Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker III urged the acting head of the General Services Administration not to delay in selecting a new home for the FBI.
Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker III urged the acting head of the General Services Administration not to delay in selecting a new home for the FBI.
Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker III urged the acting head of the General Services Administration not to delay in selecting a new home for the FBI.
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Fushorn L. Bako,
‘County Execute
June 7, 2017
Mr. Timothy O. Horne
Acting Administrator
Office of the Administrator
General Services Administration
1800 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20405
Dear Mr. Horne:
There is wide consensus that the FBI is in great need of a state of the art, high security,
transit accessible and consolidated campus from which to accomplish its responsibilities to the
citizens of the United States. Your agency has had a leading role in directing the complicated
and extensive process to select a viable site for the 11,000 men and women of the FBI who
‘would utilize this new facility in protecting this nation from international and domestie threats to
national security. I write to argue that the time is now for the federal government to announce
the chosen site and developer for the FBI headquarters, and to proceed with beginning the design
stage of this multi-year project.
Congress has appropriated $923 million for the construction of the FBI headquarters, and
has indicated its clear intent to fund the remainder of the necessary $1.8 billion in the next
federal budget. GSA has worked on the RFP for several years, and was understood to have
completed its review by March 10, 2017. Given that the project will take 18-24 months to
design, it would be reasonable and logical to announce the site and development team now, and
authorize that team to begin design work on the 2 million square foot facility. Long before
construction would commence on the FBI headquarters, Congress will have been able to meet its
commitment to fully fund the project.
In addition, the State of Maryland and Prince George’s County would be able to begin
‘work on our commitments to provide necessary infrastructure. Further delay only adds to the
cost to U.S. taxpayers, as well as to State and local governments. Conservatively estimating
inflation in the construction sector at 4% annually, each year of delay adds $100 million to the
cost of the FBI headquarters,
14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772
(301) 952-4131
www princegeorgescountymd.govMr. Timothy O. Home
Page 2
June 7, 2017
All of the elements are in place to make the FBI site and development team decision now.
With two outstanding sites in Prince George’s County ready to proceed, both of which avoid the
additional $210 million in cost and five year delay that would be encountered in our competition,
the GSA would be on firm ground in moving this long process to the next phase of design, and
soon to follow, construction of this necessary federal facility. On a daily basis we are reminded
of threats to our nation, and the leading role that the FBI provides in protecting our citizens. The
FBI deserves the facilities and tools to do this to the best of its ability.
am available at your convenience to meet with you and discuss this in person. Thank
you for your consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
“Ful ee
Rushern L. Baker, IIT
County Executive
ce: U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin
USS. Senator Christopher Van Hollen, Jr.
U.S. Representative Steny H. Hoyer
U.S. Representative Anthony G. Brown,
The Honorable Lawrence J. Hogan, Jr., Governor
County Council Chair Derrick Leon Davis