Category: US GSA

Source: United States General Services Administration

July 25, 2022

WASHINGTON –This week, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the appointment of Jetta Wong as Senior Advisor to the Administrator on Climate, and Channing Grate as Associate Administrator in the Office of Strategic Communications, along with other personnel updates.

Jetta Wong will serve as the Senior Advisor to the Administrator on Climate. Jetta joins us from her own consulting practice and the Center for Clean Energy Innovation at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, where she served as a Senior Fellow. Jetta also has experience working at the Department of Energy, where she launched the National Laboratory Impact Initiative in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and established the Department-wide Office of Technology Transitions to help ensure the long-term commercial impact of the agency’s $14 billion R&D portfolio. Prior to that, Jetta worked for the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and for a variety of nonprofits and private sector organizations.

Channing has been serving as a Deputy Associate Administrator for the past year, and as Acting Associate Administrator since April. In her new role, Channing will continue to build on GSA’s mission through quality, effective strategic communications. Prior to joining GSA, she served as the director of public affairs at a media and public affairs firm, providing integrated communications services to nonprofits and advocacy groups. Her more than 15 years of experience also includes roles such as communications director in the Missouri Governor’s office, as well as positions in policy, research, and campaign management.

GSA also announces two personnel shifts effective August 1, 2022. Zoe Garmendia, formerly the Senior Advisor to the Administrator for COVID, will now serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. Additionally, Gennie Duncan, who was a Special Assistant in the Administrator’s Suite, will serve as Policy Advisor in the Office of Congressional & Intergovernmental Affairs.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of more than 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $68 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: www.gsa.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

Source: United States General Services Administration

July 13, 2022

ANN ARBOR, MI – U.S. General Services Administrator Robin Carnahan visited Ann Arbor, Michigan today where she discussed GSA and Biden-Harris Administration efforts to electrify the federal fleet and announced a new “one-stop-shop” for procurement of goods and services to make it easier for federal agencies to purchase zero-emission vehicles and install electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

In a roundtable meeting with auto manufacturers, as well as utility and union representatives at the University of Michigan’s Mcity Test Facility, the Administrator discussed how GSA is helping transition the federal fleet to 100% electric by obtaining the necessary infrastructure, including charging stations, for federal facilities. GSA aims to simplify the process for other federal agencies through specialized acquisition resources to guide the process from start to finish.

“Electrifying the federal fleet will have enormous benefits, and we want to make it as easy as possible for federal agencies to make this transition,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “Today’s meeting with auto industry stakeholders was a meaningful step as we work to strengthen partnerships, tackle shared challenges, and work together to advance American manufacturing and clean energy innovation.”

GSA is working with agencies across the federal government to achieve the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of 100% zero-emission vehicle acquisitions for the federal fleet by 2035 and 100% zero-emission light-duty vehicle acquisitions by 2027. So far in FY2022, federal agencies have ordered more than 3,000 ZEVs and awarded ZEV offerings increased by 82% compared to FY21, jumping from 34 to 62. President Biden’s FY23 budget includes $300 million for GSA and $457 million for other agencies to help facilitate the Administration’s goals to build charging infrastructure and purchase ZEVs.

To further facilitate the federal government’s transition to clean vehicles, GSA is working to make it easier for federal agencies to purchase and install electric vehicle charging stations. In April, GSA awarded new Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Blanket Purchase Agreements, which will make it easier for federal customers to buy charging station equipment. At that time, the agency made awards to 16 successful offerors, nine of which are small businesses. GSA anticipates making the first awards later this summer in its new governmentwide construction and design/build IDIQ contracts, established to support the installation of charging station infrastructure at federal locations nationwide.

“Electrifying the nation’s federal fleet of vehicles will not only help address the real and growing threat of climate change, but also bring down federal transportation costs and save taxpayers in the long-run,” said Senator Peters, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “I applaud the Biden Administration for its efforts to both streamline and accelerate the transition to an all-electric federal fleet – and I’ll keep working to advance efforts in the Senate that ensure we reach our goal of a zero-emissions fleet by 2035.”

“With the transportation sector making up 27 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, electrifying the federal fleet has never been more important in our fight against the climate crisis,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. “Working with GSA Administrator Carnahan, the auto industry, and other stakeholders, we will pursue President Biden’s climate goals and ensure a smooth transition to a zero-emission federal fleet by 2035.”

More information is available at www.gsa.gov/ElectrifyTheFleet.

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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

July 12, 2022

Estimated savings of $1.2 billion negotiated through the program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, GSA announced new Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 awards for scheduled airline passenger transportation services contracts offered through the GSA City Pair Program. The program negotiates set airfare rates for official government travel, and is estimated to save taxpayers more than $1.28 billion in the upcoming fiscal year. The new fares go into effect on October 1, 2022.

“The GSA City Pair Program is a great example of the federal government working together for the common mission, and creating value and cost savings for the taxpayers,” said GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Commissioner Sonny Hashmi. “It’s a Best-In-Class solution that makes it easy to meet the needs of our workforce by providing much-needed flexibility for government air travel.”

Under the Program, airfare rates for official government travel are firm-fixed-price and offer an estimated 45% discount on comparable commercial fares. GSA City Pair fares have no cancellation or change fees along with other benefits such as being fully refundable, having last seat availability, and no blackout dates.

GSA’s City Pair Program awarded contracts to eight U.S. air carriers for FY 2023:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Silver Airways
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines

This program is the single largest strategically sourced procurement for negotiated airfares throughout the world. The GSA City Pair Program began in 1980 with 11 markets; 12,139 line item markets will be served in FY 2023.

The markets are chosen using data provided from previous years’ travel bookings, keeping in mind cost savings and program performance. GSA considers certain criteria including availability of service, total number of flights, flight availability, average elapsed flight time, and price of 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

July 6, 2022

WASHINGTON – U.S. General Services Administrator Robin Carnahan issued the following statement regarding the passing of Edward A. Feiner.

“The GSA family is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our former chief architect and friend Ed Feiner, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, who joined our agency from the U.S. Navy in 1981, became our first chief architect in 1996, and retired in 2005. Our thoughts are with his close friends and family at this time.”

“During his time at GSA, Ed blazed a new trail for public architecture. He championed the idea that federal buildings could and should have excellent designs that stem from our best talent and our highest ideals as a democracy. By creating the prominent role of a lead designer on every GSA designed project, he dramatically strengthened the architecture program at GSA and he had a significant impact on architecture nationwide.”

“Today, Ed’s influence on the federal portfolio can be seen across many federal office buildings, national laboratories, ports of entry, and especially U.S. courthouses due to a massive investment made in the U.S. Judiciary during his tenure. His legacy is nothing less than a bolstered relationship between the American people and their government, a result which has led governments at all levels to adopt his principles and which has reverberated throughout the architecture world.”

“Even 17 years after his retirement from GSA, our Public Buildings Service maintains many of the principles, values, and programs that Ed instilled, including our renowned Design Excellence Awards program.”

“Upon his retirement, Ed said, ‘Architecture and design play important roles in quality of life issues and truly affect how we live, work, play, and conduct ourselves as part of a democratic community. Giving physical form and communicating, through architecture, the values, hopes, and aspirations of our society is the ‘legacy’ of great public buildings.’ I could not agree more, and today GSA renews our commitment to building on Ed’s legacy even as we mourn his passing.”

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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

June 30, 2022

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), which aims to enhance access to GSA contracting opportunities for LGBTQI-owned small businesses.

The MOU aligns with GSA’s Equity Action Plan, which seeks to advance equity and supplier diversity in federal procurement. The MOU also supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s overall efforts to address the social, civic, and economic barriers facing underserved communities.

Through the MOU, the two organizations will work together to increase awareness of GSA programs and services among LGBTQI-owned small businesses and small business owners. This will include providing information to local LGBTQI affiliate chambers of commerce around the country about GSA programs, services, and events that help small businesses learn about contracting and subcontracting.

“We need everyone’s ideas and products to make America stronger, including the vibrant communities of LGBTQI-owned businesses throughout the country,” said Administrator Robin Carnahan. “We’re thrilled to be working more closely with NGLCC and its network to get the word out about how they can help us meet our mission and bring value to government.”

“We’re proud to partner with the General Services Administration to help connect innovative, job creating LGBTQ-owned businesses to contracting resources and opportunities in the federal government,” said Justin Nelson, co-founder and president of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), which has established MOUs with multiple federal agencies, as well as championed public sector LGBTQ business inclusion in over 30 cities and states. “Diversity is good for the business of government. The American Dream must be open to every American, including the 1.4 million LGBTQ business owners that help power the national economy.”

A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding is online [PDF – 324 KB].

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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.