After signing into law the Energy Independence and Security act of 2007, former president George W. Bush signed an executive order, demanding that all government agencies “improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through reduction of energy intensity by 3 percent annually through the end of fiscal year 2015” and that “at least half of the statutorily required renewable energy consumed by the agency in a fiscal year comes from new renewable sources.” In an effort to move toward that goal, the U.S General Services Administration announced a new list of approved contractors this week. Among them was Pittsburgh’s Baker Corporation, a construction and engineering firm seeking to help paint the White House, and the rest of Washington, green.
“Baker Corporation are among a few companies we placed on our supply schedule,” says GSA Public Affairs Officer Robert C. Lesino. “But they now have a hunting license from GSA to seek work from all government agencies.”
This “hunting license” will allow Michael Baker Jr. Inc., an engineering division of Baker Corporation, to compete for general purpose commercial information technology equipment, software or services contracts, government training contracts, and conducting energy audits for government agencies and centers. The company joins a short list of contractors from across the country considered for sustainability projects slated to begin later this year.
“We are thrilled to be among a handful of contractors selected for this important GSA program,” says Baker’s vice president Gary Kettler, “The team we have assembled provides the array of carbon-neutral and resource reduction approaches and solutions our federal clients are seeking.”
Source: Robert Lesino, GSA
Writer: John Steele