Category: US GSA

Source: United States General Services Administration

January 9, 2023

BOSTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), as part of a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Land Port of Entry (LPOE) program, has awarded a contract to provide National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) services for four LPOE projects in the state of Maine.

The $505,435 contract was awarded to Johnson, Mirmiran, and Thompson (JMT). Using the NEPA process, JMT will evaluate the environmental and related social and economic impacts of each individual LPOE project on its surrounding community.

NEPA compliance will be part of a larger project at each LPOE funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 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, superior facilities with low maintenance and operating costs; and which are functional, technologically efficient, and provide a welcoming gateway into the United States.

The projects covered by this contract are located in Calais Ferry Point, Coburn Gore, Fort Fairfield, and Limestone. Overall, this legislation allows GSA to invest more than $195 million in these four Maine land ports of entry.

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. Customs and Border Protection, these investments will also foster local economic growth and job creation.

“The ports of entry along the Maine border are more than just a secure, welcoming gateway to our country,” Region 1 Public Buildings Service Commissioner and Acting Regional Administrator Glenn C. Rotondo said. “They are intrinsic to the fabric of life and community along the New England border with Canada. We are excited for the opportunity to begin the process to improve these facilities, and the economic prospects this project will bring to the region. Our NEPA efforts will be an integral part of our community engagement efforts for these projects.”

The NEPA process allows the public to provide input and comments through public information meetings and public hearings. It 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.

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

January 4, 2023

ATLANTA, Georgia — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today announced the sites that are under consideration as the potential location for a new federal courthouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Earlier this year, GSA received Congressional authorization in the amount of $218,381,000 for the site acquisition, design and construction of a new 186,000-gross square-foot Chattanooga Federal courthouse.

After issuing a Request for Expressions of Interest seeking potential sites and conducting initial due diligence including site visits, GSA has identified three sites for further analysis. Ordered from north to south, the sites are:

• A portion of (specific size and location to be determined) 201, 203, 205, and 301 Power Alley.
• The property bounded by Lindsay St on the west, E. 8th St on the north, Houston St on the east, and extending south to (and including) 814 Lindsay St.
• A portion of (specific size and location to be determined) the property bounded by W. 11th St on the north, Market St on the east, W. 12th St on the south, and Chestnut St on the west.

“As GSA moves forward with the project, we will continue our partnership with the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and the City of Chattanooga,” said Region 4 Public Buildings Service Commissioner and Acting Regional Administrator Kevin Kerns. “We look forward to delivering a successful project for the Court, the American people and the City of Chattanooga.”

GSA will further analyze these sites and seek public comment as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessment. GSA anticipates the NEPA process starting by the end of the first quarter of the calendar year 2023. For more information and updates, please visit: gsa.gov/chattanoogacourthouse.

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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 or join the conversation on social media @US_GSAR4 and other platforms.

Source: United States General Services Administration

December 21, 2022

WASHINGTON – U.S. General Services Administrator Robin Carnahan issued this statement in support of the Biden-Harris Administration announcement yesterday to electrify the U.S. Postal Service mail delivery fleet:

“We are thrilled to voice support and partnership for this major effort to electrify the fleet of the U.S. Postal Service. This will help us drive toward the President’s goal of 100% acquisition of zero-emission light-duty vehicles by 2027 and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by 2035. As the buying source for 423,000 federal fleet vehicles, GSA has been helping all federal agencies transition to zero-emission vehicles, including offering 65 zero-emission models to federal agencies in FY22 (up from 34 in FY21) and achieving a fivefold increase in ZEV acquisitions from FY2021 to FY2022.

We look forward to working alongside USPS to continue to strengthen the federal government’s relationships with automakers, utilities, government agencies at all levels, and others to accelerate electrification of fleets and speed the market’s transition to cleaner vehicles.

Announcements like the Administration made today are a triple-win. We’re creating good jobs, we’re reducing energy costs, and we’re helping ensure a healthier planet for future generations.”

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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

December 19, 2022

The project will allow three statistics-related federal agencies to co-locate, saving taxpayer dollars and gaining efficiencies

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has awarded a contract for the renovation of the 4600 Silver Hill Road Building in Suitland, Maryland. This project will enable the collocation of three statistical government agencies — U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), to maximize the use of federally owned space, reduce government spending, save taxpayer dollars, and provide a modern and updated headquarters for the agencies to support the future of their work.

The $173 million contract was awarded to Whiting-Turner General Contracting Company. The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company provides construction management, general contracting, Design Build and integrated project delivery services throughout the United States for a diverse group of customers including GSA.

The 4600 Silver Hill Road Building is a federal building on the 226-acre Suitland Federal Center Campus in Suitland, Maryland, consisting of two towers commonly referred to as the North and South Buildings. The buildings are currently occupied by the U.S. Census Bureau and BEA. The BLS Charting Forward and the Census Reimagined project will take the existing space and reconfigure it to allow for the collocation of BLS.

“This project is a win-win for the federal government and the local community,” said Melanie Gilbert, GSA’s Commissioner for the Public Building Service in the National Capital Region. “It embodies GSA’s ongoing commitment to invest back into our federal portfolio and within our local communities by creating an array of economic development opportunities and savings for the taxpayers while also demonstrating our ability to respond to our clients’ ever changing needs. ”

The redesign of the space can support an additional 1,800 employees. The collocation of these employees will create opportunities for collaborative workplaces as well as benefits for the local community. It will also help the government avoid annual lease costs of approximately $16 million that would be needed to otherwise house BLS.

“The BLS Charting Forward Project provides U.S. Department of Labor BLS staff with a state-of-the-art facility that supports the future of work and the production of gold-standard data and analyses. BLS looks forward to continued innovation with the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis in our shared mission of producing statistical data vital to our nation,” said William Wiatrowski, BLS Deputy Commissioner.

As a part of the project, the buildings will undergo fire and life safety upgrades, building automation systems enhancements, and interior renovations. These upgrades will create a higher density, open office environment that will maximize space utilization rates for the three federal organizations.

The U.S. Census Bureau, BLS and BEA are government agencies responsible for collecting and analyzing critical data about the economy, the labor market and the people of the United States. Having three statistical agencies in the same space can create more opportunities for partnership and cooperation as they work to achieve their missions.

“The Census Bureau Reimagined Project modernizes our facilities with new technology and flexibility to help our staff do their jobs,” says Ron Jarmin, Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Census Bureau. “We look forward to continued collaboration with our counterparts at BEA and BLS, who will be sharing the facility, as we work together to provide critical data for the nation.”

“The Census Reimagined and BLS Charting Forward project, not only presents an opportunity to bring federal employees into a renovated and high quality workspace that is cost effective, it also meets GSA’s goal to continue modernizing and optimizing its real estate footprint,” said Gilbert.
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Contact: Stephanie Ramirez
stephanie.ramirez@gsa.gov
202-834-9673

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

December 19, 2022

Capital projects and retrofits aim to spur emerging technologies and boost demand for low-carbon construction materials

SAN LUIS, AZ – The U.S. General Services Administration today announced more than $300 million in construction and renovation projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act, which President Biden signed in August. This first set of projects aims to catalyze clean energy innovation and spur domestic clean manufacturing by incorporating emerging technologies and low-carbon materials into construction and renovation projects at federal facilities across America. The funds, the first of $3.4 billion in GSA investments, will also accelerate efforts to achieve President Biden’s goal of a net-zero emissions federal building portfolio by 2045.

Administrator Robin Carnahan announced the projects during a visit to the San Luis I Land Port of Entry in Arizona, which will undergo a modernization and expansion with funding from both the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The former will provide approximately $100 million, allowing the project to plan for LEED Platinum certification and incorporate low-embodied carbon asphalt, concrete and steel, as well as emerging technologies and other measures to improve efficiency and reduce operational emissions. The project will improve traffic flow, increase operational security, and help agencies better address risks, combat drug trafficking, and more.

“The Inflation Reduction Act gives us a historic opportunity to supercharge GSA’s efforts to spur clean energy innovation and boost demand for cleaner, more sustainable construction materials manufactured right here in the United States,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “These projects will create good jobs in communities and put us another step closer to turning federal facilities in San Luis and across the country into high-tech, high-efficiency models of clean energy innovation.”

Also today, Administrator Carnahan visited Solterra Materials LLC, in Buckeye, Ariz., which supplied environmentally-preferable asphalt for GSA’s first completed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law project in June at another LPOE in Lukeville, Ariz. The San Luis and Lukeville projects are aligned with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Buy Clean Initiative, which promotes American-made construction materials with lighter environmental footprints.

“Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, we’re moving forward on the clean, electrified federal buildings of tomorrow,” said White House Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock. “As our country’s largest energy consumer, taking bold action to modernize the way we build, buy, and manage federal operations creates good paying jobs in places that need them and helps us reach our nation’s climate goals.”

“I was proud to help secure this $100 million investment for San Luis Land Port of Entry while shaping the Inflation Reduction law, building on the historic investments in Ports of Entry included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to strengthen Arizona’s border security and keep our communities safe and secure,” said Senator Kyrsten Sinema.

“One of my top priorities since being sworn into the U.S. Senate has been to secure the funding necessary to rebuild the San Luis I Port of Entry, and upgrade critical port of entry and border security infrastructure throughout Arizona. These investments will boost our economy, strengthen our supply chains, create jobs, and help stop the flow of illegal drugs. That’s why I worked with Republicans and Democrats to secure funding for our land Ports of Entry in the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, and worked with Administrator Carnahan to ensure all aspects of the San Luis I project were completed, thanks to funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. Now, our border personnel will be better equipped to expedite cross-border travel and trade while stopping illegal cargo,” said Senator Mark Kelly.

These first Inflation Reduction Act projects were selected based on their potential to maximize the use of low-embodied carbon asphalt, concrete, glass and steel — as well as emerging and sustainable technologies — in previously-approved construction projects. GSA estimates that this first round of projects will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 120,000 metric tons while reducing energy costs by $35 million over the next 20 years.

In addition to the San Luis Land Port of Entry project above, these projects are slated to receive Inflation Reduction Act funding as part of this initial round:

• Federal Center HHS-FDA Laboratory – Lakewood, CO. To replace an aging laboratory, approximately $80 million will go toward building a new, all-electric, high performance laboratory that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and use energy saving technologies like recapturing otherwise wasted heat from chillers. The site aims to be net zero with extensive use of solar panels. GSA is evaluating software controlled switch reluctance motors, a technology identified by the GSA Green Proving Ground program, for this project.
• John C. Kluczynski Federal Building – Chicago, IL. GSA plans to consolidate the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) entire Chicago real estate portfolio into two locations, the Kluczynski Federal Building and the nearby Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building, reducing their space by over 50 percent. The consolidation is expected to save HHS over $3.5 million in annual rent costs and dramatically improve space utilization. More than $3 million in Inflation Reduction Act funds will support new low-embodied carbon flat glass and other improvements. New technologies being evaluated include occupancy sensors and tubular LED lighting.
• Edward T. Gignoux U.S. Courthouse – Portland, ME. More than $3.2 million will support the Gignoux Courthouse renovation project with low-embodied carbon materials and emerging technologies. The overall project will repair and replace the building’s deficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, as well as the fire alarm system, with a new efficient system that reduces carbon and saves energy. GSA plans to install air-to-water heat pumps which will help convert the building’s HVAC system to all-electric power.
• Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building – Detroit, MI. The project will receive approximately $24 million to complete critical structural and related system upgrades to a rapidly deteriorating parking garage. The funding will allow for the incorporation of low-embodied carbon materials (asphalt, concrete and steel) and emerging technologies. GSA is studying converting the garage’s HVAC system to all-electric power and incorporating electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
• Charles Evans Whittaker U.S. Courthouse – Kansas City, MO. This project will receive $61 million for materials to help the Whittaker Courthouse project reduce its embodied carbon footprint while improving efficiency and tenant satisfaction. GSA will replace the deteriorating curtain wall, including windows and seals. GSA plans to install new low-embodied carbon glass windows over 100,000 square feet of curtain wall.
• Frank E. Moss U.S. Courthouse – Salt Lake City, UT. More than $23 million will go to the Frank E. Moss U.S. Courthouse for low-embodied carbon materials and other improvements. The overall project will: address seismic and structural deficiencies; upgrade mechanical and HVAC systems; provide new and repaired floor, wall and ceiling finishes in areas impacted by seismic retrofits; and address electrical and lighting issues. GSA will then move federal agencies from leased space into this building. As part of this project, GSA is evaluating converting the entire building to all-electric power, and making this a net zero operational emissions building.
• Lewis F. Powell, Jr., U.S. Courthouse – Richmond, VA. With an investment of approximately $7 million, the Powell Courthouse renovation project seeks to incorporate low-embodied carbon glass to repair and replace windows, eliminate leaks, and increase energy efficiency. Those upgrades will help avoid over 1,400 metric tons of emissions — equivalent to taking 300 cars off the road. The overall project involves replacement and repair of deteriorated components of the roof, gutters and storm drain pipes to eliminate leaks and stop resulting interior damage, while adding fall protection safety features.

GSA also plans to use Inflation Reduction Act funding for two investments totaling about $18 million for Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) that support deep energy retrofits for several federal buildings. These investments will leverage private sector funding to catalyze a total investment of about $38 million, and are estimated to save taxpayers about $55 million over their performance periods.

• Projects at 12 federal buildings in Louisiana and Texas aim to include energy conservation measures such as new chillers, chiller improvements, high efficiency transformers, heating, ventilation and air conditioning system improvements, building automation system enhancements, solar panels, and new window insulation panels. These projects aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 34 percent or over 6 million metric tons.
• Projects at four federal buildings in Ohio plan to include energy conservation measures such as lighting upgrades, chiller and electric boiler replacements, and building automation system enhancements. These projects target reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 30 percent or over 1.5 million metric tons.

Overall, the Inflation Reduction Act provides GSA with $2.15 billion for low-embodied carbon materials for construction projects; $975 million to support emerging and sustainable technologies; and $250 million for measures to convert federal facilities into High Performance Green Buildings.

GSA estimates that the $3.4 billion it will invest will create over 9,500 average annual economy-wide jobs across the length of the projects, support $2.8 billion in labor income, and generate nearly $1 billion in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments. In total, Inflation Reduction Act investments from GSA are expected to help drive an estimated avoidance of more than 2.5 million metric tons of emissions and $720 million in cost avoidance over the next 20 years.

To read more about GSA and the Inflation Reduction Act visit: www.gsa.gov/InflationReductionAct

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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.