Prince George's County to Receive Greater Consideration for Federal Government Leases
Washington, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) today announced that the fiscal year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report, approved by the House of Representatives this evening, includes language secured by Hoyer that will help ensure that the federal government gives full and equal consideration to Prince George's County when choosing leased federal office space in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.
"For years, Prince George's County has consistently been passed over for federal leases –despite the numerous advantages the County has to offer the federal government," stated Rep. Hoyer. "The language approved this week by Congress will effectively provide Prince George's County fair and equal consideration for federal lease space and allow for an increased level of oversight in the leasing process."
According to a study done by Source CoStar Group, Inc., Prince George's County accounts for only 5 percent of federally occupied office space in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area. In comparison, Montgomery County accounts for 16.5 percent; Washington, DC accounts for 41.5 percent and Northern Virginia accounts for 37 percent. These percentages equate to only two million square feet of office for Prince George's County out of a total of 48 million square feet of office space inventory in the Washington Metropolitan Area.
To address this pronounced disparity, Rep. Hoyer secured language in the 2008 consolidated appropriations bill that will help ensure that the General Services Administration (GSA) gives Prince George's County full and equal consideration when analyzing lease proposals. This language addresses one of the primary reasons for the imbalance - that agency executives often ignore the delineated area of the prospectus and simply focus on the area where they want to relocate - by requiring agency executives to consider the entire delineated area. The appropriations bill also requires for the first time that the GSA provide an explanatory statement when the entire delineated area is not considered– instituting an important measure of oversight that did not previously exist.
Over the years, Rep. Hoyer has worked with Prince George's County officials to advocate on behalf of the County as an ideal location for federal leases that will ensure the best value for taxpayer dollars. Rep. Hoyer notes that given the opportunity to compete on a level playing field, the County's incredible assets will make it an attractive location for federal space and increase the federal presence in the County. Prince George's County boasts a first-rate public transit system, a competitive cost structure, a growing inventory of Class- A office space, and is home to a highly qualified workforce which includes numerous federal employees. These factors all contribute to making the County an appealing location for federal offices.
"Prince George's County offers a wealth of affordable inventory, a first-rate public transit system, and is home to a significant number of federal employees, which all should combine to make the County an attractive potential location for federal offices," stated Rep. Hoyer.
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