guarantee selection for the other.
• Submit by uploading to the Submittal Portal by October 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST.
About This Solicitation
The Houston Land Bank (HLB), a local government corporation, requests Statements of Qualifications from builders/developers wishing to acquire land from HLB for development or redevelopment under its traditional program. HLB’s mission is to acquire vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties and convey them into productive use for the City of Houston, selling inventory to builders who produce new affordable single-family housing and complementary community development projects. HLB welcomes responses from for-profit and non-profit organizations, community housing development organizations (CHDOs), and other interested and capable parties.
This process establishes a qualified pool of builders added to an HLB-approved list (“Approved Builder”). Each Approved Builder is eligible to purchase lots from HLB through December 31, 2028. The process runs annually; Approved Builders must provide updated information after two years to remain on the list and must construct and sell homes per the Program Guidelines and related construction standards attached to the RFQ. Prior experience with HLB is not required.
Background
HLB, previously the Land Assemblage and Redevelopment Authority (LARA), was established as a local government corporation for the City of Houston in 1999 to facilitate the redevelopment of vacant and tax-damaged real estate. Its Board includes representatives appointed by the City of Houston, Harris County, and the Houston Independent School District. HLB has assembled its inventory over 20 years — over 450 lots, roughly half designated for the City of Houston’s New Home Development Program — concentrated in the “HOPE” neighborhoods of Settegast, Trinity Gardens, Acres Homes, Fifth Ward, and Sunnyside.
Builder Categories
Respondents select the categories they are most aligned with in the cover letter (more than one is allowed). HLB reserves the right to designate a builder to a different category after reviewing submittals.
1. Master Community Builder: Supports small-to-mid development districts in larger areas or on larger parcels. 7+ years with the applying company and at least one completed mid-to-large “ground up” residential project (25+ units, or a residential/commercial/infrastructure combination).
2. Established Builder: Builds 5–10+ units on separate parcels simultaneously. 5+ years with the applying company and at least ten completed “ground up” residential projects.
3. Startup Builder: Builds 1–4 units at a time. At least three completed “ground up” residential projects (or comparable) and 2+ years with the applying company; a new entity must have a managing partner who demonstrates the required experience.
4. Non-Traditional Builder: Alternative building methods — natural materials, sustainability designs, modular techniques, or manufactured/“tiny” homes.
5. Rehab / Reconstruction Services: Rehabbing or reconstructing single-family and multi-family homes.
6. Neighborhood Commercial or Community Facility Builder: Smaller-scale commercial development or community facilities responsive to community needs and plans.
Note: there are few lots/opportunities for categories 4, 5, and 6, which may constitute only a small percentage of qualified builders.
Qualification Process & Evaluation
An evaluation committee reviews and scores submissions. A submission must first pass a Pass/Fail responsiveness screen. Scored submissions are evaluated on 100 points across Qualifications (30), Experience & Track Record (30), and Capacity to Perform (40); the specific sub-criteria vary by builder category. Respondents scoring 75 and above meet the technical-competence threshold; the committee may interview firms scoring 70–74 to determine inclusion. Interviews may inform the final evaluation, but selection is not guaranteed. Certifications and distinctions (HUB, MWDBE, Better Builder, etc.) are not required and earn additional points if submitted.
Required Submission Components
Responses may not exceed 40 pages (8.5×11) in standard font sizes and margins, and must include: a cover letter; statement of qualifications; recent and demonstrated experience; SOS good-standing documents; three reference letters on reference-organization letterhead; a service approach; financial statements (a minimum of three bank statements within a year, certified audit reports, and/or accountant-reviewed statements); insurance/bonding evidence; and a sample pro forma on the HLB-supplied template. Click here to download proforma template.
Missing minimum documentation renders a submission non-responsive.
Key Dates
• RFQ release: October 5, 2026
• Questions due: October 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM CST — email procurements@houstonlandbank.org
• Responses due: November 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST — via the HLB Intake Form
• Anticipated Board consideration & notification of eligibility: January 2027
• Lot release anticipated: January 2027
Important Rules
• The $100 nonrefundable application fee must be paid for a submission to be considered.
Click here to pay Application Fee
• Incomplete or late responses, and submissions without the fee, will not be considered.
• HLB reserves the right to reject any submission deemed non-responsive, to waive all requirements, and to cancel this RFQ at any time. Changes will be posted at houstonlandbank.org.