The report also addressed the issue of the potential for ending leases or selling off owned space in light of under-used space and pressure from Capitol Hill. Image: JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe inspector general’s office at the GSA has reiterated its concerns expressed in a series of recent reports about health, safety and security risks in federal buildings.
GSA’s Public Buildings Service “continues to face challenges in managing the maintenance and repair needs of its aging portfolio of owned buildings,” with costs of addressing the backlog now estimated at $4.6 billion, up from $1.2 billion in 2016, a report said. Separately, the IG found a backlog of nearly 36,000 actionable, open risk conditions involving occupational safety, health and fire risk conditions.
The IG noted that in reports raising health and safety issues—some of them related to deferred maintenance—involving asbestos and water quality, including failure to conduct required testing for contaminants such as lead, copper and Legionella bacteria. It further pointed to its recent findings that even where maintenance and repair work is undertaken, contractors did not complete all the ordered work, in some cases marked work as complete even though it was not, and that some work that was completed was done late.
“Recent audits have found problems with GSA’s monitoring and enforcement of its security protocols” including lack of awareness of the safety and security risks that law enforcement-related activities in buildings pose to tenants, it said.
It further called attention to a recent report finding that the GSA had not effectively followed up on recommendations of an earlier report on security vulnerabilities specific to child care centers in federal buildings.
Among other issues, the report also addressed the issue of the potential for ending leases or selling off owned space in light of GAO findings of high rates of under-used space and resulting pressure from Capitol Hill.
Many agency customers “are either not ready or not willing to reduce and consolidate unused space” and in any consolidations, the GSA will need to “address alteration needs and system upgrades to ensure that building systems are operating efficiently, effectively, and safely.”
The report on management challenges to the agency did not make new recommendations nor include an agency response.
Deferred Resignation Periods about to End for Many; Overall 12% Drop
Retirement Surge Likely as Deferred Resignation Periods End
Senate Rejects Bills to Defer Shutdown; Familiar Process Lies Just Ahead
Senate Bill Would Override Trump Orders against Unions
Report Describes Impact of Shutdown on Employees, Agencies
TSP Adds Detail to Upcoming Roth Conversion Feature
See also,
How to Handle Taxes Owed on TSP Roth Conversions? Use a Ladder
The Best Ages for Federal Employees to Retire
Best States to Retire for Federal Retirees: 2025
