How to bid on the John Cochran VA Hospital project for USACE

What USACE is buying

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, is seeking an integrated design and construction contractor for a new bed tower, clinical expansion, and parking garage at the John Cochran VA Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. The project also includes demolishing several deficient or underused buildings and constructing modern, seismically compliant facilities.

This is an unrestricted RFP with an estimated construction value over $1 billion. The acquisition uses an Integrated Design and Construction approach, including a pre-construction services phase. USACE plans to make one award using a best-value trade-off process.

Deadline and project schedule

The opportunity was published October 23, 2026. Proposals are due November 25, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET. The solicitation notice does not provide a separate deadline event or submission time zone instructions beyond that stated deadline.

The estimated pre-construction services phase is 820 calendar days from Notice to Proceed. This is a project phase estimate, not the proposal deadline.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity fits firms with experience delivering large commercial or institutional construction projects, particularly work aligned with NAICS 236220. The stated small-business size standard for that category is $45 million in average annual receipts, but the competition itself is unrestricted.

The project’s scale and integrated design-and-construction approach may call for a team with the capacity to manage design, construction, pre-construction services, and project labor agreement requirements. Joint ventures may compete, but the JV entity must have valid SAM registration as one entity.

How to access the solicitation

Click “View original source” above to open the opportunity on the portal. If the first click takes you to the portal homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid.

A free account may be needed to view documents, though many bids are available without one. The solicitation notice identifies Michael France and Contracting Officer David Walsh as points of contact for questions and inquiries.

Prepare a compliant, competitive proposal

Read the solicitation and all six amendments, including the updates issued October 23, 2026, and check the current documents for changes prompted by bidder inquiries. Follow the stated evaluation criteria and address the non-priced factors as well as price, since the award uses a best-value trade-off.

Plan for the Project Labor Agreement requirements in RFO 22.5. The notice says an agreement reached under those requirements does not change contract terms or provide a government price adjustment.

Confirm active SAM registration before submitting. Include the required proposal guarantee, equal to 20% of your proposed price or $3 million, whichever is less. If awarded, payment and performance bonds for 100% of the contract amount are required before Notice to Proceed.