General Services Administration - Research Paper Example

?General Services Administration (GSA) Table of Contents Table of Contents Creation 4 Products and Services 4 Professional and Technical Solutions 4 GSA Schedule 5 Federal Property and Buildings 6 Management of Buildings and Real Estate 6 Design and Construction 6 Management of Personal Property 7 Policy and Regulations 7 Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 7 Real Property Policy 8 Acquisition Policy 8 Federal Management Regulation (FMR) 8 Federal Travel Regulations 9 Policy Performance 9 Aviation Management 10 Transport Management Services 10 Travel, Transportation and Guidance 11 Motor Vehicle Management 11 Information Access and Enhancing Integrity 11 Child Care 12 Promotes Environmental Sustainability 12 Open Governance 13 Conclusion 13 References 16 General Services Administration (GSA) The General services administration (GSA) is an independent arm of the US government. It was established in 1949 with a goal of supporting the effectiveness of the federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to apply its expertise in the provision of innovative customer solutions to foster an effective and performing federal government to the American people. Its vision is related to the enhancement of the mission goals to ensure that the quality of the service delivery is retained while negating any form of challenges that may derail service delivery. GSA is guided by three strategic goals namely innovation, customer intimacy and operational excellence. The agency is involved in a wide range of activities that enhances proper functioning of the US governance system. One of its crucial roles includes relaying products and communications in the US government offices. Besides their involvement in a wide array of activities, the agency enhances the provision of transportation and proper working space for federal employees. It also formulates cost-minimizing strategies to enhance the performance of governance structures. GSA provides job opportunities for approximately 12 000 workers and has an operating budget of approximately $26.3 billion. GSA manages most of the US federal property that includes buildings and motor vehicles. Some of the real estate assets that are managed by GSA are Ronald Regan Building, Hat-Dole-Inouye Federal Centre and the World Trade Centre. GSA is also involved in the business line that includes Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), Public Buildings Service (PBS), Office of the Citizens and Communications and office of the government wide Policy among others. The paper below discusses the creation, purpose and impact of General Services Administration on today's society. Creation The preliminary idea for the formation of GSA emanated from 1947’s Herbert Hoover led commission. The commission had been obligated with the role of coming up with recommendations that would enhance service delivery of the federal government. GSA attained the status of an independent agency in 1949 with the enactment of Federal Property and Administrative Services Act with Jess Larson being named as the first administrator (United States, 2009). Currently, GSA conducts its functions through 11 offices located in Denver, Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco, New York City, Missouri, Ft. Worth, Washington DC and Kansas City. Products and Services According to National Research Council (U.S.)., Brose, and Millett (2012), the agency acts as the procurement and acquisition arm of the federal government. Its acquisition roles include offering of the office equipments, communication products and other solutions related to information systems to enable the federal agencies offer effective services to the public. These products and services include: Professional and Technical Solutions GSA provides a wide range of improved professional and quality services that helps in promoting the federal agency performance and assists them to achieve their goals. The solutions offered by the agency include complete management, consulting and financial services to federal institutions and other constituent agencies. It also facilitates access to a wide array of linguists who can facilitate the effectiveness and the transparency of financial transactions. The engineering aspect of federal agencies has been enhanced by GSA. The unlimited access to a wide range of engineering disciplines promotes performance. GSA is also involved in supporting the function of the human resource department of the federal agency that enhances the employment processes and hiring of the temporary staff. The inception of GSA offered an improvement channel for marketing and advertisement roles. The efficiency of the employees has also been enhanced by the establishment of the agency. This is because quality training services are offered through the application of training aids and devices, involvement of instructors in training, e-learning and offering degree programs. The logistical challenges that characterized the federal agency before the inception of GSA have been solved through reliance on comprehensive logistical solutions that are offered by GSA. The agency also designs the routine constant centre service such as a regular call centre or emergency situations. Any activities related to publication or publishing services in the US federal agency is carried out by GSA. The agency’s activities are guided by a schedule. GSA Schedule The federal agency is a complex institution made up of advanced structures that requires advanced schedules and role specifications. GSA is involved in the formulation of consolidated schedule that ensures job satisfaction to enhance performance. The schedules are designed as the prime contracts agreed by the federal governments and vendors who present feasible proposal for approval. The schedule is composed of two guiding clauses i.e. the basis of the award and mechanisms of price reduction. The two guiding principles are applied consecutively to help the government achieve pricing objectives. The federal government aims to make the vendor experience competitive pressures that enhances price reduction. This enables them extend the reduction in the prices of the government services to the public. Federal Property and Buildings The agency is charged with formulation of regulations that governs acquiring, use and disposal of real property such as land and personal property. This function is undertaken by the office of the government-wide policy within GSA. The regulations are developed in collaboration with the federal agencies and posted in the federal agency public interaction channel for public comment. Management of Buildings and Real Estate GSA is the leading agency in the provision of sustainable and innovative solutions for work place management, construction and management. This is due to its management role of numerous federal properties. Design and Construction GSA has the responsibility of ensuring that the federal agencies achieve the required spatial requirements. GSA provides leadership and enacts standards that are eminent in the enhancement of project management and architectural designs. GSA ensures effectiveness through engaging highly qualified architects and engineers in designing, constructing and renovating buildings with strict adherence to the international renowned programs. Management of Personal Property Management of the personal property is achieved through the development of regulations guiding on the stewardship of the personal assets of the federal workers. They offer crucial information on different forms of property such as IT property, capital assets and sensitive property among other categories (United States, 2009). They enhance accountability through offering information related to loan of property, gifts and reporting of expired or stolen property. Enhancing management of personal property also includes offering information related to reuse of excess property or the criteria required for the purchase of new technology for office use. Some of the property disposal methods that the agency proposes include donating, selling or destruction. GSA also guides on the ethics required when handling federal property especially when purchasing the government property for personal use and receiving donations in the form of federal property for personal use. The agency achieves its roles through focus on various policies and regulations that enhances performance. Policy and Regulations General Service Administration enacts evidence-based and applicable regulations and policies that encourage the federal agencies to apply the most effective and reliable management practices. Some of the regulations that GSA offers include: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) According to Hoe, Madsen and Practicing Law Institute (2012), this regulation is jointly issued by the Department of Defence, GSA and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and is applied by the federal agencies in acquiring goods and services. The major proprietor of the joint initiative is GSA that acts as the coordinator in the implementation of FAR. Some of the regulations contained in FAR are local community recovery act of 2006, emergency acquisitions, combating human trafficking and free trade agreement. Real Property Policy General Service administration develops, enhances and assesses the adherence to the management regulations of real property stewardship. The agency relays information related to sustainable development, security of the assets and adherence to law, order and guidance. Acquisition Policy The acquisition policy assists in the creation of the procurement system that supports the achievement of the federal business targets and goals, reduction of overspending in goods and services by the federal agents, improvement in tax management practice and ensuring that the collected tax is handled and effectively managed. Additionally, the policy promotes efficient planning, participation of all people in the improvement of the economy, protection of the public interest and upholding ethical standards in service delivery (United States, 2009). The acquisition regulations and rules are regulated by General Service Acquisition Manual (GSAM). The agency harmonizes the GSA acquisition regulations and rules. The GSAM is made up of the general services Acquisition Regulation and the internal policies charged with acquisition roles. Federal Management Regulation (FMR) The management regulation is a constituent of the Federal Property Management Regulation (FPMR) i.e. most of the policies have been outsourced from the original FPMR. The only difference is that it does not contain the directives that offer the guidelines on the modes of transacting business with GSA. Federal Travel Regulations The code of federal regulations implements policies that regulate the travelling roles of the federal civilian employees and other dignitaries designated for state roles. The FTR consolidates all travel and relocation needs for all the employees serving under Title 5 Executive Agency employees (Pelton and Jakhu, 2009). The impact of the stipulated regulations and policies is embodied in the spirit of policy performance. Policy Performance GSA has a policy performance department that transforms raw data into information necessary for formulation of effective policies and regulations. The analyzed information enhances the service delivery of the federal agencies. The development of the evidence-based policies by GSA is ensured by the close cultural collaboration between the staff, customers and stakeholders. The policy performance division ensures implementation of government policies and improvement in their effectiveness in collaborating with federal agencies. Application and sharing of best practices is enhanced by policy performance division through managing the GSA real property innovation and Achievement Award Program. The division is also involved in the division of labour and role specification. These strategies enhance the performance of all federal employees through estimating the cost per person for the work space, telecommunication facilities and information technology devices. Aviation Management This role is crucial because the federal owned aircraft is a valuable asset to the state. GSA provides the federal aviation agencies with the necessary information on the safety measures required when handling aircrafts. This enables them buy, manage and dispose aircrafts. It also fosters interagency cooperation and dedicated leadership. The sound policy and guidance offered by GSA enables the aviation authorities achieve the highest standards of management and enhance performance. The role played by the agency in collecting, analyzing and presenting information related to aviation management saves the government the high cost incurred through hiring other agencies that would otherwise overcharge the services and swindle the state resources. GSA also enhances efficiency in role-play among the aviation employees through improving their working conditions, adopting innovation and employing techniques that are cost effective. Additionally, GSA also offers training services to employees to enhance their personal safety in the work place, encourage them report any malpractices or risky situations and adopt the culture of best practice. Transport Management Services The services have been enhanced by the development of the transport management policy that enhances the development of transportation regulations, education and improved management practices. GSA facilitates the development of transportation competences through training. The agency encourages organizations to report their transport expenditures to help them predict the direction of their performance. This enables the development of effective strategies suitable for frustrating any impediments to development and promoting development strategies (Khalid, 2010). The management role also involves facilitation of information sharing among organizations to ensure equal development. The transport and management role is enhanced through focus on travel, transportation and guidance, and motor vehicle management. Travel, Transportation and Guidance GSA provides guidance related to improvement in the effectiveness of the government-facilitated movements of goods and services. Any form of relocation, travel or transport of goods services will be performed through reference to the three main policies namely transport management, employee relocation management and travel management. Motor Vehicle Management This function promotes management and performance of motor vehicle fleets operated by the federal agencies. This is achieved through occasional evaluation of motor vehicle management laws and regulations and examining new technologies and motor systems. Motor vehicle management also involves analyzing laws and regulations governing the performance of motor vehicles as well as training and imparting superior skills to the fleet management professionals. This will help in minimizing automobile accidents and uncertainties. Other activities of the agency support the corporate social responsibility. Such roes include enhancing integrity and promotion of information access, enhancing child care, promoting open governance and environmental protection. Information Access and Enhancing Integrity GSA assists the federal government in delivering efficient online services. According to the general accounting office, United States (2001), the agency harnesses the information technology in the delivery of improved services to the citizens through references to the customer feedback. The agency is also involved in delivering advisory information and directives on IT to the federal agencies to ensure that they benefit maximally from the technology. GSA enhances the efficiency of all institutions in the enhancement of service delivery among the public to ensure that information is disseminated uniformly across all the federal government agencies. Reliability in the delivery of IT services is ensured through reviewing and updating the e-policies to ensure conformation to the current technological changes. Transparency and efficiency in the financial services is ensured through standardizing the processes and technical interfaces that guides on the financial management. Child Care The office of the Child Care ensures that families receive quality care for their children located within the confines of GSA managed realm. Some of the areas of establishment to child care centres that GSA can assist in formulation include formation of the organizing committee, undertaking child care needs and child care market surveys, recommendation for the size of the centres and selecting the management personnel of the centre. Promotes Environmental Sustainability GSA always seeks to eliminate or minimize the negative impacts of the federal agency’s activities to the environmental through application of measures that are environmental friendly. Such strategies include reduction of the green house emissions in federal buildings, motor vehicles, federal employees’ travels, offering guidance on the solid waste disposal as well as handling waste water, guidelines on handling the green house gases, maintenance of the agency’s green house inventory that provides frequent situational analysis adherence to environmental health and regional as well as local planning. According to Rein and Smith (2011), some of the sustainable solutions offered by GSA include strategies for sustainable acquisition, operations and facilities, best practices for leasing, alternative fuel vehicles, green information technology, sustainable facilities and tools, recycling and disposal of properties and construction of green facilities and structures (United States, 2008). Open Governance GSA’s support to open governance is rooted in the government’s directive that all federal agencies should open their services to the public (Rein and Smith, 2011). This function is grounded on three main principles related to participation, collaboration and transparency. Some of the initiatives employed to achieve these roles include: engaging the public in the dialogues targeted towards improvement of the website. This accommodates their views on proper measures required from the agencies to achieve their functions; reforming the government through streamlining operations; and improving the customer service federal sites. One of the strategies that the agency employs in improving transparency is per diem mobile application. Conclusion The prominent mission of the agency is the provision of policy leadership and guidance on the management of spaces and best practices. This enhances performance among federal employees. The two main service offered by GSA are the public buildings service and federal acquisition service. The main responsibilities of GSA include procurement, management of federal property and buildings, overseeing the federal vehicle management fleet and facilitating sustainable management of interagency resources. References Hoe, E. S., Madsen, M. G., & Practicing Law Institute. (2012). Government contracts. New York, N.Y: Practicing Law Institute. Khalid, S. N. (2010). Improving the Service Delivery. Global Business Review, 11(1), 65-77. National Research Council (U.S.), Brose, D. A., & Millett, L. I. (2012). “Sustainability considerations for procurement tools and capabilities: Summary of a workshop.” Washington, D.C: National Academies Press. Pelton, J. N., & Jakhu, R. A. M. (2009). International safety regulations and standards for space travel and commerce. Jbis - Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, 62, 294-302. Rein, L., & Smith, T. (2011). "GSA conference went ‘over the top’". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-06-12 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gsa-conference-went-over-the-top/2012/04/04/gIQAi23suS_story.html United States. (2001). “General Service Administration: Status of achieving key outcomes and addressing major management challenges.” Washington, D.C.: U.S. General Accounting Office. United States. (2008). “Federal energy management: Addressing challenges through better plans and clarifying the greenhouse gas measure will help meet long-term goals for buildings: report to Congressional requesters.” Washington, D.C.: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office. United States. (2009). “The serious commercial real estate credit crunch and the General Services Administration: Leasing and building during an economic crisis: hearing before the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, first session, March 20, 2009.” Washington: U.S. G.P.O. Read More