Month: April 2022

Source: United States General Services Administration

April 19, 2022

SAN DIEGO ㅡ Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection (CBP) co-hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry (LPOE). The event celebrated the milestone completion of commercial improvements on the truck inspection portion of the port, delivering infrastructure improvements which expand processing capacity, grow the region’s economy and protect the climate.

“GSA embraces our agency partnerships which are enabling the accomplishment of multiple missions while having a positive economic impact on the greater San Diego community,” said GSA’s Public Buildings Service (PBS) Commissioner Nina Albert. “The role of PBS in the building industry puts us in a unique position to have lasting, positive impact. Otay Mesa is a great example where we see traffic having an impact on the economy and community. Here, we’ve aligned sustainability features of design and construction plans with the culture of the community and its needs without compromising operational mission objectives.”

GSA has a physical real-estate presence in more than 2,000 communities nationwide and just received a $3.4 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 26 major modernization and construction projects at land ports of entry along the U.S. border with Mexico and Canada.

The ceremony, held atop the new employee parking structure, was attended by legislators from the binational community, federal officials and civic leaders.

“The Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry is an important part of our regional economy,” said U.S. Rep (CA-51) Juan Vargas. “Otay Mesa is one of the busiest commercial ports of entry, and these improvements will invest in more efficient flows of commerce and boost commercial processing. Expanding and modernizing this port of entry will benefit the economy on both sides of the border, and I’m proud to have supported this vital project from its inception to completion.”

The completion of commercial improvements at Otay Mesa underscore a positive return on the federal government’s $134 million investment in the modernization and expansion at the 51-acre port. CBP figures show an increasing number of cargo truck crossings at Otay Mesa – 958,766 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. Though truck crossings dipped by 51,221 (907,545) in FY 2020 as the pandemic raged, crossings increased by more than 108,000 trucks last year. Translated into dollars, those trucks imported $34 billion of goods in FY19, $32 billion in FY20, and more than $37 billion in FY21 at California’s busiest commercial truck crossing.

“The improvements GSA is making continue to speed the importation of just-in-time shipments into the U.S., reduce wait times and vehicle emissions, and improve the supply chain by eliminating long-standing vehicular conflicts within the facility that have hampered commercial flows for decades,” said GSA’s Acting Regional Administrator Dan Brown.

The Otay Mesa ceremony highlighted GSA’s work that increased the number of commercial truck processing lanes from nine to 16, and the executive branch support of CBP and other federal agencies which conduct their vital missions related to the comprehensive management, control and protection of our nation’s borders.

“The Otay Mesa modernization and expansion project is creating a safer and more efficient facility to support our processing capabilities at one of the busiest cargo ports of entry in the nation.” said Sidney Aki, CBP’s Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “This modernization allows our officers to continue protecting our nation’s borders, while facilitating the flow of commerce between Mexico and the United States. Our agency is extremely excited to have this innovative project come to fruition here very soon.”

The Otay Mesa modernization and expansion project, slated for overall completion in Spring 2023, also adds other upgrades and reconfigurations including those for pedestrian travelers, employees, visitors, and bus inspections. Other improvements include:

• Construction of a commercial annex building
• Relocation of Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) enrollment facilities
• Relocation of hazardous material commercial import processing

The Otay Mesa modernization and expansion project will provide port tenants, including CBP and other federal agencies, with adequate operational space to reduce traffic congestion via a more efficient layout for port operations and facilities for the traveling public. To accommodate the 3.6 million pedestrians who cross each year, GSA will double pedestrian lanes from six to 12 to improve processing capacity. “Otay Mesa and especially the cargo port are the most-important asset for our community,” said Alejandra Mier y Teran, executive director of the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce. She said that small-business owners and human-resource directors point to pedestrian processing as key to keeping high-demand manufacturing facilities open including those producing medical devices and automotive parts. “Through this pandemic, Otay is one of the few communities in the greater San Diego region that never really closed between Baja and Southern California. Trade has increased.”

View images and video of the design

About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

About CBP: U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.

Source: United States General Services Administration

April 19, 2022

Latest investment will support the streamlining of Login.gov and identity verification services for Veterans

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) announced its first investment in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This American Rescue Plan (ARP)-funded investment will modernize the sign-in experience at VA.gov and MyHealth.VA.gov, allowing eligible Veterans to digitally access benefits and services more reliably, equitably and securely.

Using TMF funding and support, this project will take three steps towards the implementation of a single modern, inclusive and easy-to-use sign-in service at VA. It will support the seamless transition of existing users to Login.gov, create an in-person identity verification option for Veterans unable to sign up online, and initiate a pilot to use physical security keys for multi-factor authentication, improving accessibility, equity and security.

“Our nation has a sacred obligation to care for our Veterans and their families, and this investment will help the VA deliver on that commitment,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “By offering a single sign-in solution and giving Veterans an in-person identity verification option, we will make it easier and more secure for them to access the services they deserve.”

“We want Veterans to easily and securely access the care and benefits they’ve earned, and implementing Login.gov creates a trusted government credential to do that,” said United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. “As Veterans transition to civilian life, Login.gov lets them safely access many government benefits and services online and in-person. The Technology Modernization Fund’s support continues our digital transformation, and allows us to enhance and accelerate the development and seamless delivery of services to Veterans.”

Login.gov provides a single account to securely access online government services and is already used by agencies including the U.S. Small Business Administration and programs such as USAJobs. Complementing the recent enterprise-wide implementation of Login.gov on VA.gov, Veterans will be able to easily access services across multiple agencies with their VA sign-in credentials.

This investment aligns with the administration’s priority to deliver an excellent, equitable, secure customer experience for the American public. It also addresses directives in the recent Customer Experience (CX) Executive Order, which aims to improve Veterans’ access to healthcare and other services by integrating Login.gov into VA’s customer-facing digital products and eliminating outdated, duplicative sign-in options.

“For many years our Veterans have had to use multiple user names and passwords to access their benefits online leading to a frustrating and fractured experience for the people who have given their all in service to our country,” said TMF Board Chair and Federal CIO Clare Martorana. “This TMF investment will enable our Veterans to access their digital benefits and services in a simple, seamless, and secure way while making it easier for the VA workforce to serve them.”

At $10.5 million, this project is funded by the ARP, which provided the TMF with $1 billion to address urgent technology modernization challenges and bolster cybersecurity across the federal government. Previous TMF investments have improved citizen data protections, strengthened cybersecurity across government, saved taxpayer dollars, and advanced public-facing digital services.

Funds for TMF projects are distributed incrementally and are tied to performance targets and delivery milestones which are assessed quarterly by the TMF Board. The program management office at GSA also provides hands-on technical support to project teams throughout the project lifecycle to ensure successful execution.

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About the TMF: The Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) is an innovative funding vehicle that gives agencies additional ways to deliver services to the American public more quickly, provide better security for sensitive systems and data, and use taxpayer dollars more efficiently.

The TMF is overseen by the Technology Modernization Board, which is composed of government IT leaders representing proven expertise in technology, transformation, and operations. To date, the TMF has announced investments totaling over $400 million. These investments have supported projects ranging from providing a single secure login experience for government websites to digitizing temporary worker visa programs and modernizing systems that support crop inspection and certification. The TMF has received $175 million through the annual budget process and $1 billion through the American Rescue Plan to fund modernization projects to date. For more information, visit tmf.cio.gov and follow us at @TMF_gsa.

About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

Source: United States General Services Administration

April 18, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced steps to advance equity and supplier diversity in federal procurement, in line with recent changes to the category management program, and other actions to reduce obstacles for small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs). These steps will help GSA reach the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of increasing the share of contracts awarded to small disadvantaged businesses by 50% by 2025.

“Small disadvantaged businesses are the heartbeat of the American economy,” said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Sonny Hashmi. “Our goal, and this Administration’s goal, is to make it easier for small businesses to get in the federal marketplace and have them succeed once they are onboard.”

GSA is supporting implementation of the changes OMB recently announced to the governmentwide category management program. These changes focus the federal workforce on reaching small businesses and help agencies use more equitable practices by:

• Giving agencies automatic credit towards all awards made to socioeconomic small businesses, beginning in FY 2022.
• Encouraging implementation of category management plans consistent with statutory socioeconomic responsibilities and ensuring that these plans do not prioritize spending on “Best-In-Class” solutions at the expense of meeting socioeconomic small business goals.
• Ensuring that the use of “Best-In-Class” solutions is balanced with decentralized contracts and other necessary strategies to increase diversity within agency supplier bases.

GSA is conducting research, collecting feedback, and addressing barriers that keep SDBs from succeeding.

In addition to supporting the category management changes, GSA just released a set of five public commitments to reduce obstacles and improve SDB outcomes. Through those commitments, GSA will:

• Establish a new IT governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC), Polaris, to increase SDB representation. GSA has released the small business and women-owned small business solicitations.
• Simplify the process for firms to obtain a multiple award schedule (MAS) contract and improve vendor education using human centered design principles to create a pathway to federal procurement through the MAS contract vehicle.
• Create a post-award engagement strategy to help contractors who are new to government to succeed.
• Establish a supplier diversity plan promoting successful outcomes for vendors. This will include a strategy and criteria for regular on-ramping relative to GWACs and multi-agency contracts.
• Enhance e-tools so SDB contractors can evaluate federal marketplace opportunities.

These five actions will help to increase participation of underserved and disadvantaged communities in the federal procurement process, and advance the agency’s efforts to use federal buying power to expand opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses.

Read more about GSA’s Equity Action Plan.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

Source: United States General Services Administration

April 14, 2022

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) released its Equity Action Plan, a key step forward in the Biden-Harris Administration’s priority of advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government.

GSA’s action plan aims to increase equity in three high-impact focus areas: federal procurement, federal buildings, and federal technology design and delivery. Focusing on these areas, GSA will use its unique position of delivering mission-critical services and core products across government to act as a force multiplier in advancing equity and removing barriers for underserved communities.

“This plan lays out how GSA intends to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as a priority in everything we do, from delivering projects to designing websites,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “For government to work, it needs to work for everyone. That’s why we’re focused on improving how we at GSA, and our federal partners, can improve how we deliver services to all of America’s communities.”

“This set of public commitments marks an incredible milestone for GSA’s equity work,” said Andrea M. O’Neal, Senior Advisor to the Administrator for Equity. “It represents what is possible when we have a coordinated, focused effort across government to address the set of systemic challenges facing communities who have been historically, socially, and economically underserved.”

GSA has worked to advance equity across its offices and platforms, and will continue to build on that progress. Following the results of its assessment, GSA will implement new strategies that will help to remove barriers and enhance support and education for underserved communities. These new strategies will advance equity by:

• Improving success for underserved businesses;
• Enhancing technical assistance for underserved communities;
• Ensuring equitable technology design and delivery;
• Enhancing access to opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses to participate on the Multiple Award Schedule contract vehicle;
• Enhancing supplier diversity and vendor education;
• Determining the economic and environmental justice impacts of the current and future public building footprint to advance the livability and vitality of communities;
• Prioritizing equitable design and user experience when developing and delivering federal digital services;
• Improving performance of older devices and accessibility for mobile, rural, and low-bandwidth users; and
• Investing in resources to help advance civil rights.

GSA is committed to making meaningful equity impacts, recognizing that equitable approaches lead to better outcomes for everyone. The Equity Action Plan will continue to guide the agency’s efforts to create a more equitable future for the federal government and the people we serve.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

Source: United States General Services Administration

April 13, 2022

The Federal Marketplace Strategy takes an innovative approach to procurement that drives better outcomes for the American people.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration previewed key elements of the Federal Marketplace (FMP) Spring 2022 release. GSA has been improving the Federal Marketplace Strategy to enhance the digital experience of all suppliers, buyers, and members of the acquisition workforce who participate in the federal marketplace.

“With the launch of our new buyer experience, we highlight GSA’s commitment to our customers, suppliers, and workforce while improving the buying process. I am excited for our users to see what they helped develop and look forward to watching it grow and expand in the years to come,” said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Sonny Hashmi.

GSA is prepared to launch a new solution for the buyer experience, based on human centered design principles. This development will reduce pain points that federal agency buyers, suppliers, and GSA acquisition professionals have mentioned in feedback. The updated buyer experience will offer buyers access to acquisition tools and market research solutions, as well as documents, templates, and pricing resources to help plan acquisitions. The upcoming FMP Spring 2022 release will include additional details about the buyer experience.

This year, GSA will also offer suppliers new tools to reduce burdens and simplify the supplier experience. That strategy will help to clarify government procurement options, qualification requirements, and the process of preparing to submit an offer. Further, GSA is working to update the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Roadmap to simplify suppliers’ onboarding processes. Federal acquisition professionals have been working with industry to make it easier to get on the GSA Schedule, and GSA launched the new Vendor Support Center earlier this year so that all prospective and current MAS contract holders can find information and resources they need to do business with the government.

Overall, the FMP Strategy makes it easier for suppliers to offer goods and services to government agencies so they can accomplish their respective missions. GSA provides acquisition systems, solutions, and a marketplace where buyers and suppliers can connect with each other – thereby helping government agencies deliver their best service to the public.

For more information, check out the FMP Strategy website.