Source: United States General Services Administration
April 4, 2023
LAS VEGAS – Yesterday, Administrator Robin Carnahan of the U.S. General Services Administration delivered remarks and hosted the agency’s formal Tribal consultation at the Reservation Economic Summit (RES) where she emphasized how GSA is deepening nation-to-nation relationships with Tribes and Tribal organizations. Hosted by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED), RES is an annual national event attended by thousands of Tribal government officials and business leaders throughout Indian Country.
Administrator Carnahan highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s pledge to honor the commitments between the United States and Tribal Nations. She also expressed how GSA is taking concrete actions to enhance relationships and engage in meaningful and robust consultations with Tribal officials to support Native American self-determination.
“President Biden and leaders across this Administration have made it a priority to strengthen the ties and trust between Tribal Nations and the United States. We can only succeed in delivering effective, efficient government if we work together,” said Administrator Robin Carnahan. “That’s our commitment, and my hope is that our conversations, and our daily work at GSA, demonstrate how we uphold our responsibilities, especially as we implement historic investments in America through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.”
Administrator Carnahan noted a recent consultation with the Grand Portage Lake Superior Chippewa as an example of how infrastructure projects can foster a cooperative relationship built on trust and consensus building. This BIL Land Port of Entry project is taking place on trust lands along the border with Canada.
Carnahan also highlighted how GSA has ramped up efforts to strengthen support of Tribal communities by making its offerings more accessible to Tribal Governments and supporting Native American businesses in the federal marketplace. For example, later this year, GSA plans to update tools to increase visibility of Native American owned businesses for GSA customers, partners, and acquisitions professionals.
At the afternoon consultation, over 100 participants joined Carnahan and GSA leaders for discussions on major topics of interest to Indian Country, including small business contracting, partnering with GSA to procure electric vehicles, and a pilot program to support federal buying of carbon pollution-free electricity from Tribal organizations. Participants from GSA included: Julie Ramey, GSA Tribal Liaison in the Office of the Administrator; Erville Koehler, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of General Supplies and Services in the Federal Acquisition Service; Crystal Philcox, Assistant Commissioner of Travel, Transportation, and Logistics in the Federal Acquisition Service; and Tracy Marcinowski, Assistant Commissioner for Acquisitions in the Public Buildings Service.
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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.