Month: May 2023

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GSA to Host Public Meeting for the Expanded Porthill Land Port of Entry

Source: United States General Services Administration

May 10, 2023

Public scoping meeting begins conversation with local community

TACOMA, Wash. ㅡ In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. General Services Administration will host a public meeting in support of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the expansion and modernization of the Porthill Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in Porthill, Idaho. The public is invited to attend the virtual meeting on May 17 from 5–7pm Pacific Daylight Time.

The meeting will be conducted in an open house format. GSA will offer the public 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 EA.

The online meeting will be hosted via Zoom, and the public can register here: http://ow.ly/GVHz50OaTkP

The Porthill LPOE processes personal vehicles, buses, pedestrians, and limited commercial traffic at the U.S.-Canada border in Porthill. After 55 years of continuous operation, the Porthill LPOE is no longer able to meet the operational needs of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Additionally, traffic flow through the port is inefficient and susceptible to congestion and delays. The port expansion project, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will enhance Porthill LPOE’s operational efficiency and capability. The new, modern and energy-efficient facilities will meet CBP’s current mission requirements and improve customer service to travelers. The EA will evaluate alternatives that would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Porthill LPOE.

The public is encouraged to provide written comments regarding the scope of the EA at the meeting and throughout the comment period. The views and comments of the public are necessary to help determine the scope and content of the environmental analysis. Comments must be postmarked & submitted by Monday, June 5 via the following methods:

  • Virtual Meeting: Comment forms will be distributed & collected during the virtual public meeting. Register for the public scoping meeting at http://ow.ly/GVHz50OaTkP.
  • Email: Send comments to PorthillLPOE@gsa.gov and include “Porthill LPOE EA” in the subject line of the message.
  • Mail: Send written comments referencing the “Porthill LPOE EA” to:
    U.S. General Services Administration
    Attention: Emily Grimes, Environmental Program Manager
    1301 A Street, Suite 610
    Tacoma, WA 98402

Project information, including a video recording of this public meeting, will be available at: gsa.gov/Porthill.

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GSA’s energy retrofit program issues largest ever call to accelerate progress toward net zero buildings through President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda

Source: United States General Services Administration

May 10, 2023

Inflation Reduction Act funding will enable hundreds of millions of dollars in energy and cost-saving improvements at 41 facilities

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) issued its largest ever notice of opportunity under its National Deep Energy Retrofit program this week, announcing its intent to leverage funding from the Inflation Reduction Act for projects in four states and the District of Columbia. The projects will accelerate the agency’s efforts to achieve President Biden’s goal to achieve net-zero emissions in the federal buildings portfolio by 2045, and are part of his Investing In America agenda to rebuild the economy, create good-paying jobs, and accelerate the deployment of clean energy.

Through Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs), GSA intends to use Inflation Reduction Act funding to bring energy and cost-saving improvements to 41 facilities, including 17 in the DC area and 24 across Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The projects, with an estimated value of more than $300 million, will aim to convert facilities to all-electric, rather than relying on onsite fossil fuels equipment, and promote opportunities to achieve net zero operations.

“This historic call for proposals is another example of how GSA is making meaningful progress towards decarbonization and net zero buildings – while delivering savings to taxpayers and a healthier future for the next generation,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “We’re excited to partner with innovative energy service companies to rapidly accelerate our progress toward achieving a net zero federal footprint – and create good-paying jobs along the way.”

As part of the White House’s Climate Smart Buildings Initiative, GSA’s National Deep Energy Retrofit program helps modernize federal buildings to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce site energy consumption by renovating buildings to maximize reductions in onsite energy use. These projects will also help support GSA’s efforts to meet the recently released Federal Building Performance Standard and convert buildings to all-electric buildings in which none of the equipment will use onsite fossil fuel combustion.

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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.

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Defense News: U.S. Seizes $80 Million Heroin Shipment in Gulf of Oman

Source: United States Navy

A U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutter seized $80 million worth of heroin from a fishing vessel transiting the Gulf of Oman, May 10, during the ship’s second drug bust this week.

USCGC Glen Harris (WPC 1144) was operating in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 when a boarding team discovered 1,964 kilograms of heroin on a vessel transiting international waters after departing Chah Bahar, Iran. Glen Harris also seized $30 million worth of methamphetamine and heroin two days ago from another fishing vessel that departed the same port.

“I’m very proud of my crew and all we’ve been able to accomplish as a team this week,” said Lt. Nick Jabs, Glen Harris’s commanding officer. “We’re out here to work with regional partners and disrupt any destabilizing maritime activity at sea. We will continue getting after it.”

Glen Harris’s previous seizure on May 8 included 580 kilograms of methamphetamine and 35 kilograms of heroin.

The ship arrived in the Middle East last year as part of a contingent of U.S. Coast Guard cutters that are forward-deployed to the region under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia.

CTF 150 is one of four task forces that form the world’s largest multinational naval partnership, Combined Maritime Forces. Naval forces supporting CTF 150 have now seized illegal drugs worth a combined estimated U.S. street value of more than $250 million in 2023. These efforts help ensure legitimate commercial shipping transits the region free from non-state threats.

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Defense News: $30M Contract Awarded to Small Business for Architect-Engineer Design Services

Source: United States Navy

This contract provides for professional engineering services for the preparation of Design-Bid-Build documents and Design-Build request for proposals. Services may also include architectural programming, geotechnical investigation, field investigation, hazardous materials testing, surveying and mapping, cost estimating, DD1391 preparation and other preliminary project documentation.

Small businesses play a vital role in the American economy – employing half of our country’s workforce, creating nearly two out of every three new American jobs, and often being the source of the next great American innovation. NAVFAC Southeast strives to meet its goals and build on its successes by providing contract opportunities to these businesses.

“NAVFAC Southeast invests in small businesses to support our national defense,” said John Bazylewicz, NAVFAC Southeast assistant deputy director for Small Business. “Small businesses fuel the American dream, which grows the local and federal economies that ultimately strengthen the warfighter.”

Bazylewicz explained that small businesses provide construction, professional and supported services expertise that support the Navy’s mission and the men and women in uniform. It is through strong policy and sound business processes that NAVFAC is able to develop capabilities based strategies that consider program risks, cost, schedule and technical requirements that help meet the expectations of supported commanders while supporting public policy objectives.

Each year NAVFAC establishes target goals for Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone Small Business (HUBZONE), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Women-Owned Small Business categories. Utilizing these small business concerns to the maximum extent practicable is a matter of National interest with both social and economic benefits.

No funds were obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured by means of Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov with 17 offers received.

Work will be performed within NAVFAC Southeast’s geographic area of responsibility and is expected to be completed by May 2028.

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Justice Department Secures Agreement with Union County, New Jersey, Under the Voting Rights Act

Source: United States Department of Justice News

The Justice Department announced today that it has entered into a proposed consent decree with Union County, New Jersey, and county elections officials to settle a voting rights lawsuit. 

The proposed consent decree was filed in federal court in conjunction with a lawsuit brought by the Justice Department. The department’s lawsuit brings claims under Section 203 and 208 of the Voting Rights Act regarding the availability of election assistance and materials in Spanish for Spanish-speaking voters with limited English proficiency. Section 203 requires that certain jurisdictions provide election materials and assistance in other languages, in addition to English. These jurisdictions have been determined by the Census Bureau to have a substantial population of citizens who speak a language other than English and who have limited English proficiency. Under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, Union County is required to provide assistance and make materials available in Spanish.  Section 208 provides a right for voters who need assistance with voting – due to inability to read or write, blindness or disability – to receive assistance from the person of their choice, so long as that person is not an agent of the voter’s employer or union. The consent decree would resolve the United States’ claims.

“Language barriers should never prevent an eligible voter from being able to freely participate in the democratic process,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Equal access to the ballot in a modern democracy means ensuring the availability of bilingual materials for those who are limited English proficient and guaranteeing the right to receive assistance by a person of your choice. We will continue using our voting rights laws to confront the barriers that stand between voters and the ballot box.” 

“The right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy,” said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey. “We will work tirelessly to ensure that every eligible American is able to vote free of unlawful barriers. Through the agreement entered today, we ensure that no one is denied this sacred right simply because they are a Spanish speaker.”

The proposed consent decree, which must be approved by the court, requires the implementation of a comprehensive Spanish-language elections program under Section 203. The Union County Clerk and Board of Elections will provide all election-related information in both English and Spanish, including information in the polling places and online. The Union County Board of Elections will also ensure that in-person language assistance is available at all early voting sites and at each election district with at least 100 Spanish-surnamed registered voters. Spanish-language assistance will continue to be available to all voters by telephone during elections. In addition, the consent decree provides that any voter covered by Section 208 who needs assistance to vote may be assisted by the person of that voter’s choice, other than an agent of the voter’s employer or union, during any stage of the voting process. The consent decree also provides that federal observers may monitor election day activities in polling places in Union County.

Individuals may file voting rights complaints with the Civil Rights Division either online here, or may call (800) 253-3931. Individuals may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey either online here or may call (855) 281-3339.

More information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting rights laws are available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.