# (COVER)

# REAL PROPERTY POLICYSITE NEWSLETTER

# SPRING 2001 

**News and Views on Real Property and Workplace Policy**

*(quote)"Not only does the Navy benefit (from outleasing) but also
private industry gains access to unique facilities...."*

**(title) New Initiative: Navy Innovates with Outleasing Program for
Better Asset Management**

**(photo- Historic former Navy Prison, Portsmouth Navy Shipyard,
Maine)**

(inside cover)

**[In this issue:]{.underline}**

New Agency Initiatives 3

-   Navy Innovates with Outleasing Authority for Better Asset Management

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-   Strategic Planning for Administrative Services Benefits You!

Facility Security 6

-   Federal Real Property Council Meets on Security Issues

Electronic Government 7

-   Emerging Uses of The Web and Their Application to Federal Real
    Estate

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-   Advances in Technology Create New Real Estate Risks

Sustainability 9

-   Environmental Questions? Who Do You Call in GSA?

# New Green Building Nabs High Awards

-   'Harvesting' Energy Reduction through Urban Forestry

-   Sustainable Development Wins Award

New Regulations 11

-   GSA-Issued Real Property Policies Easy to Use

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-   Permanent Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Surplus Programs
    Benefit Public

# Find Your Real Property Regulations on the Web!

Telework 13

-   Telework Cause Advanced in Federal Government

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-   Telco Hotel is New Property Type

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-   What is the Spouses Telework Employment Partnership (STEP)?

Integrated Workplace 16

-   World Class Workforce Group Visits World-Class Companies

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-   Consortium Charts New Workplace Industry

-   Integrated Workplace Pilot Will Be Showcase

Best Practices 18

-   GSA Increases Awards for Real Property Innovators!

Planning 19

-   GRPIS Continues Its Success

-   New Maritime Federal Facilities Council Explores Partnerships

## ***OUR MISSION** .... drives us into the 21^st^ century: "The Office of Real Property promotes collaborative and innovative Governmentwide policies, products, and services for real property, the 21^st^ century workplace, and entrepreneurial Government activities." We reach out on a global level to share information on Federal real estate and the workplace with our industry partners and the public through this newsletter and other avenues.*

***THIS IS** .... the sixteenth issue of Real Property POLICYSITE, a
quarterly publication of the Office of Real Property (MP), Office of
Governmentwide Policy, U.S. General Services Administration, Washington,
DC, which is led by Deputy Associate Administrator, David L. Bibb. Our
newsletter shares the latest information on public and private sector
real estate and workplace initiatives, trends, and best practices. We
encourage your input. Contact us to let us know what you think, to
contribute articles, or to be placed on our mailing list, by contacting
the editor, Richard Ornburn, at richard.ornburn@gsa.gov, or (202)
501-2873.*

***WHO DO YOU CALL?** .... Check out our new home page --
**www.gsa.gov/realpropertypolicy** \-- for the latest version of our
Contacts Directory. Hot off the press is the 3rd edition of our **Real
Estate and Workplace Contacts Directory**. The directory provides you
with specific contact and location information to help you find the
right people regarding real estate and workplace issues.*

#### NEW AGENCY INITIATIVES

**NAVY INNOVATES WITH OUTLEASING AUTHORITY FOR BETTER ASSET MANAGEMENT**

(By Dave Anderson, Naval Sea Systems Command, Department of the Navy)

What is the Department of the Navy doing to improve the way it manages
its real estate assets more effectively? The Naval Sea Systems Command
is leading the way by pursuing a program to outlease underutilized real
and personal property at NAVSEA installations, under the authority of
Title 10 U.S.C. 2667.

The purpose of the program is to provide for more efficient management
of NAVSEA shore installation assets. The objective is to reduce the cost
of ownership of NAVSEA property through private sector use and
maintenance of leased properties. Not only does the Navy benefit but
also private industry gains access to unique facilities for purposes of
commercial enterprise on a rental basis without having to incur major
capital outlays for such facilities.

The program was initiated at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard with the outlease
of the former Navy prison building in June 1999. Portsmouth NSY (PNSY)
began its outlease program with the identification of a number of
underutilized facilities as candidates for outlease to the private
sector in the spring of 1998. Subsequently, a team was established to
pursue outleases at PNSY. The team was chaired by NAVSEA headquarters
and was comprised of representatives from PNSY, Naval Facilities
Engineering Command and internal NAVSEA offices. The team provided
coordination for activities of the various offices charged with
responsibilities for implementation of the outlease program, i.e.,
environmental baseline surveys, screening of other DOD entities,
McKinney Act (homeless) screening, property appraisals, findings of
suitability to lease, compliance with local and state environmental
rules and regulations, and coordination with the State Historic Office.
The Navy issued a notice in the Commerce Business Daily in September
1998 to advise of the proposed outlease opportunity. A formal
solicitation was issued in October 1998. Proposals were received in
December 1998. The Navy evaluated proposals and then conducted
negotiations with potential awardees through the spring and early summer
of 1999. The former Navy prison building lease resulted from the initial
effort at PNSY.

This former Navy prison at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is currently being
outleased as part of the Navy's outleasing initiative under 10 USC 2667.
This 264,000 square-foot castle-like building was constructed in 1908,
and was the largest poured concrete building in the world at that time.
The prison was built to relieve overcrowding in Navy brigs across the
country and concentrate wrongdoers into one maximum-security lockup.
Once considered one of the toughest penitentiaries in the military, this
colossal brig was shut down in 1974.

PNSY has additional buildings, dry-docks, piers and equipment that are
available for outlease. The point of contact at PNSY for outleasing
opportunities is Mr. Bob Drew at (207) 438-5095, or by email at
DrewRE@mail.ports.navy.mil. The point of contact for opportunities to
outlease at other NAVSEA installations is Mr. Stephen G. Hoffman at
(703) 602-4364 x 303, or by email at HoffmanSG@navsea.navy.mil.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Outleasing Project

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Project Background

-   Former 264,308 square foot seven-story prison

-   Vacant since 1974 except for temporary storage in lower level

-   Historic property

-   Lessee plans high-tech office use

-   Lessee pays rent, maintenance and utilities

Challenges

-   Limited access to shipyard

-   Underutilized properties scattered throughout

-   Need to avoid competing with local assets

Benefits

-   Improve utilization of shipyard property

-   Reduce Navy cost of ownership

-   Reduce shipyard man-day rate which includes real property overheads

-   Stimulate local job market

-   Meets Congressional delegation's goal of providing economic off-sets
    for Navy state-wide drawdowns

(photo\--generic map of Portsmouth, ME)

STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BENEFITS YOU!

(by Shirley Morris, Office of Real Property)

*GSA Conducts First Ever Strategic Plan Review Study for Administrative
Services.....*

Should administrative services be included in strategic planning? Who
will benefit? Traditionally, in preparing their strategic plans, nearly
all Federal agencies have failed to leverage the major investments that
they control in their physical assets (such as real and personal
property) and other administrative programs. While the strategic and
performance plans must necessarily focus on the agency's mission, we
believe that people are the most important resource for carrying out
missions. The workplace and associated administrative services directly
impact the quality of the employees' performance. It is critical that
agencies take this into account in the planning process. Agencies may
have overlooked major opportunities to improve performance. Also, the
aggregation of a huge portion of Governmentwide operations has been
disregarded. To better understand the issues, the Office of Real
Property's Innovative Workplaces Division launched this initiative to
collaboratively identify, examine and promote strategic planning for
administrative services for Governmentwide use.

On October 26, 2000, the Office hosted a Strategic Planning Roundtable
to discuss current strategic planning practices in GSA, challenges
associated with the current strategic planning delivery, functions, and
future directions for administrative services planning for
Governmentwide use. The interactive discussion explored the need to
include administrative services in the strategic planning process of GSA
and other Federal agencies. GSA's Business Line (including the Public
Buildings Service and the Federal Supply Service) strategic planning
contacts and other key representatives participated. Major presenters
included Jack Kelly, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Program
Examiner and Walter Groszyk, Government Performance Results Act (GPRA)
Program Coordinator of OMB; Rich Gudaitis, GSA coordinator for GPRA
issues; and Jack Lebo of GSA's Office of Inspector General's office.

Another major milestone in the Strategic Planning Review Study was
convening Federal agencies for a Governmentwide Summit on Strategic
Planning to further explore the feasibility of including administrative
services components at the strategic planning level. On February 20,
2001 representatives from 12 agencies, including OMB and the General
Accounting Office, met to discuss the role of administrative service
components in the strategic planning process. David L. Bibb, Acting
Deputy Administrator welcomed the delegation of Federal employees for
the three-hour summit. The keynote speaker was Robert Shea, Counsel from
the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. Other speakers sharing best
practices, and their topics, were:

-   Dani Brzezinska, Department of Transportation (DOT) - DOT's
    organization excellence enablement strategy,

-   Bill Kennedy, Department of Energy -- lessons learned in planning
    for administrative services,

-   Jeff Zippin, Department of the Interior -- department-wide managing
    for excellence and accountability with emphasis on being
    sustainable,

-   Michael Binder, Environmental Protection Agency - strategic area of
    human capital,

-   Jack Lebo, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Administration,
    GSA's Office of Inspector General (IG) - IG's third strategic goal
    to improve the delivery of IT activities, HR support and budget and
    administrative services, and,

-   Eric Dunham, Director, GSA PBS's Business Measures Division --
    linking budget to performance measures.

The participant's feedback on the Roundtable and the Summit were very
positive. The Office of Governmentwide Policy's strategic planning team
consists of Dee McFadden-Wallace, Luis Medina, Shirley Morris, Patrick
Plunkett, and Ray Wynter. You can look forward to hearing more about
this important initiative. For more information, you may contact the
Project Leader Shirley R. Morris on (202) 501-1145 or by e-mail at
shirley.morris@gsa.gov.

[FACILITY SECURITY]{.underline}

##### **[FEDERAL REAL PROPERTY COUNCIL MEETS ON SECURITY ISSUES]{.underline}**

#### (By Andrea Wohlfeld Kuhn, Office of Real Property)

Federal Real Property Council (FRPC) Chair, David Bibb, hosted over 50
Federal agency representatives at the FRPC meeting on February 28, at
GSA. In addition to security challenges, the agenda included briefings
on succession planning and Office of Real Property initiatives and
legislation.

**[Security Issues]{.underline}**

***What is the threat, and where will the next incident occur?***

CIA guest speaker Charles Phalen, Chief of Protective Services Group,
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), briefed the Council on the CIA's
perspective on security challenges in the U.S. Events in the 1990's such
as the Oklahoma City and World Trade Center bombings have made us more
aware of our vulnerability and the difficult task of predicting when and
where the next incident might be. In response to recent incidents, the
CIA has developed physical security standards for new facilities. These
standards must follow the intent of:

-   The Department of Justice's (DOJ) Marshals study

-   Interagency Security Committee (ISC) security criteria

-   Department of Defense (DOD) standards

    ***What is the role of the Federal Protective Service?***

    Mel Basye, Security Division Director, GSA Federal Protective
    Service (FPS), briefed the Council on FPS security issues. Again,
    the Oklahoma City bombing is used as a reference point in security
    efforts. As a result, the Federal security risk manager (FSRM) was
    developed as a new type of assessment tool. This provides a building
    by building assessment in a comprehensive decision process, based on
    the likelihood of threat occurrence. Education and training
    requirements for FPS personnel were discussed. A new position, the
    law enforcement security officer (LESO) was instituted, providing
    for cross training in law enforcement and physical security and
    greater visibility of FPS.

    Two different types of security services are provided to Federal
    building tenants:

-   Basic protection (includes law enforcement, control centers,
    criminal investigators, LESO, and physical security activities).

-   Building specific (contract security guards, security
    systems---maintenance, and countermeasures/equipment).

### Succession Planning {#succession-planning .unnumbered}

***How can Federal real property managers address succession
planning?***

In his update to the FRPC, Gary Arnold, Chair of the Succession Planning
Working Group, stated that the synergy gained by the various Federal
agencies who have been working together has resulted in excellent
resources we can all benefit from. The WG is now developing its final
products, which include a website at **www.gsa.gov** (enter the term
"succession" in the search box) and a detachable insert for the summer
issue of Policysite. The website now contains a generic skills set,
sample recruitment brochures, links to other agencies, including OPM and
GAO, and other working group information. Additional information on
recruitment, job series, vacancies, etc. will be added to the website
and future Policysite issue.

###### **[Initiatives Updates From The Office Of Real Property]{.underline}** 

The Office provided the Council with updates on several of its
initiatives. Form more information, visit our website at
www.gsa.gov/realpropertypolicy to view the FY 2000 Initiatives and
Accomplishments for the Office of Real Property.

-   **Federal Property Asset Management Reform Act**

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-   **Strategic Planning**

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-   **E-RealEstate Initiative**

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-   **Best Practices in State Governments.** Will analyze best practices
    and lessons learned at the State level for potential use at the
    Federal level in an effort to improve real property and workplace
    management.

## **[Next Focus]{.underline}**

The Council will hold a special session in late May or early June
focusing on public private partnerships and legislation. The next
Council meeting will be scheduled for fall 2001.

**[ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT]{.underline}**

**[EMERGING USES OF THE WEB AND THEIR APPLICATION TO FEDERAL REAL
ESTATE]{.underline}**

The Office of Real Property is studying how the internet affects real
estate in the Federal Government. The identification and cataloguing of
the applications of electronic commerce in commercial real estate in
both the public and private sectors is well underway. The project team
will also examine how Federal real property holding agencies are using
and managing the Internet and intranets. As a part of this research, the
project team will develop a model to identify the level of readiness for
web applications in Government real estate organizations and will
pilot-test this model with a representative sample of these
organizations. We will also present the results of this study to a forum
of Federal agencies and private sector organizations.

The review of private sector commercial real estate Internet sites has
been completed. An interactive web site has been designed and is now
available or use. The site presently includes information on the
emerging use of the internet as it relates to real estate, and Includes:
a catalog of web-enabled software, issue papers, case studies, and
related topics. The web site will contain information from international
governments as well. For further information, please contact Dennis
Goldstein on (202) 219-0608.

(photo\--generic photo of computer user)

######### ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY CREATE NEW REAL ESTATE RISKS

(Real Estate Finance Journal, Winter 2001 issue, summarized with
permission)

(by Stan Kaczmarczyk, Office of Real Property)

The impact of the information age on real estate far exceeds the basic
need to "wire" our facilities. Jean Solomon discusses these emerging
issues as part of an article entitled "How is the Risk of Investing in
Real Estate Changing," published in the Winter 2001 edition of the [Real
Estate Finance Journal]{.underline}. The article recaps the real estate
cycle of the past 10 years, assesses the current situation, and
discusses new risks to real estate investment, including those created
by advances in technology.

Today's real estate market has evolved from a period in the
early-to-mid-1990s that was characterized by remarkable returns. Unique
investment opportunities presented themselves as the industry recovered
from a macroeconomic recession. Resolution Trust Corporation assets,
mortgages and other properties in overbuilt markets were purchased at
steep discounts to replacement costs. Then, as markets improved,
investors "rode the rising tide" of increased tenant demand, harvested
their profits and exceeded their investment expectations by having been
at the right place at the right time.

Having benefited from this decade of prosperity, real estate markets
have slowly grown into a period of near equilibrium in many property
sectors. Market data is now plentiful and commercially available from
sophisticated real estate economists. Data on supply, demand, and income
growth is tracked and reported on regional markets and submarkets,
thereby enabling better informed decision-making by investors and
capital sources. Unlike the situation in the early 1990s, capital
markets are now more liquid and underwriting is more disciplined. With
market equilibrium have also come lower returns on equity for the
average deal. As the real estate cycle has moved into a mature phase,
the investment risks prevalent during the first half of the 1990s of
excessive oversupply of building product and lack of tenant demand,
market information, debt financing and liquidity have been replaced by
new ones. Some of them didn't even exist in the "old economy." Most
noteworthy are risks created by advances in technology. Some of these
risks are:

-   *Complacency on the part of the investor* -- Technology-related
    advantages and opportunities associated with the Internet and
    e-commerce's impact on real estate could be lost to the competition
    if left unrecognized.

-   *E-commerce* -- This development has the potential to directly
    influence those property sectors that will grow and the locations in
    which they will flourish. To date, e-commerce has affected
    industrial buildings through automation, commercial buildings
    through telecommunications and tenant improvement components, and
    residential buildings through telecommunications and home offices.
    Properties with technological features can offer superior
    competitive leasing and selling advantages in their markets.

-   *Dot-coms* -- Newly hatched, high tech companies with little or no
    credit history frequently have the largest incremental requirements
    for office and industrial space in today's new economy. Their needs
    are typically immediate, sometimes with a requirement for temporary
    furnishings and frequently with future plans for growth. Tenants
    such as these are driving the high-tech markets of Silicon Valley,
    Silicon Alley (in New York City), Austin, Seattle, Los Angeles,
    Boston, and Northern Virginia to vacancies below 5 percent and
    boosting rents to record high levels (well over \$80/sq. ft. in San
    Francisco and New York). New risks have arisen in underwriting
    properties with high-tech tenants involving credit, income,
    vacancies, tenant improvements, and residual value.

-   *Telecommunications* -- Telecommunications companies, actively in
    the business of installing high speed Internet cable in office and
    apartment buildings across the country, are compensating owners for
    rooftop, riser, and basement spaces that previously had little if
    any economic value. Additional risks arise around valuing income
    from and determining payback periods for telecommunications
    infrastructure. As much as these installations seem like
    opportunities today, the question investors must consider going
    forward is whether or not they will remain technologically
    cutting-edge and retain their value as a source of additional
    income.

**[SUSTAINABILITY]{.underline}**

**[ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS? WHO DO YOU CALL IN GSA?]{.underline}**

(Provided by Johanna Roark, GSA Office of Communications)

*Environmental questions? If you have environmental questions, these
people*

*may have the answers. Below is a list of Central Office contacts. And,
for a*

*complete list of regional contacts for GSA\'s environmental programs,
please visit*

**www.gsa.gov/planetgsa*.***

######## **Central Office Contacts for GSA\'s Environmental Management Programs**

[Communication]{.underline}**:** Johanna Roark, Environmental
Communications Director, (202)

439-0431

[Environmental Champion]{.underline}**:** E. Tracy Lewis, Deputy
Associate Administrator,

Office of Enterprise Development, (202) 501-1021

[Agency Environmental Executive]{.underline}**:** Paul Lynch, Assistant
Commissioner, Office

of Business Performance, (202) 501-0971

######## Buying Green

-   *GSA Buying Green Program:* Tom Daily, Chief, Environmental Programs
    Branch, Federal Supply Service, (703) 305-5149

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-   *Governmentwide Acquisition Policy Program:* David Drabkin, Deputy
    Associate Administrator, Office of Acquisition Policy, (202)
    501-1043

######## Building Green

-   *GSA Building Green Program:* Debra Yap, Director, Environmental
    Business

Strategies Division, Public Buildings Service, (202) 501-4373

-   *Sustainable Development Program,* Jonathan Herz, Project Manager,
    Office of Governmentwide Policy, (202) 501-3476

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-   *Integrated Workplace Program,* Rob Obenreder, Program Manager,
    Office of

Governmentwide Policy, (202) 208-1824

######## Driving Green

-   *GSA Driving Green Program:* William Webster, Director, Fleet
    Management Division, Federal Supply Service, (703) 305-6278

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-   *GSA Teleworking Program:* Margaret Higgins, Office of the Chief
    People Office, Office of Human Resources Policy and
    Operations, (202) 501-3764

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-   *Governmentwide Teleworking Program:* Dr. Wendell Joice, Office of
    Governmentwide Policy, (202) 273-4664

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-   *Governmentwide Federal Vehicle Policy Program:* John Q. Adams,
    Acting Team Leader, Federal Vehicle Policy Division, Office of
    Transportation and Personal Property, (202) 501-0758

[Saving Green (Energy)]{.underline}

-   *GSA Saving Green (Energy) Program:* Mark Ewing, Director, Energy
    Center of Expertise, Public Buildings Service, (816) 823-2691

    [Managing Green]{.underline}

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-   *GSA Managing Green Program:* Debra Yap, Director, Environmental
    Business Strategies Division, Public Buildings Service, (202)
    501-4373

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-   *GSA Recycling Program:* Rich Casazza, Environmental Business
    Strategies Division, Public Buildings Service, (202) 501-1116

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-   *Environmental Performance Program:* Lee Salviski, Environmental
    Business Strategies Division, Director, Public Buildings
    Service, (202) 501-0909

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-   *Environmental Hotline*: Jerry Hefner, Environmental Business
    Strategies Division, Public Buildings Service, (202) 501-4774

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-   *Urban Development Program:* Edward Giefer, Policy Director, Center
    for Urban Development, Public Buildings Service, (202) 501-1881

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-   *Green Meetings & Events Program:* Mike Ziskind, National Event
    Manager, Office of Communications, (202) 501-0498

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-   *Partnering with Businesses Program:* Johanna Roark, Office of
    Enterprise Development, (202) 219-0965

####### [NEW GREEN BUILDING NABS HIGH AWARDS]{.underline}

(by Rebekah Pearson, Office of Real Property)

Do you think of "green" buildings when you hear the "Chesapeake Bay
Foundation?" Well, you should, from now on. The Foundation has just
completed its new "green" headquarters in Bay Ridge, MD, near Annapolis.

The Foundation's new headquarters building is leading the way with the
most environmentally-friendly building in the country, since it received
the first ever "platinum" rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Need ideas for your next "green building?" Check out the article by Adam
Katz-Stone in the January 12, 2001, issue of Commercial Real Estate,
Washington Business Journal for more information about this innovative,
32,000-square foot building. With everything from rooftop cisterns to
capture rainwater \-- to an energy-conserving shading system \-- to
composting toilets, the Foundation has just raised the bar for "green"
buildings!

*(sidebar)*

*The **U.S. Green Building Council** is the building industry\'s only
balanced, nonprofit, consensus coalition promoting the understanding,
development, and accelerated implementation of Green Building policies,
programs, technologies, standards and design practices.*

# 'HARVESTING' ENERGY REDUCTION THROUGH URBAN FORESTRY

(by Robert Harding, Office of Real Property)

Effective siting of shade trees can reduce energy use for heating and
air conditioning buildings, according to a study completed by the
Western Center for Urban Forest Research and Education affiliated with
the University of California, Davis. According to the study, properly
sited trees can reduce temperatures in urban areas by 2-8 degrees
Fahrenheit (1-4 degrees Celsius). By reducing energy use, these trees
not only reduce demand for electricity, thereby reducing carbon dioxide
emissions from power plants, they also remove carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere directly.

The Center has studied the costs and benefits of the urban forest in
California cities including Sacramento, Modesto and Santa Monica. The
Center worked with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to evaluate
their shade tree program. After analyzing the situation, the Center
found that it would be cheaper for the District to plant shade trees
than to generate more electricity.

The center is a field laboratory of the Pacific Southwest Research
Station of the US Department of Agriculture Forestry Service. For more
information, visit the Western Center for Urban Forest Research and
Education Web site at **http://wcufre.ucdavis.edu/**. For information on
similar efforts by the City of Los Angeles, check out
**http://www.greenla.com/tree/tree.htm**.

#### 

#### SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WINS AWARD. 

#### 

#### The Real Property Sustainable Development Project, submitted by GSA's Office of Real Property, has been selected as the winner in the Outstanding Sustainable Planning or Design Project as part of the American Planning Association's Federal Planning Division's 2001 Awards program. Find out more about this award winning initiative and how it impacts your agency at www.gsa.gov!

**[NEW REGULATIONS]{.underline}**

**[GSA-ISSUED REAL PROPERTY POLICIES EASY TO USE]{.underline}**

(by John Thomas, Office of Real Property)

As part of GSA's regulatory improvement initiative, Final Rule FMR Parts
102-71 to 102-82 was published in the Federal Register on January 18,
2001, and became effective on January 18, 2001. FMR Parts 102-71 to
102-82 describe the current real property policies applicable to GSA and
Federal agencies to whom GSA real property authority has been delegated.
The policies contained in this rule reflect the way that real property
operations are currently conducted and these policies have been
separated from their procedural components resulting in a more efficient
and easy to understand regulation.

This new regulation, written in plain language, enable the Government to
focus on implementing statutory requirements, Executive Orders, and
Governmentwide policies rather than on detailed operating procedures.
Also, this regulation represents the first time in 29 years that all
real property policies can be found in one document. It is available on
our website at **www.gsa.gov/realpropertypolicy**. For further
information, please contact John D. Thomas on (202) 501-0365.

**[PERMANENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SURPLUS PROGRAMS
BENEFIT PUBLIC]{.underline}**

(by Dan Seay, Office of Real Property)

During the 105^th^ Congress, the Federal Property and Administrative
Services Act of 1949 (Property Act) was amended to provide temporary
authorities for the Administrator of the General Services Administration
to make cost-free conveyances of surplus Federal property to support
State and local government law enforcement and emergency management
response programs, including fire and rescue services. These authorities
had an expiration date of December 31, 1999 but were subsequently
extended by further legislation. As previously reported in this
publication, the authorities are now permanent (Public Law 106-398
(October 30, 2000)).

Based on determinations by the Attorney General or the Director of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency that certain surplus property is
needed respectively for a law enforcement or emergency management
purpose, GSA may convey or transfer it to an applicant with a condition
that it be used and maintained for that purpose in perpetuity. Following
a conveyance or transfer, GSA is required to determine and enforce
compliance with the terms of the transaction.

Since the introduction of these provisions into the Property Act, six
properties were conveyed for law enforcement purposes:

-   Naval Air Station at the City of Millington, Tennessee *(Navy Brig)
    .* Law Enforcement.

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-   Defense Depot at the City of Ogden, Utah *(Bldg. S-43)*. Highway
    Patrol.

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-   Poinciana Naval Air Station at the City of Key West, Florida
    *(building)*. Police substation.

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-   Reese Air Force Base, City of Lubbock, Texas *(Building. #76, 24,234
    square feet, and 1.5 acres).* Law Enforcement.

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-   U.S. Army Garrison Fitzsimmons at the City of Aurora, Colorado *(12
    buildings., 4 parking lots, outdoor courts associated with the
    Gymnasium and 10.3 acres)*. Law Enforcement.

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-   Naval Reserve Center at the City of Huntsville, Alabama *(3.21
    acres).* Law Enforcement.

Property at six other Federal sites is presently being evaluated for
similar transfer or conveyance.

Three properties were conveyed for emergency management response
purposes:

-   March Air Force Base, Riverside County, California *(41 acres with a
    fire station, fire training simulation props and a canine training
    site).* Riverside County Fire Department.

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-   Huntsville Navy and Marine Reserve Center, Huntsville, Alabama (*3.2
    acres with a 23,000 square foot building and an administration and
    training building*) City of Huntsville.

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-   Ft McClellan, Anniston, Alabama (*1 acre with a fire station,
    administration building, warehouse, and vehicles and equipment.*
    City of Anniston.

Property at three other Federal sites is presently being evaluated for
similar transfer or conveyance.

(photo\--generic photo of law enforcement officer and firefighter)

(sidebar)

# FIND YOUR REAL PROPERTY REGULATIONS ON THE WEB

If you are looking for the latest real property laws, orders or
regulations, delegation of lease acquisition authority, smoking
regulations, antenna siting policy or other real estate related
material, check out our website at **www.gsa.gov/realpropertypolicy**.
The Office of Real Property provides the latest information and data on
Federal and commercial real estate, the workplace, Federal real property
inventory, our real estate initiatives, and related services here for
our customers. Check it out!

(photo\--photo of GSA Headquarters Building)

#### TELEWORK

### 

### 

### TELEWORK CAUSE ADVANCED IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

(from Billy Michael, Office of Real Property)

*Congress works with Agencies to implement telework in Federal
Workplace.*

On February 13, Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA), Congresswoman Connie
Morella (R-MD), Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA), Congresswoman Shelley
Moore Capito (R-WV), and aides for Tom Davis (R-VA) and Steny Hoyer
(D-MD), met with officials of Federal Departmental (Cabinet-level)
agencies, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the General
Services Administration to discuss the new telework law, Section 359,
Public law 106-346, enacted by Congress and signed by the President on
October 23, 2000.

The law states that: \"Each executive agency shall establish a policy
under which eligible employees of the agency may participate in
telecommuting to the maximum extent possible without diminished employee
performance. Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shall
provide that the requirements of this section are applied to 25 percent
of the Federal workforce, and to an additional 25 percent of such
workforce each year thereafter.\"

In the meeting, Congressman Wolf made several points:

1\. The new law means that eligible Federal employees must be allowed to
telework.

2.  OPM should provide a framework for determining the meaning of
    eligible,

provide a training conference for managers, and a means for counting the
number of Federal teleworkers.

Congressman Wolf said that he wants to meet with the next Director of
OPM to push the importance of fully implementing the intent of this law.
He also indicated that he plans to send a letter to Federal agency heads
to assert the points made above. In response to some concerns from the
audience, Congresswoman Morella stated that she plans to hold oversight
hearings on the progress of fully implementing this legislation and
indicated some interest in asking the General Accounting Office to
assess the matter. Contact Billy Michael, Office of Real Property, on
(202) 273-4663 for more information on GSA's telework program.

# (photo\--generic photo of teleworker using laptop)

**[What is the Spouses Telework Employment Partnership
(STEP)?]{.underline}**

(By Glenn Woodley, Office of Real Property)

*GSA Office of Real Property telework expert is Chairman of SPOUSES
TELEWORK EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP (STEP)*

***In 25 years......About 100 million U.S. workers, well over half the
country\'s***

***workforce, will telecommute at least one day a week. Many will
telework full-time. For millions, the idea of a central office and
routine hours will be alien. (Kiplinger Report)***

The Office of Real Property has a major role in the interagency,
public/private task group called the SPOUSES TELEWORK EMPLOYMENT
PARTNERSHIP (STEP). Glenn Woodley of the Office of Real Property serves
as the chairman of STEP. Before this task group was organized, the
initial idea for the initiative focused on improving employment
opportunities in the private sector for spouses of military service
members through the use of teleworking.

The genesis of the initiative was the observation by General Joseph
Barnes, Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Office, that spousal
employment concerns were major factors in his inability to retain
lawyers, legal assistants, and clerks in the JAG office. General Barnes
began informal discussions with GSA's Office of Real Property (Glenn
Woodley and Dr. Wendell Joice) to explore the use of teleworking to
expand employment opportunities for military spouses. The Office
reviewed the initial proposal and prepared a more comprehensive proposal
in May 2000. The current STEP concept paper includes proposals for:

1.  Shared employment database,

2.  Resume database,

3.  Partnerships with government agencies with deployable missions,

4.  Partnerships with private businesses, associations, and foundations,

5.  Recommended equipment, tools, and facilities for beta testing,

6.  Marketing and outreach efforts, and

7.  Recommendations for enabling legislation and government/private
    sector funding.

Since most private and public sector organizations are faced with the
same retention dilemma, the current task group now includes officials of
DOD; State Department; National Guard Bureau; GSA's Federal Technology
Service; Booz, Allen, Hamilton; and the Creative Learning and
Information Network (CLIN). Other agencies such as the Department of
Commerce, Department of Agriculture, and several private businesses with
deployable missions have expressed an interest in joining the group.

The task group has now expanded its focus to encompass: \"Portable
Careers, Remote Training, and Telework for the Spouses of Federal
Employees and Military Personnel.\" The group has met each month since
August 2000 and has produced the following:

1.  A White Paper outlining the issues, organization and support
    requirements, and goals and objectives of the group,

2.  An information paper outlining the role of distributive training and
    teleworking technology in the initiative,

3.  Marketing and outreach brochures, flyers, and briefing materials,
    and

4.  Proposed beta-testing sites at eight locations in the U.S. and
    Europe.

Members of the group have shared information about the initiative with
many private businesses and public sector organizations at job fairs,
conferences, and seminars in:

1.  Woodbridge, VA,

2.  San Diego, CA,

3.  Orlando, FL,

4.  Fairfax, VA, and

5.  Washington, DC

Members of the group have begun briefing officials at the:

1.  Chamber of Commerce,

2.  Office of Personnel Management,

3.  Department of Defense,

4.  National Guard Bureau,

5.  Department of State, and

6.  GSA -- Federal Technology Service

The task group is seeking to gain acceptance from the new administration
leaders at the Department of Defense, State, and the National Guard
Bureau before pursuing formal agreements with private businesses.
However, the following companies and/or organizations have already
expressed an interest in expanding telework and/or employment training
opportunities for spouses:

1.  Perot Systems, Inc.,

2.  Marriot Corporation,

3.  CISCO, Inc.,

4.  Home Depot, Inc.,

5.  Career Development Corporation,

6.  Competitive Edge Services, Inc.,

7.  American Logistics Association, and

8.  University of Maryland in Europe

It is anticipated that the STEP initiative will be in the formative
stages for two/three years before gaining full executive, legislative,
and private sector acceptance. For more information contact Glenn
Woodley on (202) 273-4667.

(photo\-\--photo of Pentagon building, Washington, DC)

**[(sidebar)]{.underline}**

**[The Growth of Telework:]{.underline}** The International Telework
Association and Council (ITAC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to
promoting the economic, social and environmental benefits of telework.
Its members (including GSA) share information about the design and
implementation of telework programs, the development of the worldwide
telework sector, and research. Check out its website
**www.telecommute.org** for more information about ITAC and the growth
of telework.

According to the website, the most recent research sponsored by ITAC
shows there were 23.6 million teleworkers in the US as of October 2000
compared to 19.6 million a year earlier. These numbers include
occasional teleworkers, day extenders, retirees and homemakers.
Infonetics Research forecasts a 529% increase in VPN (Virtual Private
Networks -- the technology that enables remote working) expenditures
from 2000 through 2004. IDC projects that by 2004, mobile professionals
will make up 34% of the US mobile & remote population, followed by work
extenders (31%), telecommuters (21%), and mobile data collectors (14%).
In sum, the numbers of teleworkers are growing, as are the enabling
technologies that allow more people to do "office work" away from the
office.

(photo\--generic photo of worker using cellphone)

# INTEGRATED WORKPLACE

# World Class Workforce Group Visits World-Class Companies

(By Rob Obenreder, Office of Real Property)

#  

Examining cutting edge workplaces that are focused on attracting and
retaining good employees was the purpose for a visit to the
Raleigh/Durham North Carolina area in January 2001 by the World Class
Workforce Group (WCW). The group visited some of the hottest companies
in the nation, including three listed in Fortune Magazine's top 100 best
places to work: Nortel Networks (No. 100), the SAS Institute (No. 6),
and Cisco Systems (No. 3). The group also visited Capital Strategies, a
growing public relations and marketing firm, and toured the nearly
completed research labs for the Environmental Protection Agency. The
Office of Real Property organized the tour for the General Services
Administration's (GSA) executives who are examining the role of the
workplace in helping GSA bring new talent to the agency.

Through in-depth discussions with workplace experts and facility tours,
the WCW group were exposed to the varied workplace strategies that these
companies are using to support the corporate culture, affect employee
performance, help further corporate strategy and success, and
differentiate themselves from their competition. Nortel focuses on small
individual workstations supported by numerous special shared and
communal spaces and a large telework program to keep space per person to
a minimum while fostering a community spirit. Cisco prides itself on an
egalitarian approach to workspace that focuses on providing the best
technology tools and lab space while providing uniformly sized,
bare-bones workstations for all staff, including management. SAS offers
private offices for each employee in more lavish corporate facilities,
and provides many perks such as a health club, low cost day care and
free medical services. Capital Strategies uses their cutting-edge,
high-tech workspaces to increase collaboration across company services
and project a contemporary image to their clients.

All the companies recognize that the workplace is important to their
corporate strategy and their employees. They know that challenging work
and a good work environment lead to satisfied employees that are more
productive and more likely to stick around for the long haul. And that
translates into lower operating costs and higher profits. Contact Rob
Obenreder on (202) 208-1824 for more information.

**[CONSORTIUM CHARTS NEW WORKPLACE INDUSTRY]{.underline}**

(by Mike Atkinson, Office of Real Property)

Traditional business models and organizational structures are changing
dramatically, and changing the idea of place in the process. As the
workplace evolves into a mix of "physical" place and "cyber" place, this
is generating an entirely new industry to provide such a place.

GSA's Office of Real Property and the Research Office of the Public
Building Service (PBS) are jointly partnered in a new multi-sponsored
Research Study aimed at understanding the emerging new Workplace
Industry. Led jointly by the Gartner Group and the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, GSA is a full participant with over 20 other
sponsors in this Collaborative Learning Project.

Study began in July 2000 with an analysis of the flux/instability of
current workplace industry structures and business models and
explorations of future development. The traditional notion of
\"organization\" is fracturing. Purpose is the new glue. Therefore,
cooperation among institutional, industrial and governmental sponsors is
organized to support both learning and innovation. This collaboration is
intended to generate findings on each the following objectives (and
their related focus):

(photo\--generic photo of workplace work station furniture)

1\. E-Business implications for workplace making (Business Model and
Overall IT Impact).

2\. Workplace space and cyberspace design (Customer Needs).

3\. New Service Offerings and Outsourcing (Services).

4\. Organizational Trends (Supply).

5\. Performance Metrics (Performance).

The research has lead to development of scenarios for enterprise-wide
workplace and workforce strategies dealing with both impacts and
opportunities for key industry players. Emerging models particularly
focused on electronic business impacts to corporate Real Estate, Human
Resource, and Information Technology, and their virtual integration into
effective new business models, is a key component of the study.

A consortium web-site fosters daily/weekly collaboration and
contributions by all participants. Also, bi-monthly audio-conferences
have discussed: "The New Synergy: People, Systems, Settings" which
charted work moving from production-oriented tasks to knowledge-rich
processes where work, systems and settings shift from being
place-centric to being person-centric; and "The Agile Workplace," which
deals with concept modularity and design rules.

The consortium plans additional electronic and personal conferences and
topic workshops to generate more detailed observations and develop
issues and definitive positions. At the end of one year, the consortium
will publish findings on each of their objectives. GSA will share these
findings with the Federal real property community. For more information,
contact Michael Atkinson at 202-219-0843.

**[INTEGRATED WORKPLACE PILOT WILL BE SHOWCASE]{.underline}**

The Office of Real Property office space in the historic General
Services Headquarters Building at 1800 F Street NW, in Washington, DC,
is being redone. The new space will incorporate the Integrated Workplace
process and principles, as defined in \"*The Integrated Workplace\"*
guide (check **www.gsa.gov/realpropertypolicy** for details).
Approximately 7,500 square feet of space on two floors, phased over at
least two fiscal years will be done. The goal of this project is to
improve the Office of Real Property's work environment to support its
business processes, and foster productivity, collaboration, and
communication. It will also act as a showcase for the Integrated
Workplace process and principles, as adapted to an historic office
building site. For more information, contact Jonathan Herz, project
manager, on (202) 501-3476 or jonathan.herz@gsa.gov.

#### BEST PRACTICES

#### GSA INCREASES AWARDS FOR REAL PROPERTY INNOVATORS!

(By Reza Motamedamin, Office of Real Property)

GSA is proud to continue its tradition of honoring \"the best and the
brightest\" in Federal real property policy and management practices by
announcing its Call for Entries for the 5^th^ Annual GSA Achievement
Award for Real Property Innovation. Give us your innovators as
candidates for the 2001 awards which can cover any area -- from real
property management to acquisition, construction, sustainable
development, renovation, disposal, security, planning, integrated
workplace, and telework.

New for this year's awards ceremony is the amount of cash awards for
this year's winning entries. GSA will present a minimum of two cash
prizes for \$5,000, for an individual entry, or \$10,000 for a team
entry of 2 or more. An independent panel of public and private industry
experts will judge the entries. The Call for Entries application
information and form are available on our website at:
**www.gsa.gov/realpropertypolicy** and may now be submitted
electronically for the first time. The deadline for entries is June 15,
2001. Contact Pat Rubino at (202) 501 -- 1457, or via e-mail at
pat.rubino@gsa.gov for more information.

# PLANNING 

**"GRPIS" CONTINUES ITS SUCCESS**

The success of the Office of Real Property's Governmentwide Real
Property Information Sharing (GRPIS) Program continues with studies
recently completed in the Kansas City and Cincinnati areas and
coordination with local Federal agencies to establish local real
property councils. GRPIS encourages Federal real property professionals
within a community to network and share information with one another to
improve Federal real property asset management.

For those Councils already established, their Spring quarterly meetings
are scheduled as follows:

**Federal Real Property Forum -- New England** -- March 14, Volpe
National Transportation Systems Center (DOT), Cambridge.

**New Mexico Property Council** -- April 17, Albuquerque Job Corps
Center,

1500 Indian School Road, Albuquerque.

**Puget Sound Real Property Council** -- April 19, NOAA Western
Administrative Center, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, Seattle.

**Arizona Property Information Forum** -- May 24 at the IRS Building,
210 E.

Earl, Phoenix.

**South Florida Governmentwide Property Information Council** has not
yet been scheduled.

Please check the GRPIS Website
(**http://policyworks.gov/org/main/mp/grpis/**) for more up-to-date
information on the program.

(photo\--generic photo of Cincinnati, OH skyline with buildings at nite)

[(side bar)]{.underline}

# NEW MARITIME FEDERAL FACILITIES COUNCIL EXPLORES PARTNERSHIPS

The Maritime Federal Facilities Council (MFFC) met February 21, 2001 to
finalize the Memorandum of Understanding that formally establishes the
group. The purpose of the MFFC is to ensure that the planning, design,
construction, operation, and divestiture of maritime port of entry
facilities occurs in a cooperative, efficient, and cost-effective
manner. The MFFC will explore partnership opportunities for
consideration and possible implementation. The MFFC is in the process of
developing a port pilot study to familiarize themselves with common
issues amongst the member agencies and to examine areas for sharing
resources and improving service to their customers.

The formation of the MFFC is a direct result of the Governmentwide Real
Property Information Sharing (GRPIS) Program's study regarding the Puget
Sound, WA Federal community. For more information contact Gary Jordon at
(202) 501-1219 or Bob Harding at (202) 501-1411.

(back cover)

**U.S. General Services Administration**

GSA Office of Governmentwide Policy

Evaluation and Outreach Division (MPE)

1800 F Street, NW

Washington, DC 20405

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use, \$300

Postage stamp.

(photo- Historic former Navy Prison, Portsmouth Navy Shipyard, Maine)