FROM: GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
GSA Announces Major Investments in the Nation’s Public Buildings
Washington, DC--- Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Dan Tangherlini announced major investments in our nation’s infrastructure as part of the Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The legislation will provide important funding to repair and maintain our country's public infrastructure, pay rent for our leased buildings, consolidate offices to save money, and upgrade land ports of entry to secure the nation's borders and facilitate trade and economic growth. The more than $9.3 billion investment in the nation’s public buildings enables GSA to properly maintain and improve the real estate assets owned and paid for by the American people.
“By investing in our public buildings, a smaller federal footprint and improved border crossing stations, GSA will not only create savings for the American people, but also assist in providing them with the most efficient and effective government possible,” said GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini. “These infrastructure projects will ensure that federal agencies can support economic and job growth in communities across this country.”
Investing in the Nation’s Public Buildings
As a result of consecutive years of reduced funding, GSA’s portfolio of facilities have had to forgo over $4 billion worth of capital improvements including major repairs and maintenance as well as critical additions to the inventory. The legislation is an important step in restoring GSA’s ability to meet the urgent needs of its real estate portfolio by investing more than $1 billion in repair and maintenance of more than 9,000 federal buildings across the country. These are critical investments in infrastructure that will create significant savings by preventing costly emergency repairs in the future.
Construction and Border Modernization Projects
The legislation funds several construction projects that will allow agencies to continue to provide critical services to the American people. One of those projects includes the consolidation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the St. Elizabeth’s campus in Washington, DC. With $155 million investment in the St. Elizabeth’s campus, GSA will continue to work to bring DHS into a single campus, which will save on leased space and enhance staff collaboration.
With the passage of the legislation, GSA’s request for a number of Land Port of Entry projects is fully funded. GSA will invest $295 million in critical border crossing and inspection modernization projects that will help expand trade and enhance border security. This includes:
$226 million to work on the next phase of the San Ysidro Port of Entry in Southern California, the busiest border crossing in the world.
$61.6 million to expand and modernize the U.S. Land Port of Entry facilities at the Port of Laredo in Laredo, Texas.
$7.4 million in the project design phase to expand and modernize the border crossing in Columbus, New Mexico.
These projects will increase efficiency, create economic growth, and improve safety and security for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Making Federal Real Estate Smaller and More Efficient
The legislation includes $70 million to further GSA’s efforts to consolidate agencies within existing federally owned space. GSA’s consolidation program will save taxpayer dollars by reducing agency dependence on leased space, increase energy and water conservation, and reduce the total amount of space occupied by the government.
Showing posts with label PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
GSA ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER BLUE'S STATEMENT ON CERTIFICATION IN REWARDING SUSTAINABLE FISHING
FROM: U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
The Role of Certification in Rewarding Sustainable Fishing
Statement of Darren Blue
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Facilities Management & Services Program
General Services Administration
Before the House Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation
Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
September 24, 2013
Good morning Chairman Begich, Ranking Member Rubio, and members of the Subcommittee. I am Darren Blue, Assistant Commissioner for Facilities Management and Services Programs in GSA’s Public Buildings Service. I appreciate being invited here today to discuss GSA’s role in developing guidelines for healthy and sustainable food services in federal facilities.
Today I will speak to the GSA’s support of health and sustainability policies and practices within our inventory of Federal office space.
First and foremost, I’d like to establish GSA’s view that U.S.-managed fisheries do not require third-party certification to demonstrate responsible practices. GSA is working with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other agencies to revise our Health and Sustainability Guidelines for Federal Concessions and Vending Operations to ensure they provide absolute clarity on this matter.
Development of GSA-HHS Health and Sustainability Guidelines for Federal Concessions and Vending Operations
In 2009, President Obama issued Executive Order 13514, “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance,” directing Federal agencies to leverage acquisitions to encourage markets for sustainable products and services. As the Federal government’s landlord, GSA is well positioned to drive change by supporting sustainability in federal facilities and encouraging health and wellness among federal employees.
From 2009 to 2011, GSA and HHS jointly developed the Health and Sustainability Guidelines with a working group that included health and sustainability experts from several Federal agencies. GSA and HHS co-released the Guidelines in March 2011. NOAA did not participate in the development of the original Guidelines, but GSA and HHS have since been working with NOAA to develop revisions.
We designed the Guidelines to make healthy choices more accessible and appealing. As written, they serve as a practical guide and resource for vendors crafting proposals to provide concessions or vending services in federal facilities. Our intent was to broaden choices, not restrict choices.
GSA worked extensively with private industry in developing the Guidelines. In October 2009, prior to beginning our partnership with HHS, GSA released a Request for Information to gain valuable feedback and insight from concessions and environmental stakeholders on wellness and sustainability practices in food service delivery and concessions contracting. Some of the responses suggested the idea of third-party sustainable fishing certification programs as a guide for responsible seafood procurement.
GSA confirmed the recommendations generated through the RFI process, and during a subsequent industry roundtable with industry experts and our other federal agency partners, we developed Guidelines that cited a pair of third-party entities for sustainability certification. Specifically, the guidelines encouraged vendors to refer to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Marine Stewardship Council or other equivalent systems when developing proposals.
GSA and HHS intended the third-party groups cited in the Guidelines to be helpful examples for vendors, not eliminating factors. We now understand that these references have caused some confusion. GSA and HHS are now working with NOAA to develop revisions consistent with our intent to issue helpful, inclusive Guidelines that reflect federal fisheries management policy and practices. We expect to release the revised Guidelines in the coming weeks, and GSA anticipates that they will not include references to third-party certification systems.
Conclusion
Thank you for inviting me to appear before you today. Given GSA’s role in supporting sustainable workplaces and the health and wellness of federal employees across the country, we look forward to continuing this dialogue and updating the Subcommittee on the issuance of updated Guidelines. I am pleased to take your questions.
The Role of Certification in Rewarding Sustainable Fishing
Statement of Darren Blue
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Facilities Management & Services Program
General Services Administration
Before the House Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation
Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard
September 24, 2013
Good morning Chairman Begich, Ranking Member Rubio, and members of the Subcommittee. I am Darren Blue, Assistant Commissioner for Facilities Management and Services Programs in GSA’s Public Buildings Service. I appreciate being invited here today to discuss GSA’s role in developing guidelines for healthy and sustainable food services in federal facilities.
Today I will speak to the GSA’s support of health and sustainability policies and practices within our inventory of Federal office space.
First and foremost, I’d like to establish GSA’s view that U.S.-managed fisheries do not require third-party certification to demonstrate responsible practices. GSA is working with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other agencies to revise our Health and Sustainability Guidelines for Federal Concessions and Vending Operations to ensure they provide absolute clarity on this matter.
Development of GSA-HHS Health and Sustainability Guidelines for Federal Concessions and Vending Operations
In 2009, President Obama issued Executive Order 13514, “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance,” directing Federal agencies to leverage acquisitions to encourage markets for sustainable products and services. As the Federal government’s landlord, GSA is well positioned to drive change by supporting sustainability in federal facilities and encouraging health and wellness among federal employees.
From 2009 to 2011, GSA and HHS jointly developed the Health and Sustainability Guidelines with a working group that included health and sustainability experts from several Federal agencies. GSA and HHS co-released the Guidelines in March 2011. NOAA did not participate in the development of the original Guidelines, but GSA and HHS have since been working with NOAA to develop revisions.
We designed the Guidelines to make healthy choices more accessible and appealing. As written, they serve as a practical guide and resource for vendors crafting proposals to provide concessions or vending services in federal facilities. Our intent was to broaden choices, not restrict choices.
GSA worked extensively with private industry in developing the Guidelines. In October 2009, prior to beginning our partnership with HHS, GSA released a Request for Information to gain valuable feedback and insight from concessions and environmental stakeholders on wellness and sustainability practices in food service delivery and concessions contracting. Some of the responses suggested the idea of third-party sustainable fishing certification programs as a guide for responsible seafood procurement.
GSA confirmed the recommendations generated through the RFI process, and during a subsequent industry roundtable with industry experts and our other federal agency partners, we developed Guidelines that cited a pair of third-party entities for sustainability certification. Specifically, the guidelines encouraged vendors to refer to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Marine Stewardship Council or other equivalent systems when developing proposals.
GSA and HHS intended the third-party groups cited in the Guidelines to be helpful examples for vendors, not eliminating factors. We now understand that these references have caused some confusion. GSA and HHS are now working with NOAA to develop revisions consistent with our intent to issue helpful, inclusive Guidelines that reflect federal fisheries management policy and practices. We expect to release the revised Guidelines in the coming weeks, and GSA anticipates that they will not include references to third-party certification systems.
Conclusion
Thank you for inviting me to appear before you today. Given GSA’s role in supporting sustainable workplaces and the health and wellness of federal employees across the country, we look forward to continuing this dialogue and updating the Subcommittee on the issuance of updated Guidelines. I am pleased to take your questions.
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