GSA Found Lax in Enforcing Leases on Westwood Complex

GAO reviewed the General Services Administration's (GSA) lease administration and enforcement policies and procedures and GSA, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW), and National Institutes of Health (NIH) records pertinent to the leases and services at the two Westwood buildings over the last five years. A recent fire inspection identified numerous violations, including faulty fire doors on eight floors of one building and seven floors of the other building. GSA, HEW, NIH, and Montgomery County fire departments were interviewed by GAO concerning building services and conditions such as firesafety, maintenance, and cleaning, and parking.

GSA has now determined responsibility for repair of the fire doors and other violations and has taken action to have the violations corrected. The efforts of GSA to secure maintenance and cleaning services for the Westwood complex have been ineffective. GSA should more aggressively discharge its responsibility to see that public funds are not used to pay for services that have not met contract requirements.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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