B -- U.S. Government Wants to Acquire Site, Jackson, MS

U.S. GOVERNMENTWANTS TO ACQUIRE SITE JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI Public notice is given that the General Services Administration (GSA) will conduct an investigation of possible sites to be acquired for the construction of a new United States Courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi. As part of this investigation, GSA hereby solicits either donation of a site to the United States of America or a no-cost option to purchase property. Approximately 4 to 5 acres is required within the downtown delineated area described as the area bounded by the following: EAST: Jefferson Street from South Street to High Street SOUTH: South Street from the Railroad tracks to Jefferson Street WEST: Railroad tracks from Hamilton Street to South Street NORTH: High Street from Jefferson Street to John Street, and from John Street to Hamilton Street and from Hamilton Street to the railroad tracks Owners of parcels totaling less than the size of the site specified, but to which abutting parcels may be added to produce a site of the required size, are encouraged to offer such properties for inspection. Sites which may be donated to the Federal Government are solicited, as well as sites which are for sale. Offers of a donated site or of a no-cost option to purchase property should be submitted in letter form and include an accurate description and sketch of the site offered. Offers should be received on or before February 22, 2002. Owners may submit their own proposals. Proposals submitted by agents must be accompanied by documentary evidence of the agent?s authority to make such offers. This is to advise persons submitting offers, that the Government considers any offer to be a firm option through October 1, 2002, or as extended by agreement of the parties. The Government will make every effort to expedite the site selection. Representatives of GSA will be in Jackson on March 11, 2002, for the purpose of the site investigation and can be contacted on this date from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. at 100 W. Capitol Street, Suite 501A, or at 601-965-4449, ext. 13. This advertisement is not a basis for negotiation, and the right is hereby reserved as the interest of the Government may require, to reject any or all offers and give consideration to sites other than those offered in response to this advertisement. Mail responses to: General Services Administration Laura Shadix Property Development (4PCB) 401 W. Peachtree Street, Suite 2500 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Telephone (404)331-7965 Email Address: laura.shadix@gsa.gov This site acquisition is being conducted pursuant to statutory authority contained in the Public Buildings Act of 1959, as amended. 40 U.S.C. 601, et seq. Pursuant to this authority, GSA is authorized to conduct this site selection without regard to the competitive procurement procedures contained in Title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, commonly referred to as the Competition in Contracting Act. The following criteria are being used to consider offered sites, which satisfy the minimum requirement: The site must be located in the defined delineated area in downtown Jackson; the site must be of sufficient size as defined above; and, the owner must have marketable title. General evaluation factors to be considered are: ability of the site to meet certain environmental requirements, ability of the site to comply with certain regulatory requirements; functionally of the site; and, design development features of the site that would impact the proposed project. In addition to the above criteria, the total cost of the project considering both the acquisition cost of the site and estimated development and operating costs will be considered. The Government will select the site considered tobe most advantageous to the United States after all factors have been considered. In order to ensure that the selected site is most advantageous to the United States, the Government will also consider any unique attributes or other nuances of a site deemed worthy of consideration, even if not listed above. None of the above listed evaluation criteria are considered to be more important than any other. However, as sites are evaluated, each site?s unique attributes may result in one or more criteria becoming more important as to that particular site. The final selection of the site is within the sole discretion of the government.