GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Executive Office of the Mayor Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and

Economic Development

November 26, 2013

Mr. Dan M. Tangherlini Administrator United States General Services Administration 1275 First Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20417 Re: GSA Request for Expressions of Interest FBI Headquarters Dear Mr. Tangherlini: The District of Columbia (District) has reviewed the Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) issued by the United States General Services Administration (GSA) on November 15, 2013 requesting expressions of interest for a site to be used for the development of a new headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Although the RFEIs stated criteria do not preclude the District from submitting a site located within its boundaries for consideration by GSA, we are concerned that in reality, several identified preferences within the RFEI render District sites effectively ineligible for consideration. In particular, the RFEI states a preference for larger sites and anticipates that approximately 50 acres would be needed to satisfy this project requirement despite the District demonstrating in its March 4, 2013 response to GSAs Request for Information that a FBI headquarters facility could be developed to accommodate 2.1 million rentable square feet of office and related space, including ancillary facilities and parking, on a portion of the 40 acres of developable land at Poplar Point located in S.E. Washington, D.C. In addition, the RFEI expresses a disfavor for sites that are in close proximity to community facilities and that might impact certain natural resources such as wetlands and/or floodplains, but does not define or provide guidance on how GSA will evaluate such proximity or impacts. Addition of these criteria appears to necessarily place an urban, riverfront site such as Poplar Point at a significant competitive disadvantage, despite the fact that such a site can provide a secure location near many urban amenities, while at the same time mitigating any associated impacts.

VICTOR L. HOSKINS DEPUTY MAYOR

1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 317 Washington, D.C. 20004 202.727.6365 (F)202.727.6365 www.dcbiz.dc.gov

Mr. Dan M. Tangherlini

November 26, 2013 Page 2

The District has long served as the home of the FBI headquarters and would like the opportunity to continue to do so. While the noted criteria do not explicitly prevent a submission, the District would have appreciated competing in a process that didnt have the appearance of eliminating Poplar Point as a possible relocation site from the start.

Respectfully,

Victor L. Hoskins Deputy Mayor

Cc:

Congresswoman Eleanor H. Norton Mayor Vincent C. Gray The Council of the District of Columbia