GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Washington, DC 20405
PBS 1099.1
January 11, 2023
GSA ORDER
SUBJECT: Safeguarding Assets
1. Purpose.
The U.S. General Services Administration's (GSA) Public Buildings Service (PBS) is committed to integrating risk management and forward-looking science-based climate information into its decision-making processes, programs, operations, business models, and disaster response functions. PBS will use forward-looking science-based climate information to shape investment decisions for long-term hold assets. This enables PBS to develop and integrate adaptive strategies to manage and reduce the risk of operational or financial consequences to both individual facilities and the broader portfolio of owned assets. It also supports reliable performance in changing conditions over assets’ intended service lifespans.
This Order seeks to manage risks due to observed and expected changes in the environment. To account for the increased frequency of extreme weather and climate-related events, this Order supports the development of a coordinated risk management approach and integrated strategies for reliable and cost effective operations in changing conditions and to secure and safeguard GSA-controlled public assets.
This Order complements related laws, GSA policies, Orders, and regulations by affirming that PBS is systematically preparing for changes in the frequency, intensity, duration and geographic distribution of extreme weather-related events and the effects of climate change. PBS is also planning how to manage risk, and how to provide reliable performance in changing conditions over assets’ intended asset service lives. This shall be accomplished by integrating risk management and adaptation strategies into all PBS programs, operations, and business models, including portfolio planning and disaster response, for current and future conditions.
2. Background.
PBS acquires, designs, builds, operates, leases, and disposes of space for the Federal Government. Given the breadth of PBS’s responsibilities, the known and unforeseen vulnerabilities due to the observed and expected changes in the environment and the increased frequency and intensity of weather and natural disasters are having and will continue to have significant impacts on PBS’s ability to effectively fulfill its mission to support its customers, coordinate with local communities, operate its facilities, maintain financial stability, avoid maladaptation, and meet its policy requirements. These impacts reflect the timescales of both short-term and slow-onset change, as well as preparing for increased frequency, intensity, duration and geographic distribution of events, and the planning and implementation required for adaptation. Integrating risk management and adaptation strategies into programs, operations and business models, including disaster response and consideration of impacts to local communities surrounding GSA facilities, will enable PBS to execute and manage its mission, operations, and finances securely, effectively, efficiently, and in an environmentally just manner in current and future conditions.
3. Scope and Applicability.
This Order and any companion guidance documents apply to all real property management and operation activities for Federal buildings under GSA’s jurisdiction, custody, or control, including all buildings delegated to other Federal agencies by the Administrator of General Services.
This Order applies to all PBS program actions, including, but not limited to: real property portfolio and asset management; customer engagement; design and construction for new buildings and the alteration of existing buildings; overall building operations and maintenance, and to the extent applicable, leases.
4. Policy.
PBS will continue to develop, prioritize, implement, and evaluate actions; and will consider impacts to local communities to integrate plausible projected solutions to vulnerabilities into its mission, programs, management functions, and decision points. This will enable PBS to continually evaluate and manage the short and long term risks to safeguarding assets. PBS will consider and address such impacts when undertaking long-term planning, setting priorities for research and investigations, and informing decisions affecting PBS resources, programs, acquisitions, policies, and operations.
5. Responsibilities.
PBS shall consider local coordination, facilities risk management, and adaptation in all its decision making. PBS will ensure that its actions protect and safeguard its assets from current and projected extreme weather impacts and the effects of climate change. Decision makers will ensure that they have reviewed and fully understand the financial and operational impacts and the risks and consequences of each decision, before making any such decision. Review and management of identified safeguarding asset risks will be included in senior leadership performance plans from fiscal year 2024 onward.
Capital Projects: PBS Office of Portfolio Management and Customer Engagement (PTCE) and PBS Office of Design and Construction (ODC) shall continue to consider the climate hazards and risks in the selection, design, and delivery of capital projects; accept or mitigate identified risks; and share these risks with GSA Enterprise Risk Management.
Existing Buildings: PTCE and PBS Office of Facilities Management (OFM) shall perform (and update periodically) climate hazard screening, implement (and update) the climate risk process supporting the Building Assessment Tool (BAT) and Risk Assessment Codes (RAC), and state and update RAC codes for existing facilities.
Sustainable Buildings: ODC, OFM, and PBS Office of Leasing shall review (and periodically update) their respective guidance for meeting current Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings criteria 6.1 and 6.2, to reflect and reinforce PBS climate risk management processes and, where applicable, efforts to enhance facility and community resilience.
Every PBS business line or Office will review existing regulations, policies, and guidance; develop specific business practices; and amend existing practices as necessary, to implement the guidelines and policies set forth in this Order.
6. Effective Date.
This Order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until it is revised or canceled.
7. Signature.
/S/_________________
NINA M. ALBERT
Commissioner
Public Buildings Service
U.S. General Services Administration