Month: May 2023

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GSA seeks to transfer Little Mark Island and Monument in Harpswell, Maine, to agency or nonprofit

Source: United States General Services Administration

May 30, 2023

BOSTON – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has issued a Notice of Availability for the Little Mark Island and Monument in Harpswell, Maine. This historic property is available at no cost to eligible entities as part of a federal disposal program authorized by the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA) of 2000. This is one of a record number of lighthouses being offered in 2023 to government agencies, nonprofits, and the public via auction.

Under the NHLPA, a historic lighthouse that is no longer needed by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is made available at no cost to eligible entities defined as:

  • Federal agencies
  • State and local agencies
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Educational agencies or community development organizations for educational purposes
  • Park, recreational, cultural, or historic preservation purposes

Each year, GSA, in conjunction with the USCG, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the National Park Service (NPS), issues Notices of Availability for historic light stations as part of the NHLPA. Under the NHLPA, the property may be obtained for educational, park, recreational, cultural, or historic preservation purposes.

The property comprises Little Mark Island, approximately one-acre in size, and the Little Mark Island Monument, a pyramidal stone masonry tower constructed and established as a federal aid to navigation and lifesaving facility in 1827. The monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. The monument is no longer an active aid to navigation maintained by the government.

The monument is 18-feet at the base and stands 50-feet tall. The tower’s interior is configured like a chimney flue and has a 12-foot square room at the base.

The exterior is painted white with a vertical black stripe centered on each of its four sides. Little Mark Island is situated at the southern end and mouth of Merriconeag Sound in Casco Bay. It is accessible by boat.

For complete details on the property, including conditions, range of possible uses, commercial activities, utilities, etc., eligible entities can review the Notice of Availability.

Any eligible entity with an interest in acquiring the property for a use consistent with the purposes stated above should submit a letter of interest to the address below within 60 (sixty) days from the date of this notice.

Letters of interest should include:

  • Name of property
  • Name of eligible entity
  • Point of contact, title, address, phone and email
  • Non-profit agencies must provide a copy of their state-certified articles of incorporation before the end of the 60-day Notice period.

Eligible entities that submit a letter of interest will be sent an application from NPS and given an opportunity to inspect the property. Building inspectors and/or contractors may accompany the applicant on the inspection. The application is due within 90 days from the date of the site inspection.

NPS will review all applications and may recommend one applicant to receive the property. If a recommendation is made, GSA will complete the conveyance to the selected entity with a Quitclaim Deed. Pursuant to Section 305106 of the NHLPA, the property will be sold if it is not transferred to an eligible entity.

Letters of interest should be directed to:

U.S. General Services Administration
Real Property Utilization and Disposal Division
10 Causeway Street – 11th Floor
Boston, MA 02222
Attention: Sonia Allon-Singh (Sonia.Allon-Singh@gsa.gov)

GSA’s New England Region Real Property Utilization and Disposal Division provides realty services to federal agencies throughout the region, as well as in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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.

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U.S. General Services Administration to host a public scoping meeting for the new Federal Courthouse in Hartford, Conn.

Source: United States General Services Administration

May 30, 2023

HARTFORD, Conn. – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will host a public scoping meeting in support of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed siting and construction of a new Federal Courthouse in Hartford, Connecticut.

The public is encouraged to attend and participate in the scoping meeting on:

WHEN: Tuesday, June 6, 2023
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Park Street Library @ The Lyric
Community Room
603 Park St., Hartford, CT 06106

During this meeting, the public will have an opportunity to hear about the project and learn how they can 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 EIS.

There will be a project presentation at 6:00 p.m. with a public comment period to follow. An American Sign language translator and a Spanish language interpreter will be available.

All comments must be submitted by July 6, 2023.

Written comments may be submitted using one of the following methods:

  • In-Person: Submit written comments at the public scoping meeting via comment forms. There will be a stenographer to capture the comments voiced during the meeting.
  • Email: Send an email to HartfordCourthouse@gsa.gov and reference “Hartford Courthouse EIS” in the subject line.
  • Mail: Send direct written comments to the following address:
    General Services Administration
    Attention: Robert Herman, Project Manager
    Abraham A. Ribicoff U.S. Courthouse
    450 Main Street, Suite 435
    Hartford, CT 06103
  • Drop Box: Place written comments in the drop box at the main entrance of the Ribicoff Courthouse, at the following address:
    Abraham A. Ribicoff U.S. Courthouse
    450 Main Street
    Hartford, CT 06103

The existing courthouse, the Abraham A. Ribicoff Federal Building and Courthouse, was constructed in 1963 and does not have the space, functionality, security, and building systems to meet the current and projected needs of the Court. The new Courthouse will provide eleven (11) courtrooms, eighteen (18) Judge chambers and offices for court-related agencies along with 66 secured parking spaces. The project will meet the 10-year space needs of the courts and court-related agencies and will accommodate expansion to meet the anticipated 30-year needs of the courts.

“The District Court has outgrown its building, and the Judges and Court staff are excited to begin the process of learning more from both the environmental impact study and the public about each of the three potential sites for our new home,” Michael Shea, Chief Judge, United States District Court, District of Connecticut, said. “I invite members of the public to come to the meeting, hear about the study process and the needs of the Court, and offer their views on the project’s impacts.”

GSA has identified three potential sites for the project, each corresponding to an action alternative (listed north to south):

  • Woodland Site – a state office building with parking lot consisting of 10.1 acres at 61 Woodland St
  • Allyn Site – a surface parking lot consisting of 2.19 acres at 154 Allyn St
  • Hudson Site – a surface parking lot with auto detailing shop consisting of 2.54 acres at 201 Hudson St

Further information about the project can be viewed at: http://gsa.gov/hartfordcourthouse .

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.

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Director Allison Randall of the Office on Violence Against Women Delivers Remarks at the Launch of the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence Federal Interagency Roundtable

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

Thank you, Rosie, and good morning, everyone. As a lifelong advocate and a survivor, I’m honored to be here with all of you and to represent the Department of Justice at the release of the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: Strategies for Action.

At the Department of Justice, we know that sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking and human trafficking are serious violent crimes that make our nation less equal and less just. Only a comprehensive response that is deeply informed by survivors and historically marginalized communities can end gender-based violence.

I travel all over the country meeting with advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors and clinicians. They are doing whatever it takes to meet survivors where they are – both figuratively and literally. Just as laid out in this national plan, they are responding to the whole person, the whole community.

A family justice center in Louisiana is offering onsite forensic exams and primary health care and holistic wellness. But also housing and connections to jobs and options for survivors who aren’t sure about working with law enforcement yet.

A tribal program in California is waiting with kids every morning before they get on the school bus, to stop traffickers from approaching them and to build relationships that help prevent dating violence.

Federal prosecutors in Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma and more are reducing violent crime by partnering with service providers and prosecuting federal gun crimes committed by domestic violence perpetrators.

The Department of Justice is committed to making our communities safer by increasing access to justice, in all its forms. The Office on Violence Against Women alone has awarded over $9.5 billion under the Violence Against Women Act since it was first authorized. And that’s to say nothing of our colleagues at the Office for Victims of Crime, who award billions every year.

  • On Monday, we announced the first-ever National Protocol for Intimate Partner Violence Medical Forensic Examinations.
    • The protocol gives guidance on caring for victims with compassion and respect, empowers patients to make decisions for their welfare, and instructs clinicians on collecting evidence should survivors opt for a criminal justice system response.
  • Last year, the Department released guidance to improve law enforcement response to sexual assault and domestic violence by identifying and preventing gender bias, so that survivors who seek help can get it and law enforcement can more effectively fight these cries.
  • Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating the priority to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly.
  • DOJ has also spearheaded efforts to implement state of the art forensic telehealth centers to respond to gender-based violence survivors in rural and isolated communities in America, including remote villages in Alaska.
  • Last April, the Civil Rights Division launched a Coordinating Committee to Combat Sexual Misconduct. In just one year, they have secured $3.75 million for victims and survivors, obtained 21 criminal convictions, filed nine civil complaints with 16 in active litigation, and trained more than 6,000 people.

These efforts are among many others that are creating systemic change. Together as federal agencies, we can end gender-based violence.

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GSA seeks to transfer Plymouth (Gurnet) Lighthouse in Plymouth, Massachusetts to agency or nonprofit

Source: United States General Services Administration

May 30, 2023

BOSTON – Today, U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has issued a Notice of Availability for the Plymouth Lighthouse, more commonly known as Gurnet Lighthouse, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The historic lighthouse is available at no cost to eligible entities as part of a federal disposal program authorized by the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA) of 2000. This is one of a record number of lighthouses being offered in 2023 to government agencies, nonprofits, and the public via auction.

Under the NHLPA, an historic lighthouse that is no longer needed by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is made available at no cost to eligible entities defined as:

  • Federal agencies
  • State and local agencies
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Educational agencies or community development organizations for educational purposes
  • Park, recreational, cultural, or historic preservation purposes

Each year, GSA, in conjunction with the USCG, Department of Homeland Security, and the National Park Service (NPS), issues Notices of Availability for historic light stations as part of the NHLPA. Under the NHLPA, the property may be obtained for educational, park, recreational, cultural, or historic preservation purposes.

The lighthouse was originally built in 1768. It burned down and was replaced with a pair of lights in 1801. The lights were reconstructed again in 1842. The current white octagonal wooden lighthouse is 34 feet high, capped with a standard cast iron lantern room, housing a modern beacon. Gurnet Lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

In addition to the lighthouse, the 7.8-acre property includes a single-story ranch style house with a basement, garage, solar system and a storage shed.

The lighthouse is an active aid to navigation (ATON) operated by the USCG powered by electricity and includes a fog signal horn. The fog signal is a Mariner Radio Activated Sound Signal and can be activated remotely by mariners if needed.

The property is accessible only by AWD or 4-wheel drive vehicles, taking Gurnet Road (part of Duxbury Beach) leading to the Property or by boat.

For complete details on the property, including conditions, range of possible uses, commercial activities, utilities, etc., eligible entities can review the Notice of Availability.

Any eligible entity with an interest in acquiring the property for a use consistent with the purposes stated above should submit a letter of interest to the address below within 60 (sixty) days from the date of this notice.

Letters of interest should include:

  • Name of property
  • Name of eligible entity
  • Point of contact, title, address, phone and email
  • Non-profit agencies must provide a copy of their state-certified articles of incorporation before the end of the 60-day notice period.

Eligible entities that submit a letter of interest will be sent an application from the National Park Service and provided an opportunity to inspect the property. Building inspectors and/or contractors may accompany the applicant on the inspection. The application is due within 90 days from the date of the site inspection.

NPS will review all applications and may recommend one applicant to receive the Property. If a recommendation is made, GSA will complete the conveyance to the selected entity with a Quitclaim Deed. Pursuant to Section 305106 of the NHLPA, the Property will be sold if it is not transferred to a public body or non-profit organization.

Letters of interest should be directed to:

U.S. General Services Administration
Real Property Utilization and Disposal Division
10 Causeway Street – 11th Floor
Boston, MA 02222
Attention: Anthony Barbati (Anthony.Barbati@gsa.gov)

GSA’s New England Region Real Property Utilization and Disposal Division provides realty services to federal agencies throughout the region, as well as in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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.

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Justice Department Highlights Initiatives to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

Source: United States Department of Justice News

This week, the Justice Department highlighted a series of initiatives aimed at preventing and addressing sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV). With its strong, longstanding commitment to upholding justice and pursuing equality for all, the Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government and communities nationwide to prioritize the safety of all survivors of GBV and lauds the White House’s recent release of the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: Strategies for Action.

“Gender-based violence violates fundamental human rights, destroys communities, and fosters social inequities,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Identifying and preventing these crimes is a top department priority, underscored by this first-ever national plan and the government’s collective commitment to this cause. The Justice Department, with our federal partners, will continue to spotlight the repercussions of these crimes on society and applauds those who support survivors in restoring their sense of safety and well-being.”

GBV affects individuals from all walks of life and spans all ages, representing a significant public safety crisis. It pervades every sphere of human interaction, be it public or private. In our ever-connected world, this form of violence impacts communities nationwide and can often escalate under disaster, conflict or crisis conditions, including global health emergencies such as a pandemic.

During the Launch of the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, Acting Director Allison Randall of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) delivered remarks and facilitated a roundtable discussion with leaders, advocates, and survivors. “Sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking are serious violent crimes that make our nation less equal and less just,” said Acting Director Randall. “Only a comprehensive response that is deeply informed by survivors and historically marginalized communities can end gender-based violence. Today we uplift the ongoing work of the Department of Justice and stand with colleagues across the federal government and with communities across the United States.”

The Justice Department’s work to respond to GBV is a whole-of-agency effort to provide comprehensive services for survivors and hold offenders accountable by enforcing the nation’s laws against these crimes. The department’s unwavering commitment to addressing GBV spans across funding, research, policy, technical assistance, training, and guidance that includes, but is not limited, to the following:

Funding

The OVW and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) administer grants to prevent, address and coordinate community responses across the nation to address gender-based violence. Funding helps to strengthen the criminal justice system’s response, expand victim services, support community-based efforts and bolster prevention.

Of note, the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022) includes numerous improvements to legal tools and expansions to  OVW grant programs addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Also, each year, OJP’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) administers hundreds of millions of dollars to all states and territories for crime victim assistance and compensation, including for survivors of gender-based violence.

Policies and Guidance

Projects and Initiatives

  • In April 2023, the Civil Rights Division’s Coordinating Committee to Combat Sexual Misconduct released a fact sheet showcasing its achievements in combatting sexual misconduct throughout the preceding year.
  • In September 2022, OVC funded Restoring Youth: Supporting Sexual Abuse Survivors in Youth Detention, a program aimed at expanding services for sexual abuse survivors in youth detention. The project will build the capacity of four selected grantee partnership sites, comprised of youth detention facilities and community-based sexual abuse survivor service providers, to establish services for youth that are rooted in racial equity and accessible to survivors from traditionally underserved communities.
  • OVC funded several initiatives to prevent Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C) including a Support Line for Survivors of FGM/C, an End FGM/C Network Resources Page, and a Voices to End FGM/C Digital Storytelling Project. They also funded two national trainings for maternal healthcare providers to address FGM/C in May of 2023.
  • OVC funded the Youth Collaboratory to implement projects to prevent and reduce the victimization of Black girls vulnerable to sex trafficking by increasing the capacity of program providers and other stakeholders working to prevent the trafficking of Black girls. The projects included a three-part video series that amplified voices from the field-direct service professionals, researchers, youth and young adults with lived expertise, and multidisciplinary providers. Additionally, the Girls Action Board (GAB), a national leadership opportunity for youth and young adults (ages 18-24) with lived expertise, wrote and performed a collaborative poetry piece about the importance of centering Black girls.

Addressing Crimes Against American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

  • In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating the priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates impacting indigenous women and girls reported missing or murdered. The memorandum directed each U.S. Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction – along with their law enforcement partners at the Justice Department – to update and develop new plans for addressing missing and murdered persons crisis.
  • On Aug. 8-10, the OVW will hold the 18th Annual OVW Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on behalf of the Attorney General. The 2022 Tribal consultation report is available here.
  • In December 2022, the OVC held its Tribal Nation’s Conference in Palm Springs, California, bringing together thousands of Tribal leaders, victim service providers, and criminal justice practitioners to address crime victimization in Indian Country, including all aspects of gender-based violence.
  • In April 2022, OVW issued an interim final rule governing the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Reimbursement Program, a new program authorized under VAWA 2022 to reimburse Tribal governments for expenses incurred in exercising STCJ over non-Native individuals who commit certain covered crimes on tribal lands.
  • OVC administers the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside, which provides non-competitive grant funding to support victim services, including gender-based violence. Tribal set-aside awards support activities such as shelters, child advocacy centers, sexual assault services, community outreach and education; and other activities needed to address survivors in tribal communities.

Research and Data

  • In May 2022, OVW released the FY 2023 Research and Evaluation Initiative to conduct research that facilitates researcher-practitioner partnerships and studies interventions that address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
  • In March 2023, the Department’s National Institute of Justice released a solicitation to conduct research and evaluation projects examining a broad range of topics, including the crimes of domestic and family violence, intimate partner violence, rape, sex trafficking, sexual assault, stalking, and teen dating violence, also known as adolescent relationship abuse, along with the associated criminal justice system response, procedures, and policies.
  • The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) maintains a collection of data that support efforts to address gender-based violence. These measures are collected on several BJS data collections, although the approach to measurement can vary depending on the collection and the year of administration: National Crime Victimization Survey, National Inmate Survey, National Survey of Youth in Custody, and Survey of Prison Inmates.