Category: US GSA

Source: United States General Services Administration

April 18, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced steps to advance equity and supplier diversity in federal procurement, in line with recent changes to the category management program, and other actions to reduce obstacles for small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs). These steps will help GSA reach the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of increasing the share of contracts awarded to small disadvantaged businesses by 50% by 2025.

“Small disadvantaged businesses are the heartbeat of the American economy,” said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Sonny Hashmi. “Our goal, and this Administration’s goal, is to make it easier for small businesses to get in the federal marketplace and have them succeed once they are onboard.”

GSA is supporting implementation of the changes OMB recently announced to the governmentwide category management program. These changes focus the federal workforce on reaching small businesses and help agencies use more equitable practices by:

• Giving agencies automatic credit towards all awards made to socioeconomic small businesses, beginning in FY 2022.
• Encouraging implementation of category management plans consistent with statutory socioeconomic responsibilities and ensuring that these plans do not prioritize spending on “Best-In-Class” solutions at the expense of meeting socioeconomic small business goals.
• Ensuring that the use of “Best-In-Class” solutions is balanced with decentralized contracts and other necessary strategies to increase diversity within agency supplier bases.

GSA is conducting research, collecting feedback, and addressing barriers that keep SDBs from succeeding.

In addition to supporting the category management changes, GSA just released a set of five public commitments to reduce obstacles and improve SDB outcomes. Through those commitments, GSA will:

• Establish a new IT governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC), Polaris, to increase SDB representation. GSA has released the small business and women-owned small business solicitations.
• Simplify the process for firms to obtain a multiple award schedule (MAS) contract and improve vendor education using human centered design principles to create a pathway to federal procurement through the MAS contract vehicle.
• Create a post-award engagement strategy to help contractors who are new to government to succeed.
• Establish a supplier diversity plan promoting successful outcomes for vendors. This will include a strategy and criteria for regular on-ramping relative to GWACs and multi-agency contracts.
• Enhance e-tools so SDB contractors can evaluate federal marketplace opportunities.

These five actions will help to increase participation of underserved and disadvantaged communities in the federal procurement process, and advance the agency’s efforts to use federal buying power to expand opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses.

Read more about GSA’s Equity Action Plan.

###

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

April 14, 2022

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) released its Equity Action Plan, a key step forward in the Biden-Harris Administration’s priority of advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government.

GSA’s action plan aims to increase equity in three high-impact focus areas: federal procurement, federal buildings, and federal technology design and delivery. Focusing on these areas, GSA will use its unique position of delivering mission-critical services and core products across government to act as a force multiplier in advancing equity and removing barriers for underserved communities.

“This plan lays out how GSA intends to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as a priority in everything we do, from delivering projects to designing websites,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “For government to work, it needs to work for everyone. That’s why we’re focused on improving how we at GSA, and our federal partners, can improve how we deliver services to all of America’s communities.”

“This set of public commitments marks an incredible milestone for GSA’s equity work,” said Andrea M. O’Neal, Senior Advisor to the Administrator for Equity. “It represents what is possible when we have a coordinated, focused effort across government to address the set of systemic challenges facing communities who have been historically, socially, and economically underserved.”

GSA has worked to advance equity across its offices and platforms, and will continue to build on that progress. Following the results of its assessment, GSA will implement new strategies that will help to remove barriers and enhance support and education for underserved communities. These new strategies will advance equity by:

• Improving success for underserved businesses;
• Enhancing technical assistance for underserved communities;
• Ensuring equitable technology design and delivery;
• Enhancing access to opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses to participate on the Multiple Award Schedule contract vehicle;
• Enhancing supplier diversity and vendor education;
• Determining the economic and environmental justice impacts of the current and future public building footprint to advance the livability and vitality of communities;
• Prioritizing equitable design and user experience when developing and delivering federal digital services;
• Improving performance of older devices and accessibility for mobile, rural, and low-bandwidth users; and
• Investing in resources to help advance civil rights.

GSA is committed to making meaningful equity impacts, recognizing that equitable approaches lead to better outcomes for everyone. The Equity Action Plan will continue to guide the agency’s efforts to create a more equitable future for the federal government and the people we serve.

###

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, technology, and other mission-support 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

April 13, 2022

The Federal Marketplace Strategy takes an innovative approach to procurement that drives better outcomes for the American people.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration previewed key elements of the Federal Marketplace (FMP) Spring 2022 release. GSA has been improving the Federal Marketplace Strategy to enhance the digital experience of all suppliers, buyers, and members of the acquisition workforce who participate in the federal marketplace.

“With the launch of our new buyer experience, we highlight GSA’s commitment to our customers, suppliers, and workforce while improving the buying process. I am excited for our users to see what they helped develop and look forward to watching it grow and expand in the years to come,” said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Sonny Hashmi.

GSA is prepared to launch a new solution for the buyer experience, based on human centered design principles. This development will reduce pain points that federal agency buyers, suppliers, and GSA acquisition professionals have mentioned in feedback. The updated buyer experience will offer buyers access to acquisition tools and market research solutions, as well as documents, templates, and pricing resources to help plan acquisitions. The upcoming FMP Spring 2022 release will include additional details about the buyer experience.

This year, GSA will also offer suppliers new tools to reduce burdens and simplify the supplier experience. That strategy will help to clarify government procurement options, qualification requirements, and the process of preparing to submit an offer. Further, GSA is working to update the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Roadmap to simplify suppliers’ onboarding processes. Federal acquisition professionals have been working with industry to make it easier to get on the GSA Schedule, and GSA launched the new Vendor Support Center earlier this year so that all prospective and current MAS contract holders can find information and resources they need to do business with the government.

Overall, the FMP Strategy makes it easier for suppliers to offer goods and services to government agencies so they can accomplish their respective missions. GSA provides acquisition systems, solutions, and a marketplace where buyers and suppliers can connect with each other – thereby helping government agencies deliver their best service to the public.

For more information, check out the FMP Strategy website.

Source: United States General Services Administration

April 13, 2022

GSA announces Denver Federal Center will be home to new electric vehicle charging infrastructure pilot project

LAKEWOOD, Colo. ㅡ Today, Administrator Robin Carnahan of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) joined National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, Governor Jared Polis, Congressman Ed Perlmutter, and Mayor Adam Paul for a tour of the Denver Federal Center (DFC) and press conference discussing the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis while creating good paying jobs and catalyzing American innovation.

“The Denver Federal Center demonstrates how investing in sustainability is a triple win – creating good-paying clean energy jobs, reducing energy costs, and tackling climate change to ensure a healthier future for the next generation,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “The federal government wants to lead by example by leveraging our scale and buying power to help drive these efforts.”

Administrator Carnahan also announced that GSA will be launching demonstration projects, called Applied Innovation Learning Laboratories, at the DFC and other locations around the country. At these sites, GSA will work with federal partners, industry and local utilities to test new kinds of clean energy technologies, such as zero-emission vehicle charging infrastructure. GSA facilities will provide the space for practical, hands-on testing and demonstrations of new types of charging station technologies, creating a catalyst for American innovation that could be installed and operated across the country.

The event showcased the Biden-Harris administration’s leadership in decarbonizing the federal footprint and making federal buildings more energy efficient while saving taxpayer dollars, creating clean energy jobs, and strengthening American leadership and competitiveness. The administration has set the ambitious goal of sourcing 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) on a net annual basis by 2030, including 50 percent 24/7 carbon pollution-free electricity.

The DFC features on-site clean energy sources, innovative sustainability and efficiency features, and Green Proving Ground technologies that show how the federal government can lead on climate and catalyze next-generation industries. Approximately 22 percent of the DFC campus is powered by solar, and since 2008, more than $45 million in energy costs have been saved as a result of reducing energy use, water use, and utility costs by roughly 40 percent across the board.

During the tour, Administrator Carnahan highlighted a major $49-million renovation of Building 48 with sustainable and climate friendly features such as net zero power, a solar roof, and a healthy and modern workplace environment. The project will also save $17 million in lease costs by consolidating approximately 800 federal employees from leased space. This renovation doubles as a pilot project for tracking reduction of embodied carbon emissions in design and construction. GSA plans to document lessons learned, and use them to develop baselines for other projects aimed at carbon emission reduction.

“Through the President’s Federal Sustainability Plan, we’re using all the facilities we operate and purchases we make to lead the way on climate solutions,” said National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy. “We’re forging a path that states, local governments, and companies can follow to seize the opportunities of clean energy, and we’re saving the American people money every step of the way.”

“Climate change is costing people money, and challenging Colorado’s farmers, ranchers and outdoor industries so confronting this crisis has been a top priority since day-one,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. “I’m proud of the nation-leading efforts Colorado has made to cut costs, improve energy efficiency and public health to free up money that could go toward paying teachers or helping our school.”

“As the largest concentration of federal workers outside of Washington D.C., the Denver Federal Center represents a significant opportunity to modernize and decarbonize our federal buildings and will help save taxpayer dollars, create clean energy jobs and ensure a healthier environment for the thousands of people who work here,” said Congressman Ed Perlmutter. “I appreciate these important investments from the Biden Administration in our community and our local workforce, and thank Administrator Carnahan and Climate Advisor McCarthy for their leadership and work to strengthen American innovation and competitiveness.”

“The Federal Center has played a historic role in Lakewood, providing critical jobs that support our community,” said Mayor Adam Paul. “Lakewood has led the way in sustainability through partnerships with the Federal Center, and we are excited about the innovations that demonstrate the kind of green-energy leadership the Federal Center can deliver through addressing climate change.”

More information on how GSA supports the Administration%u2019s sustainability goals is available.

###

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, technology, and other mission-support 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

April 6, 2022

BOSTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has set Tuesday, May 3, 2022, as the soft close date for the online auction of approximately 11.29-acres of vacant land in Colonie, New York.

More information on auction closing rules can be found at: https://go.usa.gov/xzH86

The online auction is part of GSA’s ongoing efforts to dispose of excess properties, saving taxpayer dollars and making more efficient use of the government’s real estate assets.

The site is:

• Located at 1130 Central Ave at the intersection of Central Ave and Osborne Road
• Vacant and ready for development
• Offered “AS IS” and “WHERE IS”

Property Details

The Property is +/-11.29 acres of vacant land centrally located at the intersection of Central Avenue and Osborne Road in Colonie, NY. The property is bounded to the south by the Consolidated Rail Corporation. Neighboring properties include a mix of commercial and retail uses.

The mostly level property is improved with:

• Perimeter fencing
• Surface parking
• An interior gravel road
• A storm drain system and utility infrastructure

For additional information, prospective bidders are encouraged to read the Invitation for Bids at: https://realestatesales.gov/gsaauctions/aucdsclnk?sl=BOSTN

To view a video of the property, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAU8EbkC3ks

Auction Details

Those interested in bidding are required to register in advance and submit a $100,000 registration deposit. The starting bid will be $300,000 and bid increments will be $10,000.

Potential bidders are invited, urged and cautioned to inspect the Property prior to registering and submitting a bid. All inspections must be scheduled with the GSA Project Manager, Anthony Barbati.

For additional details, inquiries or to schedule an inspection please contact:

Anthony Barbati
GSA Project Manager
Phone: 617-459-6776
Fax: 617-565-5720
Anthony.Barbati@gsa.gov

The marketing and sales effort is being handled by GSA’s New England Region Real Property Utilization and Disposal Division. The division provides realty services to federal agencies throughout the region, as well as in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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.

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 value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.