I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4863 
To establish a competitive bidding process for the relocation of the 
headquarters of Executive agencies, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 19, 2018 
Mr. MESSER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a competitive bidding process for the relocation 
of the headquarters of Executive agencies, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strategic Withdrawal 
of Agencies for Meaningful Placement Act of 2018’’ or 
‘‘SWAMP Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. RELOCATION OF HEADQUARTERS OF EXECUTIVE 
AGENCIES. 
(a) REPEAL
OF HEADQUARTERS LOCATION RE-
QUIREMENT.—Section 72 of title 4, United States Code, 
is repealed. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON LOCATION OF HEADQUARTERS 
IN WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA.—With respect to 
an Executive agency whose headquarters is located in the 
Washington metropolitan area as of the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, no new construction or major renova-
tions may be undertaken, or lease agreements entered into 
or renewed, for such headquarters after such date of en-
actment, except as otherwise expressly provided by law. 
(c) COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS FOR RELOCA-
TION OF HEADQUARTERS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator of General Services shall establish a 
process, in accordance with the requirements de-
scribed in paragraph (2), through which— 
(A) the head of an Executive agency may 
submit a request for the Administrator to issue 
a solicitation for the relocation of the head-
quarters of such agency; or 
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(B) if determined necessary, the Adminis-
trator may issue a solicitation for the relocation 
of the headquarters of an Executive agency. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—With respect to any so-
licitation issued for the relocation of the head-
quarters of an Executive agency pursuant to para-
graph (1), the Administrator of General Services 
shall— 
(A) allow any State and any political sub-
division of a State to submit a bid for the relo-
cation of such headquarters; 
(B) provide the public with notice and an 
opportunity to comment on such solicitation; 
and 
(C) in consultation with the head of such 
agency, select a State, or a political subdivision 
of a State, for the relocation of such head-
quarters using competitive bidding procedures 
that consider the following: 
(i) The extent to which the relocation 
of such headquarters would impact the 
economy and workforce development of a 
State or political subdivision of a State. 
(ii) Whether a State, or a political 
subdivision of a State, has expertise in car-
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