NEW DEAL: Federal Lease for US Army Corps of Engineers

Summary

Our team represented the tenant in a federal lease negotiation serving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) via the GSA contracting framework. The assignment required a tight schedule, clear compliance with federal specifications, and clean economics that balanced near-term operational needs with long-term flexibility. Result: an executed lease with defined delivery, compliance, and options calibrated to USACE use and procurement timelines. 

Client Objective

  • Secure a compliant facility with predictable total occupancy cost.

  • Align possession, build-out, and acceptance milestones to federal review/approval steps.

  • Preserve optionality for future program changes without over-committing term or capital.

Key Constraints

  • Federal clauses and approval flows (GSA/USACE) require precise drafting and schedule discipline.

  • Security, life-safety, and accessibility standards must be met at delivery.

  • Limited window to finalize terms while maintaining competition.

Our Strategy

  • Scope control: Translate USACE requirements into a landlord-deliverable checklist (life safety, access, parking/loading, power, comms).

  • Term structure: Balance base term with renewal/extension mechanics to protect mission continuity without overpaying for optional years.

  • Economic clarity: Separate base rent from pass-throughs and delivery items to keep comparisons clean and approval-ready.

  • Timeline management: Back-plan from acceptance, mapping each submittal/inspection to counterpart obligations so federal reviews didn’t stall possession.

Outcome Highlights

  • Executed lease with clear delivery conditions, defined acceptance, and documented options, supporting program continuity.

  • Competitive economics supported by local comps and federal benchmarks.

  • Codified responsibilities for alterations, maintenance, access control, and compliance, reducing post-move ambiguity. 

What This Means for Government & Institutional Users

  • Predictable approvals: Pre-mapped deliverables reduce rework during contracting and acceptance.

  • Operational continuity: Options and notice periods give room to expand, extend, or relocate as mission needs evolve.

  • Cost discipline: Transparent economics and landlord-deliverable scope protect total occupancy cost.

Thinking about your own lease?

If you’re 9–12 months from a decision (new lease or renewal), start with a quick benchmark: specs, delivery checklist, comps, and a timeline that matches your approval process. We’ll build a Best-Price Strategy & Roadmap you can take to stakeholders for fast, confident sign-off.


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