A new bill introduced in February 2000 called the Truthfulness, Responsibility, and Accountability in Contracting Act - Contracting (TRAC) Act," H.R. 3766, "Prohibits any Federal agency from making a decision to privatize, outsource, contract out, or contract for the performance of a function currently performed by such agency or to conduct a study to convert a function from Federal to contractor performance."
The 66-year-old U.S. Custom House became the first building in Pennsylvania to receive an Energy Star Buildings Label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for energy efficiency. The Energy Star Buildings Label recognizes the nation's top 25 percent most energy efficient buildings in the areas of energy performance and indoor environment standards.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) dedicated its new $2.3 million, 354-seat conference center in May 2000. The 12,518-sf facility--built in what was an abandoned theater--will be the new site for NTSB proceedings and hearings on civil aviation accidents. Special features include a stage with movable panels; two 9' x 12' dual rear projection screens capable of displaying traditional visuals, videotapes, DVDs, and live video; a six-zone distributed sound system accommodating 34 microphone inputs; and easy access for the media.
The National Fire and Protection Agency (NFPA) has partnered with Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) to build a set of Consensus Codes--a new set of codes for the built environment. Their goal is to provide safety officials with a new consistent and compatible set of codes by the year 2003. As part of the Consensus Code project NFPA also plans to devise a NFPA Building Code.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 10-year building and renovation plans for the CDC's two main Atlanta campuses are expected to cost approximately $1.1 billion. Five new laboratories and four lab renovations, plus renovations to a number of lab support buildings, are included in the plan. A substantial increase for the CDC's 2001 facilities budget has been approved by the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. Approval of the new budget would speed completion of the project.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 10-year building and renovation plans for the CDC's two main Atlanta campuses are expected to cost approximately $1.1 billion. Five new laboratories and four lab renovations, plus renovations to a number of lab support buildings, are included in the plan. A substantial increase for the CDC's 2001 facilities budget has been approved by the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. Approval of the new budget would speed completion of the project.
General Services Administration (GSA) is planning a new $35 million, 215,000-sf facility in Washington for the Office of Student Financial Assistance, a Department of Education division. Groundbreaking is scheduled for May 2000, with occupancy anticipated by October 2001. Greenbaum & Rose of Washington is the developer for the project. The general contractor is Centex Construction of Fairfax, Va.
Fort Sam Houston's historic Brooke Army Medical Center and the Beach pavilion Complex will be redeveloped by the U.S. Army working in partnership with the Pennsylvania firm Roy F. Weston Inc. as prime contractor. Local firms involved in the project are Orion Partners, Cross & Company and Ford, Powell & Carson.
Suitland Federal Center's new master plan, begun in March, is moving forward with Leo A. Daly as the prime contractor. Completion of a preliminary plan for the U.S. General Services Administration is anticipated in June 2000. Among the agencies housed at the 185-acre complex are the National Archives and Records Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Bureau of the Census. The master plan anticipates construction of a new 207,970-gsf facility for the NOAA at a cost of $51,737,000.
OSHA proposes new ergonomics standards. Under this new proposal about 1/3 of the general industry worksites will be affected and over 27 million employees covered. The proposal currently identifies several elements for a full implementation of an ergonomics program:
The General Services Administration (GSA) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) have plans for two new facilities. A new 350,000-sf ATF Headquarters Building will accommodate more than 1,100 ATF employees in Northeast Washington.
Construction began in January on the new 176,000-sf National Laboratory Center at a 35-acre site in Beltsville which will house support staff and 3 ATF labs: the Alcohol & Tobacco Laboratory, the Forensic Laboratory, and the Fire Research Laboratory.
The Department of Defense has contracted with Consolidated Engineering Services of Arlington for the operation and maintenance of three buildings in Northern Virginia and the District.
The management contract for a building that will house government contractors has been awarded to Cushman & Wakefield's Washington office. Completion of the facility is scheduled for early 2001.
The FBI has hired Clark Construction of Bethesda, Md., as general contractor for a $106 million project. A 460,000-sf forensics lab and a 28,000-sf utility plant will be built at Quantico for the laboratory division, which will relocate from the Bureau's District of Columbia headquarters.
National Museum of the American Indian, the Smithsonian's tenth museum on Capital Mall, began construction in September. The new five-story, $110 million museum is scheduled to open in 2002 and will focus on American Indians in the Western Hemisphere, including over 1,000 Indian communities.
