[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 133 (Thursday, July 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 32362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14736]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-MA-2017-04; Docket 2017-0002; Sequence No. 10]


Federal Management Regulation; Effective Federal Warehousing-
Notification, Federal Warehousing and Storage of Assets

AGENCY: Office of Government-Wide Policy (OGP), General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice of FMR Bulletin B-44, Federal warehousing and storage of 
assets.

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SUMMARY: GSA's OGP is providing guidance on Federal warehousing and the 
storage of assets through FMR Bulletin B-44. FMR Bulletin B-44 
summarizes the industry-leading perspectives obtained through the 
development of international standards. This Bulletin provides an 
overview of considerations for agencies as they plan for acquiring 
warehousing space and throughout the life-cycle of the warehouse.
    In addition to addressing the warehouse facility itself, the FMR 
Bulletin B-44 discusses the contents of the warehouse, with the idea 
that if the contents can be reduced, the need for warehousing 
facilities can also be reduced concomitantly. FMR Bulletin B-44 and all 
FMR Bulletin may be accessed at https://www.gsa.gov/fmrbulletins.

DATES: Effective: July 13, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Holcombe, Director, 
Personal Property Policy Division, Office of Asset and Transportation, 
OGP, at 202-501-3828, or [email protected]. For further 
information of Real Property policy, please contact Aluanda Drain, 
Director, Real Property Policy Division, Office of Asset and 
Transportation, OGP, at 202-501-1624, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The General Accountability Office (GAO) 
Report 15-41, Federal Real Property; Strategic Focus Needed to Help 
Manage Vast and Diverse Warehouse Portfolio, published in November 
2014, recommends GSA provide guidance and best practices to make its 
collective Federal warehousing activities more efficient. GSA and other 
Federal agencies participated in the development of two international 
ASTM (previously known as the American Society for Testing and 
Materials) standards addressing warehousing assets to gain widespread 
input and visibility to provide the best guidance possible.
    OMB Circular A-119, Federal Participation in the Development and 
Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment 
Activities, published in January 27, 2016, requires agencies to follow 
collaboratively-developed Voluntary Consensus Standards (such as those 
produced by ASTM) in lieu of Government-unique or Government-
promulgated standards, except in limited situations, such as where a 
specific standard or process is required by law.
    GSA notes that these ASTM standards are protected by copyright, and 
cannot be shared with this Bulletin. This protection of intellectual 
property is addressed within Circular A-119 as a necessary part of 
developing such consensus standards. Each agency has a Standards 
Executive who can coordinate the provision of needed standards within 
the agency.

    Dated: July 5, 2017.
Allison Brigati,
Associate Administrator, Office of Government-wide Policy, General 
Services Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-14736 Filed 7-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-14-P