congressional_record: CREC-1996-10-21-pt1-PgE1931-2
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| CREC-1996-10-21-pt1-PgE1931-2 | 1996-10-21 | 104 | 2 | RELOCATION OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION | HOUSE | EXTENSIONS | ALLOTHER | E1931 | E1932 | [{"name": "Eleanor Holmes Norton", "role": "speaking"}] | 142 Cong. Rec. E1931 | Congressional Record, Volume 142 Issue 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996) [Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1931-E1932] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] RELOCATION OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ______ HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON of the district of columbia in the house of representatives Monday, October 21, 1996 Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak in regard to the colloquy between Mr. Lightfoot and Mr. Tom Coburn concerning the relocation of the Federal Communications Commission into the Portals Building, in Washington DC, and enter into the Record a letter from the Administrator of General Services Administration about this issue. In addition to summarizing the court proceedings which ruled that GSA reinstate the space procurement and proceed with the planned move for the FCC into the Portals, the Administrator of GSA details the costs associated with any delay in the move. Administrator, General Services Administration, Washington, DC, October 7, 1996. Hon. Robert Kerrey, Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Senator Kerrey: I am writing to express my most serious concerns regarding the delay of the consolidation of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at the Portals Complex in Washington, DC. This move was the subject of colloquies on the floors of the House and Senate on September 28, 1996, and September 30, 1996, respectively. Because I do not believe the colloquies reflected critical pertinent information, I would like to request that this letter be added to the Record. The Court of Federal Claims issued a specific ruling on this matter that was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals. Furthermore, a delay of the FCC's relocation will cost the Government over $19 million annually in rental costs. It is in the best interest of the Federal Government to consolidate the FCC at the Portals complex for the following reasons: 1. The Federal courts instructed the General Services Administration (GSA) to award a lease at the Portals for the FCC, and GSA has complied with their instructions. 2. GSA signed a 20-year firm-term lease with Portals to consolidate the FCC headquarters. If the FCC is not relocated to Portals, it will cost the Federal Government more than $19 million annually for each year that the space remains vacant, with no resulting benefits. 3. The FCC is currently located in seven locations in Washington, DC. This has resulted in increased operating costs. Relocation to a consolidated site will eliminate this costly and undesirable condition. 4. The FCC's current space requirements are consistent with their space in the Portals Complex. 5. The Federal Government will pay $31.99 per rentable square foot (rsf) ($38.47 per occupiable square foot (osf)) for the FCC lease consolidation. This is below the amount authorized by the Congress ($32.30 per rsf). In addition, this is at the low end of the rental range in Washington, DC, which is $29 to $40 per rsf.\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Note: GSA utilizes two space measurements in lease prospectuses, occupiable and rentable square feet, (osf) and (rsf), respectively. OSF is a national standard for GSA, and is the space which is available for use by an agencies personnel or furnishings excluding hallways, restrooms, and vertical penetrations such as elevators and stairwells. RSF is usually a larger area than osf, and is calculated by measuring from inside wall to inside wall excluding any vertical penetrations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page E1932]] 6. Both the House and Senate Public Works Committees authorized the consolidation of the FCC headquarters, indicating congressional support for the project. Since 1987, the General Services Administration (GSA) has attempted to consolidate the FCC headquarters from dispersed locations in Washington, DC. On July 9, 1987, GSA submitted a lease prospectus totaling 260,416 osf for the FCC headquarters. The prospectus was authorized by the House Committee on Public Works and Transportation on September 23, 1987. Subsequent to the approval of the lease prospectus, the FCC's space needs grew because of new programs such as the Cable Television Consumer Protection Act of 1992. As a result of this growth, GSA canceled the lease procurement on February 10, 1992. At the time of the cancellation, GSA had selected Parcel 49C Limited Partnership (Portals) as the successful offeror. The Parcel 49C Limited Partnership sued GSA because of the canceled lease procurement. On February 28, 1994, the Court of Federal Claims ruled in favor of 49C Limited Partnership, and returned the lease procurement to the point prior to lease award. In response to GSA's argument that resolution was necessary to accommodate the FCC's space needs, the Federal Circuit ruled specifically that resolicitation was not in the public interest and would ``result in further, unnecessary expenditures of Government resources,'' and that the existing award could accommodate the FCC's prior and future space needs. GSA appealed the ruling, and on August 1, 1994, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the Court of Federal Claims ruling. On August 12, 1994, GSA awarded a lease to Parcel 49C for 260,416 osf, consistent with the fiscal year 1988 lease prospectus and in accordance with the court ruling. GSA negotiated a second lease reflecting the FCC's expanded requirement. This second lease would only be effective, following the approval of the Public Works Committees of the House and Senate. On September 23, 1994, GSA submitted a lease prospectus for 545,076 osf to meet the entire estimated FCC requirement. The House Committee on Public Works and Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, authorized 450,416 osf for the FCC headquarters on September 26, 1994, and October 10, 1995, respectively. Because of the unacceptable cost implications of not moving the FCC to the Portals, we are continuing to explore alternative methods of paying for the FCC's relocation costs. It may well be that we can reduce the costs of moving and of fitting out the Portals Complex, and we will work with the FCC to try to reduce those costs while making sure that the FCC can function effectively at the Portals. GSA will report back to the Subcommittee when the new Congress convenes. If you have any questions, please have a member of your staff contact Mr. David Bibb, Deputy Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, on (202) 501-1100. Sincerely, David J. Barram, Acting Administrator. ____________________ |