Relocation of the EPA Regional Office From Kansas City, Missouri, to Kansas City, Kansas

Gao ID: GGD-85-56 May 16, 1985

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the General Services Administration's (GSA) relocation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Office from leased space in Kansas City, Missouri to leased space in Kansas City, Kansas, and the fire safety and lease status of the Eleven Oak building that EPA occupied in Missouri.

GAO found that the original lease covering EPA occupancy in the Eleven Oak building did not require an automatic sprinkler system. Subsequent to reinstatement of its fire safety standards, GSA renewed the lease with a 1-year deferment of sprinkler installation requirement and a 5-year renewal option. However, EPA indicated that renewal was undesirable for security, safety, and administrative reasons, and it requested relocation. GAO found that GSA acted reasonably and properly in selecting the lowest offer which was less costly than remaining at the Missouri location and installing an automatic sprinkler system in that building at government expense. However, GAO believes that EPA did not follow regulations for making its total space needs known prior to the lease award because GSA would have restarted the acquisition process.



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