Federal Buildings
Status of Construction of the Joseph P. Addabbo Building in Queens, New York Gao ID: GGD-89-22BR November 17, 1988In response to a congressional request, GAO provided information concerning the General Services Administration's (GSA) management of the construction of the Joseph P. Addabbo Social Security Building in Queens, New York, focusing on the: (1) contractor selection process; (2) status of the project; (3) actions GSA took to ensure completion; and (4) civil and criminal investigations involving the project.
GAO found that: (1) GSA complied with government standards and practices in selecting the project's contractor; (2) unexpected shoring and bracing requirements, brickwork problems, and worker shortages delayed the project's completion about 2 years; (3) the contractor planned to complete the project by November 25, 1988, with expected occupancy by early 1989; (4) the Department of Justice closed its criminal investigation of allegedly fraudulent contractor claims due to a lack of evidence; (5) the civil investigation of the potential liability for the bracing and shoring costs at the site was still pending; and (6) GSA planned to negotiate with the contractor concerning the estimated $23 million in costs due to design changes and delays.