Month: February 2023

Source: United States General Services Administration

February 8, 2023

BOSTON – In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) held a public meeting in support of an Environmental Assessment for the proposed construction of a new replacement Land Port of Entry (LPOE) at Highgate Springs, Vermont, on January 12, 2023, in St. Albans, Vermont.

The public is invited and encouraged to submit their comments to GSA. GSA has extended the timeframe for submission of written comments to Friday, February 17, 2023. Written comments not submitted in person at the public meeting on Jan. 12 must be submitted using one of the following methods:

• Email: Send an email to highgatesprings.lpoe@gsa.gov and reference “Highgate Springs LPOE EA” in the subject line.
• Mail: Send written comments to the following address:
  • U.S General Services Administration
    Attention: John Maurer, Project Manager
    Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr., Federal Building
    10 Causeway Street, 11th Floor
    Boston, MA 02222-1077

Project information, including a video recording of this public meeting, is available at: gsa.gov/highgatespringslpoe. Closed captioning is available within the video by clicking the “CC” button on the bottom right-hand corner of the YouTube video.

This extends the public’s opportunity to provide input on the issues that are important to the community. This input is a valuable step in the process and will be used by GSA to determine the scope and content of the Environmental Assessment.

GSA is proposing to acquire additional land and to construct a larger facility that expands and modernizes this port. The new replacement facility will allow federal inspection agencies to operate efficiently and enable the port to handle the anticipated traffic increase at the border crossing, expediting crossing times for the traveling public and businesses that rely on binational commerce.

The Highgate Springs project will incorporate sustainability features that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate environmental impact, and simultaneously increase the mission readiness of the federal government by increasing resilience to climate change.

The new port will meet the U.S. Custom and Border Protection’s (CBP) mission requirements, while improving the safety of officers and the traveling public. It will provide for an efficient flow of people and commerce, accommodating the increased traffic volume, and the additional border security measures and technologies.

The Highgate Springs Land Port of Entry – one of the busiest land ports in New England – sits across the U.S.-Canada border from the Canadian port of entry at St. Armand, Quebec. The port is at the end of Interstate 89 (I-89) and Canada Route 133 which connects to Canada Autoroute-35 (A-35).

The new facility, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is critical due to the extension of Canada Autoroute A-35. This extension will connect to I-89 at Highgate Springs, and is expected to increase traffic through the port by approximately 30 percent.

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

February 3, 2023

Work is part of the port’s low-embodied carbon concrete paving project

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced a new series of temporary northbound privately owned vehicle (POV) inspection lane closures at the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry (LPOE). From Wednesday, February 8, 2023, to Friday, February 10, 2023, and from Tuesday, February 14, 2023, to Friday, February 17, 2023, two northbound POV lanes at a time will be closed between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day. The temporary lane closures are necessary to conduct a topological survey ahead of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funded low-embodied carbon concrete paving project at the port. Drivers should anticipate possible delays, monitor traffic signs, and reduce speeds near and around the construction work area.

What’s Happening

What: A series of temporary lane closures impacting two northbound vehicle inspection lanes at a time.

Where: Northbound privately owned vehicle inspection lanes at the Otay Mesa LPOE.

When: From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Wednesday, Feb. 8 to Friday, Feb. 10, and again Tuesday, Feb. 14 to Friday, Feb. 17.

As one of the busiest ports in California, the asphalt surfaces at the Otay Mesa LPOE suffer from cracks, potholes, and erosion from the thousands of vehicles that cross every day. GSA’s concrete paving project, set to start late Summer 2023, will replace asphalt surfaces with low-embodied carbon concrete, which is more resilient and requires less frequent maintenance and replacement.

GSA is responsible for constructing and maintaining LPOEs along the nation’s borders in partnership with and support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection and other federal inspection agencies. Through the BIL, GSA is modernizing LPOEs along the Canadian and Mexican borders. These upgrades will strengthen supply chains, create good-paying jobs, enhance safety and security, and provide sustainable solutions to keep these ports operating efficiently and effectively for years to come.

Learn more about this and all other projects at the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry at www.gsa.gov/otaymesa.

Source: United States General Services Administration

February 24, 2023

LAREDO, Texas – Officials from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the City of Laredo came together for a ribbon cutting event at the World Trade Land Port of Entry (LPOE). The event recognized the completion of four new Free and Secure Trade for Commercial Vehicles (FAST) lanes that will help process commercial trucks heading northbound into the U.S.

For years, the high volume of commercial traffic resulted in bottlenecking for commercial trade at the port. The new lanes will speed the flow of traffic and reduce wait times by diverting pre-approved, low-risk commercial carriers to the newly designated lanes for expedited processing.

“This project and others along the southern border benefit from GSA’s Donations Program – in this case with the City of Laredo helping to provide the necessary infrastructure and technology for the new FAST lanes,” said GSA Regional Administrator Jason L. Shelton. “GSA and our partners are proud to creatively deliver on this project that helps support CBP’s role to safeguard our borders and enhance our nation’s economic prosperity through trade.”

“The World Trade Bridge is a crucial component of both the U.S. and Laredo economies. It accounted for $299.5 billion in trade in 2022, making it the #1 commercial crossing on the U.S.-Mexico border, and the #3 port in the country among more than 450 air, sea, and land ports,” said Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28).

“The FAST Lanes Relocation Project is a $10.3 million investment in the World Trade Bridge and ensures international trade will continue to flourish in Laredo. The result is four new FAST inspection lanes and four inspection booths, which will reduce the crossing times for FAST and non-FAST traffic. I applaud the City of Laredo, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for working together to bring the project to fruition. I will continue to be Laredo’s voice in Washington and fight for improved infrastructure and economic opportunities in our community.”

“We are grateful for the opportunity to pursue public-private partnerships with local entities, such as the City of Laredo, to strengthen our ports of entry and the surrounding communities,” said Pete Flores, CBP Executive Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Field Operations. “These port improvements will assist CBP in processing legitimate trade and travel while alleviating traffic congestion for the trucks and vehicles crossing through the port.”

“As International Trade continues to grow, so does the need for Laredo to adapt to meet these market conditions,” said Mayor Dr. Victor D. Treviño. “As the #1 Land Port in the Americas, strategies and programs are essential to improve efficiency and customer service. The 4 FAST lanes increase commercial crossings and traffic flow for truck drivers who are enrolled in the FAST Program. This program will reduce congestion and expedite safe and secure international trade. I look forward to continuing our great partnership and relationship between the City of Laredo, GSA, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”

“The completion of the four Free and Secure Trade (FAST) lanes at the World Trade Bridge is a tremendous improvement to Port Laredo. We continue facilitating trade through improvements like this FAST lane project that reduce wait times and congestion in the FM1472 and I-69 corridor. We thank CBP and GSA for their partnership and all the stakeholders committed to ensuring an efficient and thriving Port Laredo,” said Vanessa Perez, Mayor Pro Tempore.

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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 the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

Source: United States General Services Administration

February 17, 2023

WASHINGTON – Today, the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) announced new investments that will build and improve cybersecurity and digital services at the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

“Cybersecurity is the great enabler of IT modernization. When we help agencies launch technology that is secure by design, they’re able to drive transformation across products and services to improve the digital experience and maximize investments,” said TMF Board Chair and Federal CIO Clare Martorana. “Through the TMF, we are helping agencies build a secure foundation to keep the American public’s information confidential, preserve data integrity, and improve accessibility.”

“With these new cybersecurity investments, TMF funding will increase the security of some of the nation’s most critical systems and sensitive data,” said TMF Executive Director Raylene Yung. “The TMF is helping these agencies protect lives and livelihoods, safeguard intelligence and information integrity, and keep the programs the federal workforce relies on to serve the American public up and running.”

The following investments aim to modernize services and secure assets:

Social Security Administration: Personal data security for public benefits processing

SSA’s front-line employees depend on the agency’s internal services to provide virtual, telephone, and in-office support to hundreds of thousands of customers daily.

A $23.3 million TMF investment will accelerate multi-factor authentication and increase security of an agency that pays benefits to more than 70 million people, including retirement and disability beneficiaries and their families.

“Millions count on Social Security for their benefits, and we are committed to secure systems that protect their personal information and allow our hard-working employees to provide the daily services and assistance American retirees and other beneficiaries depend on,” said Sean Brune, Chief Information Officer. “This investment will improve security and protections of our programmatic systems while avoiding potential agency costs and potential disruption of services.”

U.S. Department of the Treasury: Secure cloud national intelligence sharing

The Treasury Foreign Intelligence Network (TFIN) is used to share classified information with other government agencies. Treasury’s bureaus and subagencies rely on the network to identify and analyze overseas threats to America’s economy and finances, and to monitor and evaluate the evolving impact of foreign sanctions.

An $11.1 million TMF investment will improve the reliability and mitigate the security challenges of this critical network. It will prevent interruptions and outages while meeting the needs of its approximately 800 national security users.

“This project addresses critical challenges for security on our national security system, as outlined in White House National Security Memorandum 8, as well as a need for technological transformation that will bring TFIN in line with current performance and security best practices,” said James D. (Trey) Treadwell, III, Treasury’s Deputy Assistant Secretary, Support and Technology, Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

U.S. Agency for Global Media: Improving IT security with zero trust architecture

USAGM provides accurate, objective, and comprehensive news and information to audiences overseas who are often subject to censorship, strict media controls, or influence by violent extremism.

A $6.2 million TMF investment to implement zero trust architecture will support the agency’s mission and ultimately protect the lives of its journalists and their sources, safeguard the integrity of USAGM-funded news content frequently targeted by oppressive governments and non-state actors, and improve management of USAGM devices for its decentralized and remote workforce.

“USAGM’s five news networks produce television, radio, and digital content in 63 languages and for a weekly audience of 410 million people. Because of our success in providing sought-after reporting in media-restricted environments, USAGM and our employees are frequently targets of harassment, hacking, and impersonation,” said Amanda Bennett, USAGM CEO. “This investment will dramatically improve USAGM’s IT security posture and reduce the risk of identity fraud and unauthorized access, protecting both lives and the integrity of our agency’s trusted journalism products.”

GSA encourages federal agencies to contact the TMF Program Management Office at tmf@gsa.gov if the vision, mission, and use of TMF makes sense in their agency IT modernization efforts. Agencies can follow these guidelines for submitting a proposal.

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About the TMF: The Technology Modernization Fund is working to transform the way the government uses technology to deliver for the American public in an equitable, secure, and user-centric way. The TMF invests in technology projects across government, providing incremental funding, technical assistance, and oversight throughout execution to ensure the success of its investments.

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 $650 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 $225 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.

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 the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

Source: United States General Services Administration

February 17, 2023

New series of daytime northbound vehicle lane closures will occur over the next 3 weeks

CALEXICO, Calif. ㅡ The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced a new set of weekday, daytime northbound vehicle inspection lane closures at the Calexico West Land Port of Entry (LPOE) scheduled to take place over the next three weeks. The lane closures are related to the installation of the vehicle inspection canopy and will occur weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., starting Monday, February 20, 2023 and ending Wednesday, March 8, 2023. During this period, three contiguous northbound lanes will be closed to accommodate construction work, leaving at least seven lanes available for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to conduct vehicle inspection operations.

The vehicle inspection lane closure sequence is outlined below:

• February 20 – 22 – The three westermost northbound vehicle lanes (8-10) will be closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• February 23 – 27 – The three western middle northbound vehicle lanes (6-8) will be closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• February 28 – March 1 – The three middle northbound vehicle lanes (4-6) will be closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• March 2 – 6 – The three eastern middle northbound vehicle lanes (2-4) will be closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• March 7 – 8 – The three easternmost northbound vehicle lanes (1-3) will be closed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Drivers should anticipate possible delays, monitor traffic signs, and reduce speeds near and around the construction work area. They are also encouraged to enter through the Calexico East LPOE to help alleviate traffic congestion at the Calexico West LPOE.

The current nighttime lane closures to install segments of the shade canopy will continue through Fall 2023. GSA is working with CBP to minimize negative impacts to port operations and ensure the safety of the traveling public. This work is part of GSA’s larger reconfiguration and expansion project at the port which supports the CBP mission and will improve traveler’s border-crossing experience.

For more information about the Calexico West LPOE reconfiguration and expansion project, visit the project page.