Honoring and recognizing the General Services Administration extensive donation support to Philadelphia Schools around the City through the "Computers For Learning" Program. In total, over $575,000 worth of computers have been donated to Philadelphia schools since 2014. And recognizing the extensive assistance the GSA offers to the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent federal agency designed to reduce costs to taxpayers, and works to establish best practices for the federal government’s real estate procurement, administrative services, purchasing and use of technology; and

WHEREAS, The GSA was established in 1949 in order to help manage and support the basic functions of federal agencies, helping to supply products and communications for government offices. Their stated mission is to “Deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government”.; and

WHEREAS, The GSA has four strategic goals: First to save taxpayer money though better management of federal real estate. Second is to establish the GSA as the premier provider of efficient and effective acquisition solutions across the Federal Government. Third is to improve the way Federal Agencies buy, build and use technology. Lastly, to design and deliver expanded shared services within the GSA and across the Federal Government to improve performance and save taxpayer money; and

WHEREAS, The GSAs Mid-Atlantic Region 3 is based in Philadelphia, allowing us to have a meaningful relationship between the City Government and Federal Government. This relationship means the GSA has a deeper understanding of the needs of Philadelphia, its citizens, and its schools; and

WHEREAS, This deeper understanding lead to the GSA committing itself to donating over $575,000 in computers to 9 schools around the City, with a goal of expanding to even more schools in the district; and

WHEREAS, These donations are incredibly helpful to the schools, giving them access to technology that would have cost these schools thousands of dollars to obtain. The donations allow the schools to manage their budgets a little better, and spend that money on improving the daily education of their students; and

WHEREAS, The GSA offers other services as well, such as selling Local Government/organizations surplus “personal” property that are no longer needed by Federal Agencies. Acquiring surplus from the Federal Government saves local taxpayers money in procurement costs, and allows the city to spend that money on other projects; and

WHEREAS, Beyond that, the GSA offers numerous ways for government and organizations to acquire property and assets; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors and recognizes the General Services Administration for the extensive services it offers the City, and for the computer donations to Philadelphia Schools through the “Computers For Learning” Program.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the GSA Mid-Atlantic Region 3, as a sincere expression of the Council of the City of Philadelphia’s gratitude, admiration, and recognition.

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