[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 15, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40499-40501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17555]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Request for Expression of Interest for Potential Sites
for Headquarters Office Locations
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is exploring
potential sites for a proposed new headquarters location for the
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Economic
Research Service (ERS). The need for a proposed NIFA facility would be
approximately 90,000 square feet to house approximately 360 employees.
The need for a proposed ERS facility would be up to 70,000 square feet
to house up to 260 employees. Appropriations will dictate the ultimate
size of the selection. USDA is requesting Expressions of Interest from
State and Local governments, industry, academia, interested parties and
organizations for potential locations that would accommodate the
construction and/or lease and operation of a NIFA and/or ERS
headquarters facility. USDA is interested in exploring options to house
the headquarters of NIFA and ERS jointly or in separate locations.
DATES: Interested parties wishing to make an Expression of Interest
should do so in writing by September 14, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit comments regarding
this notice. All submissions must refer to ``Expression of Interest''
to ensure proper delivery.
Electronic Submission of Expression of Interest.
Interested persons may submit information electronically to the
following email address [email protected].
Submission of Comments by Mail, Hand delivery, or Courier.
Paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions should be submitted to Donald K.
Bice, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Administration, USDA, Jamie L. Whitten Building, Room 240-W, 1400
Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald K. Bice, Telephone Number:
(202) 720-3291.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIFA's mission is to invest in and advance
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agricultural research, education, and extension to solve societal
challenges. In collaboration with the Land-Grant Universities and other
partners, NIFA supports the future of agriculture and the nation's
well-being through its forward-thinking investments in critical
science, education, and engagement efforts.
The mission of ERS is to inform and enhance public and private
decision making on a broad range of economic and policy issues related
to agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural America. The
Agency's mission is to anticipate issues that are on the horizon, and
to conduct sound, peer-reviewed economic research. ERS is also a
primary source of statistical indicators that, among other things,
gauge the health of the farm sector (including farm income estimates
and projections), assess the current and expected performance of the
agricultural sector (including trade), and provide measures of food
security here and abroad. Most of the Agency's research is conducted by
a highly trained staff of economists and social scientists through an
intramural program of research, market outlook, and analysis.
The current headquarters facility for NIFA is in General Services
Administration leased space in Washington DC That lease is expiring and
the USDA and NIFA are interested in potential new sites for a
headquarters facility. The current headquarters facility for ERS is in
General Services Administration leased space in Washington DC This
inquiry is intended to continue the implementation of Secretary
Perdue's goal of ensuring USDA programs are delivered efficiently,
effectively, and with integrity and a focus on customer service. With
the expiration of the current lease for the NIFA headquarters facility
and the ability of ERS to vacate its existing lease there is an
opportunity for the agencies to be closer to its customers and
facilitate economic development in Rural America.
Request for Expression of Interest: USDA requests Expressions of
Interest from State and Local governments, industry, academia,
interested parties and organizations to identify potential sites or
locations for the NIFA and ERS headquarters facility. A consortium
could be an appropriate respondent. All viable options will be
evaluated for the location of the facility (i.e., Federal government
property, Federal research property, land deeded to the government,
long-term lease, commercial site, etc.). USDA is interested in
exploring options to house the headquarters of NIFA and ERS jointly or
in separate locations.
This request for expression of interest, published in today's
Federal Register, is the first step in the process to consider site
options. USDA will evaluate each EOI submission using the four criteria
in no particular order (transportation logistics, workforce, community/
quality of life, and capital and operating costs) to determine if it
should be further evaluated as part of the location selection process.
Logistics. Personnel travel and logistics needs are critically
important. This includes being located within a reasonable distance of
a commercial primary airport and the transportation infrastructure to
have commuting options for employees.
Workforce. Locating NIFA and ERS headquarters in a community
includes a significant opportunity to improve economic conditions and
create employment opportunities. It is important that the potential
site be in close proximity to a critical mass of intellectual capacity
and potential employees to continue the high value and productive work
of NIFA and ERS.
Community/Quality of Life. One of the most important resources of
any USDA organization is its employees. Though the Washington DC area
has many positive attributes, it routinely ranks as having some of the
longest commute times and one of the highest costs of living in the
Nation. USDA wants to locate the NIFA and ERS headquarters in a
community where our employees will enjoy living, recreational
opportunities, educational opportunities, and an overall high quality
of life.
Capital and Operating Costs. The need to invest upfront capital
costs and ongoing operational costs will be a factor in the site
selection process. Lower costs and the potential of incentives to
offset costs will be considered.
Information Technology infrastructure. While there is the need
consider upfront investments in capital costs and ongoing operational
costs in the site selection process; it is also important for the ERS
location to offer enhanced IT security to meet the full requirements of
handling and properly protecting confidential information at the new
location. ERS, being a Federal statistical agency, will be required to
maintain functional and physical separation of IT resources in order to
meet the data protection requirements described in the Confidential
Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (44 U.S.C. 101)
and in OMB's related implementation guidance. Moreover, ERS is an
integral agency for the Office of the Chief Economist Office's World
Agricultural Outlook Board activities. Therefore, the new location will
be required to offer secure and confidential connectivity to the USDA's
South Building to facilitate monthly teleconferences with the
Interagency Commodity Estimates Committee meetings (https://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde/prepared.htm). The ability of the new
location to offer those capabilities will be viewed as a prerequisite
condition for a successful bid.
Expression of Interest Format: The length of the Expression of
Interest should be no more than 5 pages using 12-point font. While the
responder may determine how best to use the 5 pages, we recommend:
SECTION 1--Summary; and SECTION 2 through SECTION 5 a description of
location with specific reference to the 4 items requested by USDA
below.
1. A description of your consortium/organization, and its
capabilities to support the location of the NIFA and ERS headquarters
at its recommended site (SECTION 2).
2. A description of how the potential site addressed the four site
criteria categories (transportation logistics, workforce, community/
quality of life, and capital and operating costs) described above
(SECTION 3).
3. A map showing the location of the potential site, nearby (within
10 miles) political boundaries, demographics and characteristics of
surrounding communities (within 10 miles) (SECTION 4).
4. A site description including ownership, total site acreage and
acreage available for development; existing physical infrastructure
including number of structures, their size, vintage and current use;
current activities; on-site tenants (if applicable); and estimated
costs as tenant (SECTION 5).
Proprietary Information: If the Expression of Interest contains
information that the submitter believes is privileged or confidential,
the appropriate portions of the submission should be marked
``Proprietary Information'' and will not be publicly released except as
required by law. This restriction does not limit the Government's or
its contractors' or agents' right to use data obtained without
restriction from any source, including the respondent.
USDA is under no obligation to pay for any costs associated with
the preparation or submission of Expressions of Interest in response to
this notice. USDA reserves the right to
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respond or not respond to any portion, all, or none of the Expressions
of Interest submitted in response to this Notice. Responders whose
submissions are deemed worthy of further consideration given the
criteria expressed herein may be asked to provide additional
information. USDA's further consideration of certain Responders'
Expressions of Interest does not obligate USDA to provide funds to such
Responders or to enter into contractual relationships with such
Responders.
Dated: August 9, 2018.
Donald K. Bice,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-17555 Filed 8-14-18; 8:45 am]
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