Latest Heartland News
- GSA Region 6 Begins Live Auto Auction Season
- GSA’s relocation in KCMO moves forward
- Kansas Highway Patrol Saves $570,000 with GSA
- Historic Nebraska Federal Building to Receive $160,000 Investment
- GSA’s ENERGY STAR Buildings in Iowa, Nebraska Save Taxpayer Dollars
- Two St. Louis-Area Construction Projects Included in President’s Budget
- New Forest Service Office Embraces Flexibility, Openness
- GSA: What We Do, Who We Are: Brian K. Dunlay
GSA Region 6 Begins Live Auto Auction Season
The Heartland Region Fleet office has kicked off its live auctions for 2013, already having sold more than 275 government vehicles for $3.2 million.
The first auction of the year was in Lincoln, Neb., April 24. That event was followed by the 166 Auto Auction in Springfield, Mo., May 2. Earlier this month, GSA managed auctions at both the Kansas City Independent Auto Auction May 9 and the Missouri Auto Auction in Columbia May 10.
A significant portion of the revenue earned through the auto auctions is used to purchase replacement fleet vehicles.
“We’re off to a hot start,” said Fleet Remarketing Specialist Michael Gauntt. “The Columbia auction last week generated a lot of revenue.”
At the May 10 auction in Columbia, GSA sold 77 vehicles for a total profit of $857,500 — 127.3 percent of the National Auto Research’s “Black Book” value.
Eighty-six vehicles were sold for $971,300 April 24 in Lincoln, resulting in an average profit of $11,294 per unit. That was 118.9 percent of the black book value. In Springfield, 46 units were sold for $665,200, or $14,460 per vehicle. GSA vehicles earned 123.1 percent of the black book value at that auction.
In Kansas City this month, 69 units were sold at 113.2 percent of the black book value — bringing in about $10,700 profit per vehicle.
“The Springfield auction is a new offering for GSA this year,” said Gauntt. “We’ve also added an auction through the Missouri Auto Dealers Exchange in St. Joseph. We’re excited to get up there.”
Gauntt and Charlene Musick manage GSA’s Fleet Remarketing Program in Region 6. Future live auctions include the Kansas City Independent Auto Auction June 13 and the Missouri Auto Auction June 14.
For more information on GSA manages fleet auctions, visit http://autoauctions.gsa.gov.
GSA’s relocation in KCMO moves forward
Space procurement for the new GSA Heartland Region headquarters in downtown Kansas City, Mo., took a step forward this week when the “Request for Lease Proposal, Program of Requirements, and draft Lease” was sent to prospective lessors.
Issuance of the request is part of the federal lease acquisition process. Responses from prospective lessors are due June 7, and lease award is targeted for the end of December 2013. Region 6 GSA’s official relocation from the Bannister Federal Complex is projected to begin in December 2014.
“We remain focused on helping employees prepare for the transition, while also working to prepare Bannister for its new future," said GSA Regional Administrator Jason Klumb. "This is a major milestone for the project, and we are excited to take another step forward in relocating to downtown Kansas City."
To ensure taxpayers are getting the best value, and to ensure the integrity of the competition, GSA is unable to disclose procurement information in accordance with the Procurement Integrity Act (41 U.S.C. §423).
In December 2012, GSA posted an advertisement for approximately 150,000 square feet in Kansas City within a delineated area bounded by Interstate 70 (north), 27th Street (south), Campbell Street (east) and Interstate 35 (west). The market survey of prospective locations was completed in February 2013.
Kansas Highway Patrol Saves $570,000 with GSA
The Kansas Highway Patrol has saved more than $570,000 so far this year using GSA’s schedules to purchase equipment.
Randy Brown, operator of the Kansas Highway Patrol’s 1122 PARTNERS PROGRAM, recently contacted GSA Customer Service Director Russell Luttrall to express his appreciation for GSA’s offerings.
“I appreciate GSA and all the resources (you) provide me,” said Brown. “You save a lot of money for a bunch of small and large law enforcement agencies that receive a lot of benefit from our program. GSA is a great help to law enforcement.”
The Kansas 1122 PARTNERS PROGRAM was established to help the state utilize GSA’s 1122 Program — an offering that allows state and local law enforcement agencies the ability to purchase select equipment off GSA-negotiated contracts.
By using the 1122 program, law enforcement agencies in Kansas have saved $366,040.36 on vehicles, $201,579.52 on body armor and another $8,624.95 on various tactical equipment so far this fiscal year (the Kansas operating year runs July 1 – June 30).
“I won’t be surprised to hit $1.5 million on autos this year,” said Brown.
Brown also shared a story about the impact the program has in the city of El Dorado, Kan. According to a local officer, the city council no longer suggests they place bids on vehicles thanks to the prices set through the GSA program. Purchasing vehicles through the 1122 program has resulted in prices more than $2,000 lower than the best bid they had received on their own.
“They’ve never looked back and his city council has complete confidence in GSA,” said Brown.
Historic Nebraska Federal Building to Receive $160,000 Investment
The Grand Island Federal Building will soon see its interior stairwell and flooring restored.
GSA recently received $160,000 to complete the two projects. The Grand Island Federal Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“This building has served the community for more than a century,” said GSA Regional Administrator Jason Klumb. “We’re excited to begin this restoration project and will ensure any construction protects its historic value.”
The first restoration project includes the removal of flooring on the first floor public areas and reinstalling terrazzo flooring. The second project will refurbish 18 treads and the landing areas of the interior stairwell that serve the lobby of the federal building. It will also include removing the existing skid resistant strips, and cleaning and polishing the marble stairs and landings.
As it is a historic property, both projects will comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
GSA expects to award the construction contract this summer.
About the Grand Island Federal Building
Located at 203 West 2nd Street, Grand Island, NE 68102, the downtown federal building is in close proximity to the county courthouse, and various retail establishments and residential buildings. The building was recently recognized in the 2012 Energy Star National Building Competition for reducing its energy usage by 21.5 percent. The Grand Island Federal Building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2006 to recognize its architectural significance and contribution to community development.
GSA’s ENERGY STAR Buildings in Iowa, Nebraska Save Taxpayer Dollars
GSA announced recently that 15 of its buildings saved an estimated $961,470 taxpayer dollars and met top energy benchmarks in the 2012 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition. Two of those buidings are in the Heartland Region: Neal Smith Federal Building, Des Moines, Iowa, and Grand Island Federal Building, Grand Island, Neb.
The Neal Smith building reduced its energy usage by 23.4 percent, the Grand Island building by 21.5 percent in 2012.
“These 15 buildings saved nearly a million taxpayer dollars, and across our portfolio of federal buildings we are finding ways to bring down costs and deliver better value to the American people,” said Dorothy Robyn, GSA’s Public Buildings Service commissioner. “GSA is proud to have so many of our buildings meet top rankings in such a wide competition. We are using variety of strategies to make our existing buildings more energy efficient, and they are paying off.”
GSA used advanced meters and smart buildings technology to monitor improvements. Some other examples of the measures taken in these buildings incuded insulation projects, sealing structures, manually adjusting window shades, using smaller water heaters, and retrofitting light fixtures.
The 2012 Energy Star National Building Competition measured energy performance for the entire 2012 calendar year. The energy reductions for each of the top competitors were verified by an independently-licensed professional engineer or registered architect. The program calculated cost savings using the national average costs for commercial utilities.
More information on the 2012 Energy Star National Building Competition, including top overall finishers and top finishers by building category, an interactive map of competitors, and a wrap-up report: http://www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings
In his 2009 Executive Order, President Obama directed federal agencies to lead by example in their environmental, energy, and economic performance. GSA has made our portfolio of federal buildings more energy efficient through an array of strategies including EPA’s ENERGY STAR programs, Energy Savings Performance Contracts, GSA’s Shave Energy Program, advanced metering, and Green Proving Ground Program.
Two St. Louis-Area Construction Projects Included in President’s Budget
The U.S. General Services Administration announced Wednesday major public building construction and repair projects outlined in President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget.
The president’s budget calls for investments in the nation’s public buildings managed by GSA. These investments will help GSA 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 Acting Administrator Dan Tangherlini. “The president’s budget 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, some GSA facilities have forgone more than $4 billion worth of capital improvements to include major repairs and maintenance. The president’s budget restores GSA’s authority to use incoming rent funds to meet the needs of its real estate portfolio by investing $1.3 billion in repair and maintenance of federal buildings, including $379 million for basic repairs.
In St. Louis, Mo., the budget proposal includes a $70.2 million project for the Robert A. Young Federal Building for structural and non-structural improvements to the seismic performance of the building, as well as asbestos remediation.
The Prevedel Federal Building in near-by Overland, Mo., is requesting $27.1 million for interior space alterations and building systems upgrades to enable the Veterans Benefits Administration to consolidate operations at Prevedel.
Making Federal Real Estate Smaller and More Efficient:
The budget includes $100 million to further GSA’s efforts to consolidate agencies within existing federally-owned space across the country to improve space utilization, optimize inventory, decrease reliance on leased space, increase energy and water conservation, and reduce the federal government’s footprint. GSA’s consolidation program will save taxpayer dollars by reducing agency dependence on leased space, and reducing the total amount of space occupied by the government.
Savings from Internal Reforms:
In just one year as acting administrator, Tangherlini has led the agency in delivering more than $73 million in internal savings through reforms. The president’s budget is an opportunity for GSA to further these efforts.
New Forest Service Office Embraces Flexibility, Openness
New Department of Agriculture space for the Forest Service in Kansas City, Mo., embraces high-performance workplace design that encourages open floor plan and breaks down the walls of traditional offices.
The Forest Service recently moved its Kansas City Technical Operations Center from the mall level at the Bannister Federal Complex to 8,900 square feet at 903 E. 104th Street. The new office has space for 42 workers and supports an information technology component for USDA nationwide. In previous years, the center was based in the USDA Beacon Federal Building in Kansas City.
Last year, in preparation for relocation to new leased space, a USDA architect and Forest Service officials toured the Mobility Test Bed at the Bannister Federal Complex.
The visitors said they were impressed by the test bed’s open work environment, day lighting, integration of technology and other features, said Kristin Sowell, U.S. General Services Administration leasing specialist for the project.
Later, when designs for the new Forest Service space were finalized, similar high-performing workplace features were included. Among them:
–“Hoteling” and touch-down work spaces, available for Forest Service staff or employees from other regional and national USDA operations
–Only one enclosed office;
–Writeable walls to encourage collaboration;
–Re-purposed glass for a break room and conference rooms to maximize natural light; and
–Sustainable signage, featuring re-purposed white pine donated under a Forest Service program, which emphasizes use of reclaimed wood.
The Forest Service also was passionate about re-purposing doors and other materials from the existing space, Sowell said.
“The USDA architect was working on construction drawings with the lessor’s architect to utilize the concepts from the test bed, and that was very beneficial,” she said. “They’re really proud of the space.”
Construction began in December 2012 and was completed in March. Workers officially moved into the new location on March 25. The lease was completed on time and under budget.
GSA: What We Do, Who We Are: Brian K. Dunlay
(This is the fourth post in a limited series highlighting the day-to-day jobs of GSA employees in Region 6.)
Lease Contracting Officer in Kansas City, Mo.
Years with GSA: 20 years
What you do for GSA:
As a lease contracting officer, I provide space solutions for federal clients who need office, laboratory, storage or other related types of space at great rental rates for the taxpayer. I develop space requirements, write scopes of work, acquire sites, negotiate leases, manage space build-out, and ensure the client is pleased with the space. The largest lease I wrote and negotiated was the Internal Revenue Service lease in Kansas City, Missouri, consisting of 1,140,000 square feet and 5,000 employees. I have completed hundreds of leases while working at GSA and leased more than 3 million square feet.
Favorite part of the job:
The clients I represent are what make the job exciting. Each client has different space needs and finding the right solution for them creates fulfillment on each project. In addition, I enjoy negotiating great lease deals for the taxpayer.
Why you serve:
Lease contracting officers provide leased office space for client agencies so they may perform their missions. Providing high quality space at great rental rates is a very critical role to ensure agencies perform their work efficiently and effectively. Having the opportunity to provide a great work environment at a great price for the agency and the taxpayer makes the job exciting.
