GSA Plans for Recovery Act Funding Increase

GSA #10566

February 20, 2009
Public Buildings Contact: MaryAnne Beatty, 202-501-0768
maryanne.beatty@gsa.gov

GSA Services and Fleet Contact: Robert Lesino, (202) 501-1231
robert.lesino@gsa.gov

WASHINGTON — President Obama’s signature on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act significantly increases resources for the U.S. General Services Administration to green federal buildings and buy more alternative-fuel vehicles, GSA officials said Tuesday.

The legislation includes $5.55 billion for building projects and $300 million for fuel-efficient vehicles. In addition, GSA will play a prominent role in advancing the goals of the legislation through its pre-existing contracts and energy-efficient product offerings.

“GSA is in terrific position to connect agencies with cost-effective, high-quality and environmentally friendly commercial products and services,” said acting Administrator Paul F. Prouty. “We are thrilled by this unique opportunity to be a part of the solution to our nation’s economic crisis.”

The agency also announced that it will create a nationally managed, regionally executed program management office staffed with experts in various fields to support regional teams delivering the projects.

GSA’s Public Buildings Service is responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of thousands of federally-owned facilities for more than one million civilian employees of the government at 60 different agencies.

The Recovery Act directs $750 million to renovate and construct federal buildings and courthouses, $300 million to renovate and construct land ports of entry and $4.5 billion to convert federal buildings to high-performance green buildings.

“We can help get people back to work,” said Anthony Costa, acting Commissioner of GSA’s Public Buildings Service. “We can help stimulate the economy by getting money flowing to the building industries – to construction workers, electricians, plumbers, air conditioning mechanics, carpenters, architects, and engineers.”

By creating jobs, GSA is contributing to one of the major objectives of the Act.

Vehicle acquisition is another service GSA provides for federal agencies through the Federal Acquisition Service. The current GSA fleet contains about 80,000 alternative-fuel vehicles. GSA will work with federal agencies to determine the best method to evaluate vehicles eligible for replacement and fund those that would provide the largest benefit through decreased use of fuel and emission reduction.

GSA also stands ready to help all agencies acquire goods and services at best value through existing contract vehicles such as Multiple Award Schedules (MAS), Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) and Multiple Agency Contracts (MAC).

"GSA is moving forward to meet the President's goals by delivering on our assigned responsibilities under the Act and assisting all of our federal, state and local customer agencies with best value products, services and assisted acquisition support," said Jim Williams, Commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service.
 
Lastly, GSA is taking the lead to launch, manage and support recovery.gov – the official recovery website of the federal government – to track recovery spending. Recovery.gov will report the progress on the reinvestment funding for the American public.

GSA does not anticipate significant increases in permanent employees. Some personnel will be redeployed within GSA, or contracted, to reduce the need for permanent staffing.

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GSA provides a centralized delivery system of products and services to the federal government, leveraging its enormous buying power to get the best value for taxpayers.

• Founded in 1949, GSA manages more than one-fourth of the government’s total procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 213,000 vehicles.

• GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 480 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services.

• GSA’s mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and E-Gov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.