Massive Transition Effort by GSA Reveals Scope of Agency

GSA’s role in this Presidential transition called upon every arm of the agency to pull together a smooth shift of power. GSA provided office space, state-of-the-art IT networks and a wide range of office services for the incoming administration. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg in this momentous year.

GSA already had the centralized systems in place to assist with the transition, but this presidential transition has brought 21^st Century security challenges as well as space and logistics demands. GSA began the planning two years ago for this job, bringing expertise from every arm of the agency including its Public Building Service and Federal Acquisition Service.

Everyday, Around the World

GSA is showcasing its collaborative approach to illustrate how it provides the same kinds of services -- plus products and supplies -- everyday for the military and other federal agencies across the country and around the world.

GSA serves federal agencies and the military when they need facilities and workspaces, expert technology, acquisition services, and guidance on federal travel and management policies. Bringing the depth of this expertise for the next Administration meant collaboration and cooperation on a massive agency scale.

GSA’s Leadership Teams

GSA’s Gail Lovelace is serving as Director of Presidential transition, with Tim Horn as the team lead; George Prochaska leads the team responsible for the outgoing administration; Mary Costa leads the team supporting the Presidential Inaugural Committee and the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee; and Neil Skidmore leads the internal GSA transition team.

President-Elect Obama Needed Facilities in DC and Chicago

Working together they have brought GSA’s resources together to provide:

• 120,000 square feet of office space in Washington D.C., and 22,000 square feet of office space in Chicago and customized it as needed.  Through its Public Building Service, GSA has developed in Washington two executive suites, a visitor’s entrance, press room and secure work room.  The Chicago site includes workstations for up to 75 people, two executive offices and a secure workroom.
• IT, telecommunications, office furniture and supplies and more through its Federal Acquisition Service. Teams worked seven days a week to deploy roughly 500 laptops, docking stations, desk phones, blackberries. Over 1,200 email accounts have been provided to incoming transition Team members.
• Assistance to President-elect Obama’s Transition Team to get www.change.gov up and running quickly. The Transition Directory is prominently displayed at the bottom right hand corner of the front page as required by the Presidential Transition Act. 
• Human resources finance and payroll, and legal services.
• Guidance and collaboration to ensure that essential functions are sustained in the event of an emergency.