Evans Center Request for Applications (RFA)

Project Description: The City of Palm Bay invites qualified organizations to apply for the lease and operation of the Evans Center, a 6,068‑square‑foot facility at 1361 Florida Avenue NE that previously functioned as a neighborhood market and restaurant. Equipped with a full commercial kitchen, walk‑in refrigerator and community room, the Evans Center offers a unique space to provide programs and services that benefit Palm Bay residents. A portion of the building is currently leased to the Brevard Health Alliance and is therefore excluded from this solicitation. This Request for Applications is being issued through the City’s Procurement Department and will be evaluated by a committee using a structured scoring methodology. Applicants must demonstrate their organizational capacity, program design, financial stability and maintenance plan, and may propose any community‑serving use consistent with local zoning. The draft lease contemplates a one‑year term with four one‑year renewal options and a nominal base rent of $10 per year; however, proposals offering a higher monthly lease payment will receive up to twenty points in the scoring process. All utilities, routine maintenance and kitchen equipment upkeep are the tenant’s responsibility. Interested organizations should review the full RFA package, including the draft lease and facility inventory, and submit their applications through the Bonfire portal by December 5, 2025.