Fire Safety and Accessibility Deficiencies at the GSA Headquarters Building in Washington, D.C.

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Date Issued

Monday, August 12, 2024

Submitting OIG

General Services Administration OIG

Other Participating OIGs

General Services Administration OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

General Services Administration

Report Number

A240018PRR24007

Report Type

Audit

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Open Recommendations

This report has 2 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS NCR Regional Commissioner take immediate actions to address the fire safety deficiencies at the GSA HQ building by: promptly ensuring that all fire doors are inspected, repaired, or replaced for proper functionality and compliance with safety standards and fire codes; strengthening oversight to ensure that the building’s operations and maintenance contractor is complying with contract requirements, including, but not limited to, fire safety requirements; expediting the corrective action for the fire safety deficiency identified during the Management Analysis and Review System review, dated January 6, 2023, by coordinating pre-fire planning activities with the local fire department; and, ensuring that pre-fire planning walk-throughs are regularly scheduled and performed with the local fire department.
2	Yes	$0	$0
We recommend that the PBS NCR Regional Commissioner take immediate actions to improve management oversight of its facilities to reassess compliance with Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards and Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements at the GSA HQ building by: reviewing designated wheelchair-accessible restrooms to ensure individuals with disabilities have easy access and adjusting any restroom doors to fall within the acceptable range for accessibility; addressing the functionality and compliance of all elevators, ensuring that each elevator is equipped with an automatic verbal announcement feature; and, stabilizing the handrail for the wheelchair ramp at the entrance of the building.