Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act of 2015

To reduce costs of Federal real estate, improve building security, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act of 2015 2. Streamlined leasing pilot program (a) Execution of Leases The Administrator of General Services shall establish and conduct a pilot program to execute lease agreements pursuant to authority provided under section 585 of title 40, United States Code, using alternative procedures. (b) Adoption The Administrator shall prescribe alternative procedures to enter into lease agreements in accordance with section 585 of title 40, United States Code, pursuant to the provisions of this section. (c) Goals of procedures The goals of the alternative procedures are— (1) reducing the costs to the Federal Government of leased space, including— (A) executing long-term leases with firm terms of 10 years or more and reducing costly holdover and short-term lease extensions, including short firm term leases; (B) improving office space utilization rates of Federal tenants; and (C) streamlining and simplifying the leasing process to take advantage of real estate markets; and (2) significantly reducing or eliminating the backlog of expiring leases over the next 5 years. (d) Leasehold interests in real property (1) Simplified procedures Notwithstanding section 3305(b) of title 41, United States Code, but otherwise in accordance with such section, the Administrator of General Services shall provide special simplified procedures for acquisitions of leasehold interests in real property at rental rates that do not exceed the simplified lease acquisition threshold, as defined in paragraph (2). The rental rate under a multiyear lease does not exceed the simplified lease acquisition threshold if the average annual amount of the rent payable for the period of the lease does not exceed the simplified lease acquisition threshold. (2) Acquisition threshold For purposes of this section, the simplified lease acquisition threshold is $500,000. (e) Consolidated lease prospectuses The Administrator may, when acquiring leasehold interests subject to section 3307 of title 40, United States Code, transmit, pursuant to subsection (b) of such section, to the committees designated in such section for approval a prospectus to acquire leased space, and waive the requirements pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (6) of section 3307(b), subject to the following requirements: (1) Cost per square footage The cost per square footage does not exceed the maximum proposed rental rate designated for the respective geographical area. (2) Space utilization The Administrator ensures the overall space utilization rate is 170 usable square feet per person or better based on actual agency staffing levels when occupied. (3) Lease term The lease term, including the firm term, is not less than 10 years. (4) Geographic location The geographical location is identified as having a large amount of square footage of Federal office space and lease turnover and will likely result in providing for the ability, on a timely basis, of the agency to consolidate space effectively or meet any requirements for temporary or interim space required for planned consolidations. (f) Consolidations generally The Administrator may consolidate more than 1 project into a single prospectus submitted pursuant to section 3307(b), title 40, United States Code, if such consolidation will facilitate efficiencies and reductions in overall space and improved utilization rates. (g) Expediting consolidations and space reductions In order to facilitate and expedite agency consolidations and relocations, the Administrator may, to the extent practicable, include as part of any leasehold agreement for office space accommodations that cover costs associated with agency relocation and buildout, including move costs and costs related to furniture, fixtures, and equipment. (h) Waiver authority The Administrator may— (1) waive notice and comment rulemaking, if the Administrator determines the waiver is necessary to implement this section expeditiously; and (2) carry out the alternative procedures under this section as a pilot program. (i) Reports (1) Annual reports During the period in which the pilot program is conducted under this section, the Administrator shall submit, annually, to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a progress report that provides updates on the number and square footage of leases expiring in the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, by agency and region, and which shall include for the expiring leases— (A) an average of the lease terms, including firm terms, for leases executed; and (B) the percentage of leases managed in-house or through the use of commercial real estate leasing services. (2) Final report Not later than 180 days after termination of the pilot program, the Administrator shall submit a final report to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate. The final report shall include— (A) a review and evaluation of the lease agreements executed under the alternative procedures established pursuant to this section in comparison to those agreements not executed pursuant to the alternative procedures; (B) recommendations on any permanent changes to the General Services Administration’s leasing authority; and (C) a progress evaluation in meeting the goals described in subsection (c). (j) Termination The authorities under this section shall terminate on December 31, 2020. 3. Exchange authority (a) Limitation on exchange authority Section 3307(a) of title 40, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting (including by exchange) acquire (2) by adding at the end the following: (4) An appropriation for any costs and expenses associated with administering an acquisition by exchange involving real property or in-kind consideration, including services, with a fair market value of $2,850,000 or more. . (b) Effective Date The amendments made by this section shall not apply to projects in which a procurement has already begun. 4. Federal Protective Service (a) Section 1315 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (h) Contract Security Personnel (1) Authorities for Contract Security Personnel (A) Carrying of firearms The Secretary may authorize contract security personnel engaged in the protection of buildings and grounds that are owned, occupied, or secured by the General Services Administration Public Buildings Service to carry firearms to carry out their official duties. (B) Detention without a warrant A person authorized to carry a firearm under this subsection may, while in the performance of, and in connection with, official duties, detain an individual without a warrant for any offense against the United States committed in that person’s presence or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if that person has reasonable grounds to believe that the individual to be detained has committed or is committing such felony. The detention authority conferred by this paragraph is in addition to any detention authority provided under other laws. (2) Limitations The following limitations apply: (A) Detention Contract security personnel authorized to carry firearms under this section may detain an individual only if the individual to be detained is within, or in direct flight from, the area of such offense. (B) Enforcement of certain laws A person granted authority to detain under this section may exercise such authority only to enforce laws regarding any building and grounds and all property located in or on that building and grounds that are owned, occupied, or secured by the General Services Administration Public Buildings Service. (3) Guidance The Secretary, with the approval of the Attorney General, shall issue guidelines to implement this section. . (b) Section 1315(b) of title 40, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking ; and (2) by striking subparagraph (F). (c) Section 1315(b) of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (3) Minimum training standards The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the Federal Protective Service and in accordance with guidelines issued by the Attorney General, shall establish minimum and uniform training standards for any employee designated as an officer or agent to carry out and exercise authority pursuant to this section. Such minimum standards shall include ongoing training certified by the Director of the Federal Protective Service. (4) Notification of designations and delegations The Secretary shall submit written notification of any approved designations or delegations of any authority provided under this section, including the purposes and scope of such designations or delegations, not within the Federal Protective Service, to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, including the purpose for such designations or delegations, oversight protocols established to ensure compliance with any requirements, including compliance with training requirements, and other specifics regarding such designations and delegations. . 5. Evaluation of Federal protective service personnel needs (a) Personnel and funding needs of Federal Protective Service (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act and after review by a qualified consultant pursuant to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on the personnel needs of the Federal Protective Service that includes recommendations on the numbers of Federal Protective Service law enforcement officers and the workforce composition of the Federal Protective Service needed to carry out the mission of such Service during the 10-fiscal-year period beginning after the date of enactment of this Act. (2) Review and Comment The Secretary shall provide the report prepared under this section to a qualified consultant for review and comment before submitting the report to the appropriate congressional committees. The Secretary shall provide the comments of the qualified consultant to the appropriate congressional committee with the report. (3) Contents The report under this section shall include an evaluation of— (A) the option of posting a full-time equivalent Federal Protective Service law enforcement officer at each level 3 or 4 Federal facility, as determined by the Interagency Security Committee, that on the date of enactment of this Act has a protective security officer stationed at the facility; (B) the potential increase in security of any option evaluated under subparagraph (A); (C) the immediate and projected costs of any option evaluated under such subparagraph; and (D) the immediate and projected costs of maintaining the current level of protective security officers and full-time Federal Protective Service law enforcement officers. (b) Report on funding Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the best method of funding for the Federal Protective Service, which shall include recommendations regarding whether the Federal Protective Service should— (1) continue to be funded by a collection of fees and security charges; (2) be funded by appropriations; or (3) be funded by a combination of fees, security charges, and appropriations. 6. Zero-based space justification Section 3307(b) of title 40, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (5), by inserting before the semicolon the following: including a cost comparison between leasing space or constructing space (2) in paragraph (6) by striking and (3) in paragraph (7) by striking the period and inserting ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (8) with respect to any prospectus, including for replacement space, lease renewal, or lease extension, the Administrator shall include a justification for such space, including an explanation of why such space could not be consolidated or colocated into other owned or leased space. . 7. Eliminating project escalations Section 3307(c) of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: The Administrator shall notify, in writing, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate of any increase of more than 5 percent of an estimated maximum cost or of any increase or decrease in the scope or size of a project of 5 or more percent. Such notification shall include an explanation regarding any such increase or decrease. The scope or size of a project shall not increase or decrease by more than 10 percent unless an amended prospectus is submitted and approved pursuant to this section. 8. Limitation on authorizations Section 3307 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (i) Expiration of Committee Resolutions Unless a lease is executed or a construction, alteration, repair, design, or acquisition project is initiated not later than 5 years after the resolution approvals adopted by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate pursuant to subsection (a), such resolutions shall be deemed expired. This subsection shall only apply to resolutions approved after the date of enactment of this subsection. . 9. Department of energy headquarters replacement (a) Sale of Certain property (1) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the General Services Administration is directed to sell, exchange, or some combination thereof, a portion of the Forrestal Complex necessary to generate the funds necessary to construct a new Department of Energy headquarters on Government-owned land in a manner consistent with the SW Ecodistrict Plan. (2) Definitions For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (A) Department of energy forrestal complex The term Forrestal Complex (i) subject to survey and as determined by the Administrator, is— (I) located in the District of Columbia; (II) generally bounded by Independence Avenue, Southwest, 12th Street, Southwest, Maryland Avenue, Southwest, and 9th Street, Southwest; and (III) generally consisting of Squares 351–N, 351, 383, 384, and 385 and portions of Squares 325 and 352; and (ii) is under the jurisdiction and control of the General Services Administration. (B) SW ecodistrict plan The term SW Ecodistrict Plan The SW Ecodistrict: A Vision Plan For A More Sustainable Future (b) Replacement of headquarters Not later than 2 years after the disposal of the necessary portions of the Forrestal Complex, the Administrator shall replace the Department of Energy headquarters located on the Forrestal Complex in a Government-owned building on Government-owned land. (c) Certain prohibitions The Administrator shall not lease a new Department of Energy headquarters or engage in a leaseback of the current headquarters. (d) Net proceeds Any net proceeds received, exceeding the expenses of implementing subsection (b), shall be paid into an account in the Federal Buildings Fund established under section 592 of title 40, United States Code. Upon deposit, the net proceeds from the sale may only be expended subject to a specific future appropriation. 10. Acquisition classifications For the purposes of classifying the type of acquisition pursuant to section 585 of title 40, United States Code, when options to purchase, discounted or otherwise, are proposed for or incorporated in acquisition agreements of real property pursuant to such section, no presumption may be made regarding whether such option will be exercised absent an explicit requirement to exercise such option in respective contractual agreement. Such options shall have no effect on the classification of such acquisitions pursuant to such section. 11. Energy Savings To the extent practicable and when cost effective, the Administrator of the General Services Administration shall consider the direct purchase of energy and other utilities in bulk or otherwise for leased facilities. 12. Simplified reforms (a) In general For the purpose of section 863 of Public Law 110–417 (b) Audit The Comptroller General of the United States shall— (1) conduct biennial audits of the General Services Administration National Broker Contract to determine— (A) whether brokers selected under the program provide lower lease rental rates than rates negotiated by General Services Administration staff; and (B) the impact of the program on the length of time of lease procurements; (2) conduct a review of whether the application of section 863 of Public Law 110–417 (3) not later than September 30, 2017, and September 30, 2019, submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report that— (A) summarizes the results of the audit and review required by paragraphs (1) and (2); (B) includes an assessment of whether the National Broker Contract provides greater efficiencies and savings than the use of General Services Administration staff; and (C) includes recommendations for improving General Services Administration lease procurements. (c) Termination This section shall terminate on December 31, 2020.

Summary: Public Buildings Reform and Savings Act of 2015 Directs the General Services Administration (GSA) to establish and conduct a pilot program through 2020 to execute lease agreements using alternative procedures to reduce costs of leased space and significantly reduce or eliminate the backlog of expiring leases over the next five years. Authorizes the GSA to submit consolidated prospectuses for leases and projects to Congress for approval and to include in leases certain costs associated with agency relocation and buildout, including moving and equipment costs. Provides for approval by congressional resolution of any costs and expenses associated with administering an acquisition by exchange involving real property or in-kind consideration, including services with a fair market value of $2.85 million or more. Authorizes: (1) the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to authorize contract security personnel to carry firearms, and (2) such personnel to detain individuals without a warrant. Directs DHS to establish minimum and uniform training standards for security personnel. Directs DHS to report on: (1) the personnel needs of the Federal Protective Service (FPS), including recommendations on the numbers of FPS law enforcement officers needed to carry out the mission of FPS during the 10-year period after the enactment of this Act, and (2) the best method of funding for the FPS. Requires the GSA to: (1) justify any need for new or replacement building space, including an explanation of why such space could not be consolidated or colocated into other owned or leased space; and (2) notify the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works if the cost, scope, or size of any project changes by 5% or more. Terminates the authority for any lease or project unless it is initiated not later than five years after congressional authorization. Directs the GSA to sell portions of the Forrestal Complex in Washington, D.C. to generate funds necessary to construct a new Department of Energy headquarters on government-owned land in a manner consistent with the SW Ecodistrict Plan of the National Capital Planning Commission. Directs the GSA, to the extent practicable and when cost effective, to consider the direct purchase of energy and other utilities in bulk or otherwise for leased facilities. Exempts an individual acquisition for commercial leasing services from enhanced competition requirements for the purchase of property and services by executive agencies if such individual acquisition is made on a no cost basis and pursuant to a multiple award contract in accordance with requirements for full and open competition. Directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct biennial audits of the GSA National Broker Contract, conduct a review of the application of enhanced competition requirements, and report on such audits and reviews.