Background and History
HOW GSA BENEFITS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, offering billions of dollars worth of products, services, and facilities that federal agencies need to serve the public.
GSA’s acquisition solutions supply federal purchasers with cost-effective high-quality products and services from commercial vendors. GSA helps federal agencies build and acquire office space, products and other workspace services, and oversees the preservation of historic federal properties. Its policies covering travel, property and management practices promote efficient government operations.
HOW GSA BENEFITS CITIZENS
GSA helps keep the nation safe by providing tools, equipment, and non-tactical vehicles to the U.S. military, and providing state and local governments with law enforcement equipment, firefighting and rescue equipment, and disaster recovery products and services.
GSA serves the public and makes government easier by offering free access to and information about government programs with these websites:
- USA.gov, official portal to federal government information;
- gobiernoUSA.gov, Spanish counterpart of USA.gov;
- publications.USA.gov, Federal Citizen Information Center;
- Consumer protection on USA.gov, consumer action website;
- Consumer protection in Spanish on goviernoUSA.gov;
- kids.gov, official kids portal for the U.S. government.
The National Contact Center also provides free telephone assistance at 800-FED-INFO, with email and online assistance to the public.
The mission of GSA is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to government and the American people.
GSA was established by President Harry Truman on July 1, 1949, to streamline the administrative work of the federal government. GSA consolidated the National Archives Establishment, the Federal Works Agency and its Public Buildings Administration, the Bureau of Federal Supply and the Office of Contract Settlement, and the War Assets Administration into one federal agency tasked with administering supplies and providing workplaces for federal employees. (Read more)
Only one percent of GSA’s total budget is provided through direct congressional appropriations. The majority of GSA's operating costs are recovered through the products and services it provides.
GSA leads the way in green building design, construction, retrofit and sustainable operations and maintenance. GSA is building a 21st century government that procures and manages technology solutions in smart, secure, and affordable ways. It supports reductions in federal government real estate costs and increases in workplace efficiencies by strategically integrating space, people, and technology solutions customized to different workplace needs.