Category: US GSA

Source: United States General Services Administration

March 28, 2022

Budget Calls for Investments in Digital Services, Electric Vehicles, and Federal Buildings for a More Efficient, Effective, Sustainable Government

WASHINGTON – The Biden-Harris Administration today submitted to Congress the President’s budget for fiscal year 2023. The President’s budget details his vision to expand on the historic progress our country has made over the last year and deliver the agenda he laid out in his State of the Union address—to build a better America, reduce the deficit, reduce costs for families, and grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out.

“These are common-sense investments in our nation’s physical and digital infrastructure that will improve governmentwide digital services and cyber defenses; strengthen American leadership on clean energy; and make critical upgrades to our public buildings,” said Administrator Robin Carnahan. “The President’s budget reaffirms the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to providing outstanding service to the public by improving how government delivers digital services and ensuring a sustainable and cost-effective federal real estate footprint for our federal customers.”

The budget makes critical investments that will help lay a stronger foundation for shared growth and prosperity for generations to come. At GSA the budget would:

• Improve Digital Services and Strengthen Cybersecurity: The budget includes $300 million for the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF), allowing the TMF to continue to tackle more complex, impactful IT modernization efforts with an emphasis on projects that modernize high priority systems, cybersecurity, public-facing digital services, and cross-government collaboration. The budget also includes $115.8 million for the Federal Citizen Services Fund (FCSF) administered by the Technology Transformation Services (TTS) to support modernization and adoption of digital services, increasing the federal government’s investment in digital shared services. For example, the budget will allow the Presidential Innovation Fellows (PIF) to serve agencies quicker and with more flexibility and, alongside the U.S. Digital Corps, further strengthen the government’s technology workforce. FedRAMP will grow in agency and cloud service provider participation and further build automation initiatives, streamlining the assessment and authorization process. In addition, USAGov will serve as the “front door” to government with streamlined delivery of services related to the public’s needs in a single place.
• Improving the safety and sustainability of federal buildings and reducing long term costs. The President’s budget includes $10.9 billion in budget authority for the Federal Buildings Fund to reduce the growing backlog of critical repairs and renovations, enhance federal facilities’ climate posture and resiliency, and reduce long term costs. In addition to making long-overdue repairs in safety and sustainability, the Budget will allow the Public Buildings Service to continue reducing the federal government’s reliance on costly leased space.
• Strengthening American climate and clean energy leadership by investing in decarbonizing the federal footprint. The President’s budget includes $300 million for GSA and $457 million for other agencies to help facilitate the Administration’s goal to adopt electric vehicles by building charging infrastructure, purchasing electric vehicles, and consolidating existing conventionally-fueled vehicles into the GSA fleet. The budget also includes $70 million for the Office of Governmentwide Policy, including support for the Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings, to advance efficient energy usage, building innovation, reduce operating costs, and enhance human health while minimizing environmental impacts.

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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, 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

March 25, 2022

CGI and Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. to convert the Old Post Office into Waldorf Astoria

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration announced its confirmation that CGI Hospitality Opportunity Fund I, LP is a qualified transferee under the lease of the Old Post Office after an extensive internal and third-party review. CGI and Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. plan to convert the Old Post Office into a Waldorf Astoria luxury hotel. After transfer of the contract, CGI will assume responsibility for the terms and conditions of the lease.

GSA based this decision on the strength of the partnership between CGI and Hilton and the parties’ commitment to ensuring the success of the future hotel, upon the closing of the transaction, through: (1) executing a long-term property management agreement; (2) providing significant equity; and (3) providing material credit support to assist with securing debt financing.

The confirmation was based on an extensive and exhaustive due diligence review of the documentation provided in support of the proposed assignment. The documentation included, among other things, financial information and details regarding their respective expertise and experience with financing real estate acquisitions and operating hotels.

The Statement of Assignment may be found in the Electronic Reading Room.

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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 $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.

Source: United States General Services Administration

March 25, 2022

New governmentwide contract is the first of its kind to feature multiple socioeconomic groups through a single offering

WASHINGTON — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) issued solicitations for Polaris, the agency’s new small business-focused governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC). Building on the success of 8(a) STARS III and VETS 2, this latest GWAC will include a greater focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, automated technology, distributed ledger technology, edge computing, and immersive technology while furthering Administration efforts on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

“This first-of-its-kind contract will make it easier for small businesses to offer innovative IT solutions to the government, and marks another milestone in the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to advance equity in federal procurement,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “Now more than ever, we need to be smart and efficient in how we connect federal buyers with sellers in the IT space, and harnessing the ingenuity of small businesses is vital to achieving that goal.”

GSA’s GWACs are known as best-in-class, easy to use, and streamlined procurement solutions. Agencies have used GSA’s small business GWACs over the decades to fulfill more than $32 billion in IT requirements.

Polaris will support Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. The contract will be the first of its kind to have four different pools of industry partners – Small Business, Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), and Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB). This first set of requests for proposals (RFPs) are specifically for the small business and WOSB pools. GSA intends to release the HUBZone and SDVOSB RFPs before the end of the fiscal year.

“The staggered approach to the pools allows us to more quickly provide the federal marketplace with access to key industry segments for which there is procurement set-aside authority and provide equitable business opportunities for historically underserved and marginalized small businesses, while supporting customer agencies and their small business program goals,“ said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Sonny Hashmi.

“The creation of these four diverse pools will afford more opportunities through increased exposure to government opportunities,” said Laura Stanton, assistant commissioner for the GSA Office of Information Technology Category (ITC). “Customers seeking customized IT services or an IT services-based solution from a Small Business, HUBZone, SDVOSB, or WOSB will have access to highly-qualified small businesses from these sectors who can meet their IT mission objectives and deliver small business program results, advancing a more just society in fulfillment of public policy objectives.”

There are a number of good-for-government key features of Polaris including expanded Small Disadvantaged Business participation opportunities, regular refreshment of the industrial base through regular on-ramps, the inclusion of a technical refresh clause that can be triggered as needed to adapt to customer needs, and award of Polaris without a contract ceiling. Additionally, GSA plans to award the Polaris GWACs with no pricing at the contract level, which will enhance competition driving pricing at the task order level.

To account for the planned SAM.gov downtime for Unique Entity ID (SAM) transition, the Polaris Submission Portal (PSP) will open for registration no earlier than April 5, 2022. Prior to the PSP opening for registration, industry is encouraged to review the solicitation requirements on SAM.gov and view the upcoming pre-proposal conference. Industry is welcome to submit any questions after viewing the pre-proposal conference and upon registering in PSP. Further details can be found in the solicitation. Additionally, GSA has extended the proposal submission window to accommodate for the SAM.gov transition downtime.

Proposals for the Small Business and WOSB pools are due by May 13, 2022.

General questions from industry related to the Polaris GWAC may be directed to Polaris@gsa.gov. Media inquiries should be sent to press@gsa.gov.

About GSA

The mission of the U.S. General Services Administration is to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across the government. One of its four strategic goals is to establish GSA as the premier provider of efficient and effective acquisition solutions across the government. To learn more about GSA visit gsa.gov or join the conversation on social media at @USGSA.

Source: United States General Services Administration

March 25, 2022

Contact: tanya.schulser@gsa.gov

CHICAGO – On March 22, 2022, a Notice of Availability on the Keweenaw Lower Entrance Light on Lake Superior in Houghton County, Michigan, announced the light has been determined to be excess to the needs of the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.

Pursuant to the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, 4 U.S.C.305102 (NHLPA), this property is now being made available at no cost to eligible entities defined as:

• Federal agencies.
• State and local agencies.
• Non-profit corporations.
• Educational agencies or community development organizations for educational purposes.
• Park, recreational, cultural or historic preservation purposes.

The Keweenaw Lower Entrance Light is a white, octagonal, 68-foot-tall tower on a concrete pierhead. The light station is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and must be maintained according to the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

The light station is located on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigational structure such as a breakwater, jetty or pier. For access to and utilization of the light station, the selected steward must obtain the required authorization from the U.S. COE district office having jurisdiction for the navigational structure.

Any eligible entity with an interest in acquiring the property for a use consistent with the purposes stated above should submit a letter of interest within 60 days from the date of the notice (March 22, 2022).

Letters of interest should include:

• Name of property.
• Name of eligible entity.
• Point of contact, title, address, phone and email.

Non-profit agencies must also provide a copy of their state-certified articles of incorporation before the end of the 60-day notice period.

Eligible entities which submit a letter of interest will be sent an application from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and given an opportunity to inspect the property. Building inspectors and/or contractors may accompany the applicant on the inspection. The application is due within 90 days from the date of the site inspection.

The NPS will review all applications submitted and may recommend a steward to receive the property. If a recommendation is made, the General Services Administration will complete the conveyance to the selected steward with a quitclaim deed. Pursuant to Section 309 of the NHLPA, the property will be sold if it is not transferred to a public body or non-profit organization.

Letters of interest should be directed to:

Mr. Luke Barrett
luke.barrett@gsa.gov
U.S. General Services Administration
Real Property Utilization and Disposal Division
230 South Dearborn Street, Room 3774
Chicago, Illinois 60604

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 Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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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 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.

Source: United States General Services Administration

March 24, 2022

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today announced the new fiscal year 2022 goal for small disadvantaged business contracting, which represents a more than four-fold increase from the previous year. The goal, which has been assigned by the Small Business Administration, advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to expanding contracting opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) across the country.

GSA’s agency-wide prime contracting SDB goal for FY22 has been set at 21%, up from the government-wide statutory goal of 5% in FY21.

“This is an ambitious goal – but ambitious goals are exactly what we need to promote equity and increase small and small disadvantaged business participation in the federal marketplace across all categories,” said OSDBU Associate Administrator Exodie C. Roe III. “GSA has an impressive track record of meeting and exceeding small business benchmarks: obligating over 46% of GSA spend to small business and just over 20% to small disadvantaged business in FY21. These achievements are more than just numbers; they represent real opportunities for businesses and communities across the country. We’re grateful for SBA’s partnership as we continue to promote increased opportunities in federal contracting.”

Last year, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities, directing agencies to enhance access to federal contracting opportunities for underserved individuals and communities.

In December, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued memorandum M-22-03, Advancing Equity in Federal Procurement, which implements an increase to the government-wide SDB federal contract spend goal to 15% by 2025.

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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 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.