Category: US GSA

Source: United States General Services Administration

April 27, 2023

BOSTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that it has awarded a $540,000 Design Phase Services contract to a Construction Manager as Constructor firm for HVAC and fire alarm replacement at the historic Edward T. Gignoux Courthouse in Portland, Maine.

Consigli Construction Co. of Milford, Mass., will be responsible for providing constructability and cost estimation reviews during the design phase of this project. The company has experience performing mechanical, electrical and plumbing work within historic properties at the federal and state level.

Estimated completion for the project is mid-2026.

This project will:

• Use funding from the Inflation Reduction Act for project scope related to low embodied carbon materials and High Performance Green Building improvements .
• Replace the existing conventional heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system with new air-to-water heat pumps in support of Executive Order 14057 and prepare the building for all electric power in the future.
• Help reduce building energy consumption through the installation of more efficient air handling units and modifications to the existing system.
• Improve system efficiency throughout the building by upgrading the Building Automation System.
• Enhance building safety by replacing the fire alarm system to meet current fire and life safety codes and standards.

The Edward T. Gignoux U.S. Courthouse, located in downtown Portland, is a classic Italian Renaissance Revival style building entirely faced with New England granite. The courthouse occupies the southwestern half of the lot bounded on the northwest by Federal Street, the northeast by Pearl Street, the southeast by Newbury Street, and the southwest by Market Street. In 1988, it was named after Edward Thaxter Gignoux, a U.S. District Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine from 1957-1988.

GSA’s New England Region provides centralized procurement for the federal government by managing its real estate portfolio, real estate property utilization and disposal, products and services throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. GSA’s mission is to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government. For more information, visit: www.gsa.gov/r1 and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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

April 26, 2023

WASHINGTON — Today, at the North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) meeting in Washington, DC, GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan spoke about the importance of working with organized labor to modernize and optimize the federal footprint.

The Administrator discussed GSA’s work to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda and create good-paying jobs. This included highlighting GSA’s commitment to implementing the President’s Executive Order to expand the use of Project Labor Agreements on federal construction projects, its partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor on the Mega Construction Project Program, and its work to make it easier for stakeholders to track acquisition opportunities and timeframes.

Full remarks are here and key excerpts are below:

“Just as unions led the way in fighting for a forty hour work week, workplace safety standards, living wages, and equity and fairness in the workplace…we’re once again looking to organized labor to help meet this moment in our nation’s history.”

“Your union brothers and sisters are the ones who will help deliver projects safely and efficiently – on time and on budget. You’re the ones who do the work…everything from restoring century-old historic structures…to building high-tech labs loaded with cutting-edge innovation. And right now, you’re the ones to ensure these once-in-a-generation Investments in America create more opportunities for all our people.”

“For the first time ever, President Biden as part of his budget called on Congress to give GSA access to the funding we need to maintain and renovate our buildings over the long-term – which means even more jobs for workers in communities across the country.”

“With nearly $7 billion dollars to invest, GSA is on the front lines of Investing in America and working to meet the President’s ambitious goals of transitioning our country into a clean energy economy. The urgency of this moment couldn’t be greater for our security, our economy, and our future.”

“We all know that to build the American economy of the future, we need the time and talent of all our people. We can’t leave anyone behind – and, when we Invest in America, we mean all of America.”

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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

April 24, 2023

Upcoming project will replace and upgrade walkway flooring

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced a series of hole-drilling operations in the pedestrian walkway just before and after the pedestrian inspection building at the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry (LPOE). The work will occur on Monday, May 1, 2023, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and will not require pedestrian lane closures or otherwise impact pedestrian inspection operations. During this time, the contractor will erect temporary barrier safety fencing around the boring site and employ sound-dampening blankets to minimize noise levels. The work is necessary to perform precursory work ahead of the larger project to replace and upgrade the pedestrian walkway floor at the port.

What’s Happening

What: Hole-boring operations in the pedestrian walkway.

Where: Northbound pedestrian walkway just before and after the pedestrian inspection building at the Otay Mesa LPOE

When: From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, May 1, 2023.

As one of the busiest pedestrian ports in California, the northbound pedestrian walkway surface at the Otay Mesa LPOE is approaching the end of its useful life cycle and requires replacement. A GSA flooring project will replace the current ceramic flooring surface in the northbound pedestrian walkway with a more durable concrete paver surface that requires less frequent maintenance and replacement.

Learn more about this and all other projects at the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry at www.gsa.gov/otaymesa.

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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

April 24, 2023

BOSTON – The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has awarded a contract for architectural and engineering services in support of the new Land Port of Entry (LPOE) at Calais Ferry Point, Maine.

Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, GSA awarded the $3,802,684 contract to Morphosis. Under this contract Morphosis will provide pre-design, concept, design development, construction documentation and construction procurement services.

This project will incorporate sustainability features that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate the impact of buildings on the environment, and simultaneously increase the mission readiness of the federal government by increasing resilience to climate change.

“America’s land ports are vital to our economy and our security, with billions of dollars in goods and services crossing our borders each and every day,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “The investments created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are a historic opportunity to modernize our land ports in ways that will create good-paying jobs and strengthen supply chains, while enhancing safety and security.”

GSA’s goals for the new Calais Ferry Point LPOE include providing a long-lasting and durable port which is sustainable and climate resilient, with low maintenance and operating costs. The new port will also be highly functional and technologically efficient while respecting the historic nature of the current port. When completed, the LPOE will improve public and officer safety, and provide for the long-term, safe and efficient flow of current and projected traffic volumes.

The original facility at Calais Ferry Point was constructed in 1935 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Region 1 Public Buildings Service Commissioner and Acting Regional Administrator Glenn C. Rotondo. He said, “We are excited for the opportunity to work with our federal partners and the economic prospects this project will bring to the region.”

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

April 19, 2023

On April 12, multiple federal agencies came together to discuss how we work together during disasters to identify, procure, and transport life-saving resources during disasters. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), General Services Administration (GSA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) met at FEMA’s regional office to discuss each agency’s mission, responsibilities, and capabilities during a disaster in preparation for hurricane season.

This event is unique across the country, with the Mid-Atlantic being the only region who hosts this kind of event. Participants included regional and national representatives, those with extensive experience and those new to their roles. Attendees discussed resource coordination, such as during the pandemic when agencies were often trying to source critical supplies from wherever possible, and working towards collaboration and cooperation for logistics support and timely delivery of resources where most needed.

The highlight for the event was a moderated panel discussion on coordinating the procurement of life saving resources and the response to recent crises, including the Afghan repatriation mission Operation Allies Welcome, Hurricane Ida, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The nation’s ability to address emergent threats is rooted in the strength of our emergency management workforce, partnerships, and interconnectivity,” said MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 3. “Our capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a crisis is exponentially increased when these partnerships are strong. It takes all of us working together to meet the needs of our nation.”

“The team of Region III federal partners exceeded the original intent of this engagement. The cross talk was robust and demonstrated the commitment to improving how we collectively respond both in blue and grey skies,” said Dorothy O’Connell, Whole of Government Division Chief for DLA Troop Support. “This commitment to partnership should be the model for all regions. What’s next? The next partnership summit will be expanded to other federal partners in the region.”

“This session highlights how each of us has a role to play in emergencies,” said Kathy Peek, GSA’s Regional Emergency Coordinator. “By talking now, we’re setting ourselves up for success when a real emergency happens and we need to help each other out.”

“It’s important to coordinate and develop awareness on emergency response capabilities before a disaster hits so these sessions are valuable,” said USACE Philadelphia District Chief of Emergency Management Jim Monsu. “We’re grateful to have strong partnerships with other federal entities in the Philadelphia and Mid-Atlantic region.”

Additional feedback noted that simultaneously seeking resources from a limited number of vendors during a disaster results in duplicate (or triplicate) effort and creates an artificial demand that can drive up prices. Although the group’s participants were regionally aligned, the challenge being addressed is one that extends beyond the Mid-Atlantic region and involves state, county, and local responders as well as federal. By focusing on collaboration in an emergency, each agency is able to deliver on their mission and meet the needs of survivors while reducing competition for scarce resources.

DLA, FEMA, GSA and USACE meet quarterly to review their mission assignments under disaster response and recovery, recap lessons learned from past events and build partnerships.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.fema.gov/about/organization/region-3

https://www.dla.mil/Troop-Support/About/

https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/regions/welcome-to-the-midatlantic-region-3/products-and-services/emergency-management

https://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Missions/Emergency-Management/