GSA's Actions To Acquire Leased Space for the Western Area Power Administration

The General Services Administration's (GSA) actions taken to obtain office and other space for the Western Area Power Administration's (WAPA) headquarters in Denver, Colorado, were reviewed to determine: (1) what additional lease and remodeling costs would be incurred by locating WAPA headquarters downtown instead of near the Denver Federal Center; (2) the impact on training and research and development missions if WAPA is moved to the downtown area; and (3) whether GSA followed policy, statutory, and regulatory requirements in handling the WAPA request for space.

GSA has not yet decided where WAPA will be located. If WAPA is moved to downtown Denver, it will be farther from the Bureau of Reclamation, which will not seriously affect its ability to carry out its mission. The GSA handling of the WAPA request for space appeared to be in compliance with policy, statutory, and regulatory requirements. Firm data on the costs of locating WAPA in the Denver downtown area or in the vicinity of the Denver Federal Center is not yet available. A GSA solicitation planned for March 1980, will be based on identical requirements for both locations including space footage, special purpose space, parking needs, and other pertinent factors. WAPA claimed it needed to be located close to the Bureau of Reclamation because of the numerous contacts required between the two agencies. In a previous report, GAO concluded that a cost comparison should be used, along with other factors, to decide where agencies should be located. It was recommended that the GSA revised space management regulations include criteria on the comparative cost-effectiveness of relocating federal agencies to central business areas or other alternatives which can satisfy the agencies' missions. These conclusions and recommendations are equally applicable to the situation with WAPA.