1

SITES AND EXPENSES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS PROJECTS (Continued)

control of the General Services Administration) not otherwise provided for, $25,031,0007 $2,000,000, to remain available until expended.

PLANATION OF PROPOSED CHANGE IN APPROPRIATION LANGUAGE

The proposed change in the language provides for updating the statutory references by inserting "and the Public Buildings Amendments of 1972 (82 Stat. 216)".

JUSTIFICATION

This appropriation item provides for the preliminary planning of public buildings, acquisition of sites, preparation of drawings and specifications, management and inspection of construction, and related costs incident to projects approved for direct federal construction under the Public Buildings Act of 1959, as amended.

In addition, this appropriation item provides for the Government's responsibilities under the purchase contract program, which was authorized in the Public Buildings Amendments of 1972. These responsibilities include the review of drawings and specifications, inspections of construction, authorizing payments to be made by the purchase contractor or trustee on contracts, and related costs incident to the purchase contract program, including the printing of solicitation documents and advertising for purchase

contractors.

The estimate of $2,000,000 in new obligational authority for FY 1974 is composed of $900,000 for design (including $60,000 for the Alaska Highway border station project and $840,000 for the purchase contract program); $419,000 for management and inspection (including $30,000 for the Alaska Highway border station project and $389,000 for the purchase contract program); and $681,000 for administrative operations.

The $2 million requested for 1974 is included in the total estimated obligational program of $14,717,000. The remaining $12,717,000 programed for obligation in 1974 from funds previously appropriated is for such items as preliminary planning, management and inspection for on-going direct construction projects and the purchase contract program, and other related

costs.

EXPLANATION OF DISTRIBUTION BY OBJECTS (See Activity Data Sheet)

21 Travel.- $632,000. $600,000 for approximately 17,600 days travel in connection with the purchase contract program and inspection and administration of the Relocation Assistance Act, management and inspection of construction, and on-site design reviews, surveys and

SITES AND EXPENSES, PUBLIC BUILDINGS PROJECTS

(Continued)

investigations to secure essential space data; and $32,000 for payment to interagency motor pools for use of vehicles.

22 Transportation of Things.- $4,000. For transportation costs of administrative supplies and materials.

Rents and Communications Services.- $75,000. $5,000 for rental of commercial equipment, $12,000 for telephone and teletype services and $58,000 postage fees.

24 Printing and Reproduction.- $250,000. For reproduction of drawings, specifications, bidding documents, contract forms, etc.

25 Other Services.- $13,461,000. $3,000,000 for contract drawings and specifications, construction management and inspection, site investigations, selections and appraisals, feasibility studies, topographical surveys and test borings; $9,530,000 payment to "Construction Services Fund" for technical services; $681,000 payment to "Administrative Operations Fund" for administrative services necessary to support this program; and $250,000 for services of other agencies.

26 Supplies and Materials.- $3,000. For miscellaneous operating supplies and materials.

32 Lands and Structures.- $292,000. Estimated deficiency judgments for on-going site acquisitions.

"This appropriation provides for payments to contractors and taxing authorities on: (1) Five purchase contracts as authorized in the Public Buildings Purchase Contract Act of 1954, (2) 15 purchase contracts authorized by the Public Buildings Amendments of 1972, and (3) taxes due on 11 projects, authorized by the Public Buildings Amendments of 1972, to be completed in 1974 but not requiring payments to contractors until 1975." (From The Budget for 1974).

APPROPRIATION LANGUAGE

For payments of principal, interest, taxes, and any other obligations under contracts entered into pursuant to the Public Buildings Purchase Contract Act of 1954 (40 U.S.C. 356) and the Public Buildings Amendments of 1972 (86 Stat. 216), $2,450,000 $7,300,000.

EXPLANATION OF PROPOSED CHANGE IN APPROPRIATION LANGUAGE

The insertion of the underscored language is proposed in order to incorporate the purchase contract authority contained in the Public Buildings Amendments of 1972, Public Law 92-313, approved June 16, 1972.

JUSTIFICATION

The estimate of $7,300,000 for fiscal year 1974 is to provide for installment payments of principal, interest, taxes, and assessments on twenty purchase contracts, and taxes due on eleven projects to be completed in 1974 but not requiring payments to contractors until 1975.

The increase of $4,850,000 over the appropriation of $2,450,000 for fiscal year 1973 is for the following: (1) $3,610,000 for the payment of principal, interest, taxes and assessments for fifteen new purchase contracts authorized by the Public Buildings Amendments of 1972; (2) $800,000 for taxes due on 11 projects authorized by the Public Buildings Amendments of 1972, to be completed in 1974 but not requiring payments to contractors until 1975; (3) $390,000 for contemplated assessment increases by local taxing authorities for these 26 projects; and (4) $50,000 for contemplated assessment increases by local taxing authorities for the five on-going purchase contracts under the Purchase Contract Act of 1954.

The following tabulations reflect the actual payments in fiscal year 1972 and estimated payments in fiscal years 1973 and 1974 by project.