Category: US GSA

Source: United States General Services Administration

August 18, 2022

Administrator discusses how Inflation Reduction Act will enable more cost-saving investments in federal buildings nationwide

PORTLAND, Maine — Today, U.S. General Services Administration Administrator Robin Carnahan, Portland Mayor Kate Snyder, and representatives for Senator Collins, Senator King, Congresswoman Pingree, Governor Mills, and the Portland City Council celebrated the 150^th anniversary of the U.S. Custom House in Portland, Maine.

The U.S. Custom House, located near Portland’s waterfront, is a testament to the city’s maritime history. It is significant for its associations with Maine’s maritime heritage, and is an impressive and intact example of post-Civil War Federal architecture.

Constructed between 1867-72, on the site of the city’s first Custom House, it was built in the Renaissance Revival and Second Empire styles, which were popular in the U.S. during the last half of the nineteenth century. It is constructed of granite, features a grand marble interior, and remains highly intact to its original design.

Its significance on the local, state, and national levels was heightened by the demolition of the contemporary Post Office/Courthouse in the 1960s. It now remains as the best example in the state of Maine of the work of Alfred B. Mullett, third Supervising Architect of the Treasury. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

In 2003, GSA replaced a 30-year-old HVAC system in the Custom House with the first geothermal heat pump in GSA’s building inventory. Geothermal heating and cooling systems take advantage of the stable temperature underground and use a piping system that circulates water in a loop to exchange heat between the structure and the earth. This installation resulted in an emissions drop of 250,000 metric tons per year and an energy savings of nearly 30%, as well as reduced maintenance costs. Now, the building is one of GSA’s top energy performers in New England.

In her remarks at the event, Administrator Carnahan said, “Investments like we’ve made here at the Custom House and investments that we will make nationwide under the new Inflation Reduction Act are both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. We’re making good use of government space and stewarding taxpayer dollars wisely all while ensuring a healthier planet for our kids.”

The Administrator also noted that the Inflation Reduction Act will allow GSA to make the federal footprint greener and more cost-efficient. Investments include over $2 billion in projects that use low-carbon materials, nearly $1 billion to leverage emerging clean technologies to achieve greater carbon reductions, and $250 million to turn more buildings into High Performance Green Buildings.

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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

August 18, 2022

CALEXICO, Calif. – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announces the award of a $1.3 million construction contract for the renovation of the historic Old Customs Building located at the Calexico West Land Port of Entry (LPOE). The design-build contract was recently awarded to Hernandez Builders, a disadvantaged, minority owned small business based in Alpine, California. By awarding the project’s entire scope work at once, instead of bidding each separately, GSA is saving taxpayers approximately $600,000.

“The customs house is a local Calexico landmark,” said GSA’s Pacific Rim Region Public Buildings Service Commissioner Dan Brown. “Over the past 10 years, the building has been vacant and fallen into disrepair. “We’re excited about renovating and preserving this historic building that will support future port operations. Awarding the contract to an 8a business saves taxpayer funds and meets a contracting goal of diversifying our construction partnerships.”

Built in 1933, the Old Customs Building was transferred to a local community council for redevelopment in 2008 by GSA under its Public Benefit Authority. The Customs Building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was damaged in 2010 during a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and was, subsequently, transferred back to GSA in 2015. Due to its current condition, the structure has remained unoccupied.

The renovation project will restore the operability of the Customs Building by:

• Replacing the existing sanitation waste system
• Replacing the existing potable water system
• Replacing the existing electrical system
• Replacing and upgrading the existing fire alarm system
• Providing a fire sprinkler system for the entire facility

Construction is scheduled to begin on December 1, 2022. When the work is complete in August 2023, the building will be used as administrative space for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection during Phase 2B construction at the Calexico West LPOE, a modernization and expansion project that is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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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

August 19, 2022

Environmental assessment covers historic customs house and temporary pedestrian building

CALEXICO, Calif. ㅡ The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will host a virtual public meeting to discuss the draft Environmental Assessment [PDF – 3 MB] (EA) for Phase 2B of the Calexico West Land Port of Entry’s (LPOE) modernization and expansion project. The public is invited to join the virtual meeting by logging into http://ow.ly/aGjx50Kkq2T on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, from 4 to 5 p.m. PST.

GSA representatives will also talk about the project’s final phase of construction, which received more than $100 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in February 2022. Phase 2B includes restoring the historic customs house and building a temporary pedestrian processing facility on Heffernan Avenue, just south of East 1st Street. The interim building will facilitate the demolition of the existing pedestrian facility and the construction of the new, permanent, expanded pedestrian building.

Meeting participants will have a chance to provide GSA with feedback and comments on the draft EA. Interested community stakeholders may also submit written comments via email to osmahn.kadri@gsa.gov. Written comments must be received by Monday, September 26, 2022, and include “Calexico West LPOE Public Comment” in the subject line.

WHAT: Virtual Public Meeting to discuss the Calexico West LPOE draft EA

WHEN: Tuesday, August 23, 2022, from 4 to 5 p.m. PST

WHERE: Online meeting – http://ow.ly/aGjx50Kkq2T

WHO: General public

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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

August 19, 2022

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Projects Will Benefit New York Businesses, Local Economy

WASHINGTON, DC – As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has completed six paving projects at land ports of entry in New York state, all using GSA’s new environmentally-preferred asphalt specification. The ports are located at Champlain, Chateaugay, Fort Covington, Massena, Mooers, and Overton Corners. GSA awarded this $5.7 million contract on April 14, 2022, to Action Facilities Management, a women-owned small business firm.

This work repaired and resurfaced roughly 1 million square feet of asphalt pavement using GSA’s new environmentally preferred asphalt specification. GSA’s work at these six ports will improve the travel experience for nearly 5 million travelers annually, including nearly 2.5 million passenger cars, buses and commercial vehicles. Businesses in upstate New York, and throughout the United States, will benefit from faster crossing times facilitated by these improved roadways.

“Completing these projects is another step forward in making our land ports more efficient, effective, sustainable, and secure,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “With billions of dollars in goods and services crossing our borders each day, America’s busy land ports — like those in New York — are critical to our economy, to supply chains, and to creating good-paying jobs.”

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is paving the way for a more efficient, accessible, and environmentally friendly land ports across New York,” said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. “These projects to upgrade our ports of entry will ensure goods can keep flowing to and from Americans across the country, and make it easier for travelers from our great neighbor to the north to visit all that New York has to offer. I applaud the U.S. General Services Administration for their hard work in completing these projects, and doing so to a higher environmental standard.”

“Repairing a port’s roadway is key to ensuring the efficient operation of the land port,” said the Northeast and Caribbean Region Public Buildings Service Regional Commissioner, Michael Gelber. “These investments strengthen the livability and vitality of communities, advance state and local community development goals, and create additional opportunities for local businesses.”

Overall, the legislation will invest more than $40 million* in land port of entry projects in New York. Additional projects that are moving forward under the BIL in New York State are construction and modernization projects at Rouses Point and Trout River, including the nearly $2 million contract awarded on August 11, for Trout River architecture and engineering services awarded to Davis Brody Bond, Spacesmith JV, a New York business.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes a total of $3.4 billion for GSA to build and modernize land ports of entry on the country’s northern and southern borders. The investments will improve commerce and trade, create good-paying construction jobs, and incorporate new and innovative sustainability features.

*Note: Estimated project costs are planning estimates and subject to change due to time and market conditions.

Find out more information about GSA%u2019s LPOE projects.

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

September 1, 2022

NEA to Host September Webinars for Artists to Learn More About Upcoming Public Art Commissions

Washington, DC—The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) are collaborating to increase awareness of GSA’s Art in Architecture program and to promote federal art commission opportunities for artists that reflect the diversity of communities across the nation. Both agencies share a commitment to advancing equitable opportunities for artists, resulting in federal art commissions that are accessible to the public.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to serve as a national resource that helps to bolster opportunities for artists in this country,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “The Art in Architecture program is a powerful and prestigious way to showcase the breadth of our nation’s creativity and talent in federal buildings throughout the country. I encourage artists to learn more about the program and consider joining the National Artist Registry.”

“We’re excited to partner with the National Endowment for the Arts to bring our Art in Architecture commission opportunities to a broader audience of American artists,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “The pieces in our collection inspire both our employees and the taxpayers who visit our federal facilities, and it’s important we ensure they reflect the diversity of America’s vibrant arts communities. We want to make this program as easy and accessible as possible for artists to join.”

The Art in Architecture program oversees the commissioning of artworks for GSA-controlled federal buildings nationwide. In fall of 2022, the program is launching 26 federal percent-for-art commissions in 11 states along the northern and southern borders, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This September, the NEA will host four webinars about these opportunities, each focusing on a different region where there will be new commissions:

These webinars will provide more insight into the history and goals of the Art in Architecture program and what artists selected for commissions should expect, as well as the process for joining the National Artist Registry, which allows artists to be considered for upcoming projects.

“As we prepare to celebrate the 50-year history of GSA’s Art in Architecture program, we embrace our new collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts and their relationships with arts organizations and artist communities,” said GSA Public Buildings Service Commissioner Nina Albert. “The webinars NEA is hosting next month about the 26 land ports of entry commissions in 11 states are the first step we’re taking together under our collaboration to reach artists who may never have heard about the program or thought projects like these were within reach.”

The Art in Architecture artworks enhance the civic meaning of federal architecture and showcase the vibrancy of American visual arts. GSA reserves one-half of one percent of the estimated construction cost of each new federal building or modernization for an Art in Architecture commission—a contractual agreement with an artist to create a site-specific, permanently installed artwork as part of the building project. Artist candidates for Art in Architecture commissions are most often identified from the National Artist Registry, which is a database of artists who have previously submitted digital images of their past portfolio work.

This fall, GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan and NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson will participate in a video discussion about the 50-year history of the Art in Architecture program and the significant role of public art in our country. Follow the NEA and GSA on social media for more information.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. To learn more, visit arts.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

About the U.S. General Services Administration

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.

GSA’s Art in Architecture Program was created in 1972 and has commissioned more than 500 artworks by American artists, pieces that are permanently installed in federal buildings throughout the United States.