Category: US GSA

Source: United States General Services Administration

March 27, 2023

BOSTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has awarded a contract for architectural and engineering services in support of the new Land Port of Entry at Norton, Vermont.

Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the $734,073 contract was awarded to Dattner Architects. The scope of the contract award is to provide pre-design services with optional design and construction phase services to meet the requirements of the Federal inspection agencies at the Norton land port.

This project will also provide the opportunity to incorporate sustainability features that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate the impact of buildings on the environment, and simultaneously increase the mission readiness of the Federal government by increasing resilience to climate change.

“America’s land ports are vital to our economy and our security, with billions of dollars in goods and services crossing our borders each and every day,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “The investments created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are a historic opportunity to modernize our land ports in ways that will create good-paying jobs and strengthen supply chains, while enhancing safety and security.”

When completed, the port will improve public and officer safety, and provide for the long-term, safe and efficient flow of current and projected traffic volumes.

“GSA’s goal is to provide long-lasting and durable buildings which are sustainable and climate resilient, with low maintenance and operating costs,” Region 1 Public Buildings Service Commissioner and Acting Regional Administrator Glenn C. Rotondo said. “The original facility at Norton was constructed in 1933 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The new facility will be highly functional and technologically efficient while respecting the historic nature of the current port. We are excited for the opportunity to work with our Federal partners and begin the process to improve this facility, and the economic prospects this project will bring to the region.”

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

March 29, 2023

BOSTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Land Port of Entry program, has awarded a contract to provide the National Environmental Policy Act services at four land ports in Vermont.

GSA awarded the $922,938.00 contract to WSP USA Solutions Inc. WSP will evaluate the environmental and related social and economic impacts of each of the four port projects on their surrounding communities.

The firm will support the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, which allows the public to provide input and comments through public information meetings and public hearings. NEPA provides steps and procedures to evaluate the potential social, economic and environmental impacts of project alternatives while providing an opportunity for local, state, tribal and Federal agencies to provide input on these four GSA projects.

GSA plans to design and construct facilities that 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.

GSA’s goal is to provide sustainable, climate resilient facilities which are functional, technologically efficient, and provide a welcoming gateway into the United States.

The projects covered by this contract are located in Alburg Springs, Beebe Plain, Norton and Richford. Overall, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allows GSA to invest more than $115 million in these four Vermont land ports.

The projects will improve public and officer safety, as well as expedite crossing times for the traveling public and businesses that rely on binational commerce. Beyond creating state of the art facilities that support the mission of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, these investments will also foster local economic growth and job creation.

“The ports of entry along the Vermont border are intrinsic to the fabric of life and community along the New England border with Canada,” New England (Region 1) Public Buildings Service Commissioner and Acting Regional Administrator Glenn C. Rotondo said. “Our National Environmental Policy Act efforts will be an integral part of our community engagement efforts for these projects. We are excited for the opportunity to begin the process to improve these facilities, and the economic prospects these projects will bring to the region.”

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

March 30, 2023

Provides shared reference for technical and contracting specialists to align their efforts with National Strategy to Secure 5G

WASHINGTON — This week, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) published plain-language guidance to help government agencies buy fifth generation (5G) wireless technology, an innovation that supports higher data-transfer rates, more energy savings, higher capacity, better device connectivity, and other benefits.

GSA’s Acquisition Guidance for Procuring 5G Technology supports an ongoing, multi-agency effort to document and share best practices for optimal 5G deployments.

Mobile technology is a global economic driver, and each generation brings faster speeds and added support for new services. The first generation (1G) enabled cell phones, the second (2G) introduced texting, the third (3G) began the era of the smartphone, and 4G long-term-evolution (LTE) delivered streaming video and fast mobile internet access.

“5G networks have the potential to be faster, more reliable, and serve many more devices — and could provide infrastructure to help with everything from smart buildings to telemedicine,” said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Sonny Hashmi. “We’re pleased to be issuing this guidance to ensure that government can make the most of secure 5G in its efforts to deliver for the American people.”

Congress passed the Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020 which required the federal government to develop a four-pronged strategy to ensure the security of next generation mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure. The resulting National Strategy to Secure 5G details how the U.S. will lead global development, deployment, and management of secure and reliable 5G infrastructure.

Part of that strategy takes aim at reducing supply chain risks to U.S. economic and national security during the development and deployment of 5G infrastructure worldwide. To support this effort, GSA was charged with “establishing acquisition processes to facilitate 5G infrastructure for classified information requirements.”

“We’ve worked hard to ensure that this guidance collects best practices from across the government,” said Laura Stanton, GSA’s Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Information Technology Category. “We have confidence that it will go a long way toward helping federal IT managers, contracting offices, and their industry partners work together to build secure 5G systems.”

The guidance released today focuses on achieving that goal by orienting agencies and their vendors to Best-In-Class acquisition vehicles that feature secure 5G services within their scope.

Subject matter experts from ITC’s Wireless Mobility Solutions program drafted the guidance and incorporated feedback from other agencies involved in the National Strategy. Read more about how the guidance factors into GSA’s procurement strategy on our Greater Government Through Technology blog.

Access the guidance as a white paper, a PDF, or order physical copies through GSA’s Centralized Mailing List Service. As a living document, the guidance will be regularly reviewed to keep pace with changing technology, ensure governmentwide cybersecurity requirements are accurate, and incorporate feedback from stakeholders. Please direct questions to wireless@gsa.gov.

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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

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.

Source: United States General Services Administration

March 13, 2023

BOSTON – The Biden-Harris Administration announced today that the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2024 includes funding for improvements to the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse and the Thomas P. O’Neill Federal Building in Boston. The Budget details a blueprint to grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out, lower costs for families, and more.

The budget proposes investments in the American people that will help lay a stronger foundation for shared growth and prosperity for generations to come.

“The President’s Budget reflects smart investments that will help GSA make cost-saving upgrades to federal buildings, bolster the nation’s cybersecurity, and improve how the government delivers digital services to millions of Americans,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “In addition, for the first time ever, the President’s Budget includes a provision that will guarantee full access to the Federal Buildings Fund while preserving Congress’s discretion to decide on and authorize investments – this is a game-changing provision that will enable GSA to modernize and consolidate the federal footprint, saving taxpayers millions and creating good-paying jobs in local communities.”

In New England, the President’s FY2024 budget request for GSA includes:

• John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse | Boston | $126,390,000
  This $126.3 million project will improve mechanical, electrical, fire alarm systems, the building envelope, and increase resilience to climate change, replace the roof, and modernize conveyance systems.
• Thomas P. O’Neill Federal Building | Boston | $19,317,000
  This $19.3 million project will replace the roofing membrane and insulation, refurbish the atrium skylight, and include a personnel roof fall protection system.

“These projects will strengthen public infrastructure, create good jobs, improve sustainability, and address key building infrastructure needs,” said Region 1 Public Buildings Service Commissioner and Acting Regional Administrator Glenn C. Rotondo. “We are excited for the opportunity to improve these facilities and the economic prospects these projects will bring to the region.”

For more information on the President’s FY 2024 Budget, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/. The GSA Budget request will be posted at www.gsa.gov/cj.

GSA’s New England Region provides centralized procurement for the federal government, by managing its real estate portfolio, products and services throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. GSA’s mission is to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government. For more information, visit: www.gsa.gov/r1 and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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