Paul Wilhems

Paul Wilhems serves as a leasing specialist within the Public Buildings Service’s R7 Office of Leasing, part of the General Services Administration, where he plays a critical role in securing nonresidential real estate to support federal agency operations nationwide. His responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of lease acquisitions—from market analysis and space requirement validation to contract execution and portfolio optimization—ensuring federal workspace solutions are cost-effective, efficient, and aligned with sustainability goals. He routinely handles complex real property leasing actions under FAR Part 17 and GSA’s Real Property Acquisition Directive, focusing on long-term occupancy agreements that reduce underutilized space and consolidate federal footprints. Wilhems collaborates with a broad range of commercial real estate owners, property managers, and leasing brokers who hold nonresidential commercial properties suitable for federal occupancy. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, his working relationships are characterized by consistent engagement with regional and national real estate firms experienced in federal leasing compliance, including those adept at navigating GSA’s standardized lease templates and environmental review requirements. His procurement approach emphasizes transparency, competitive negotiation, and adherence to federal real property standards. His contracting activity shows a 100% preference for full and open competition, with no set-asides designated for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic categories. This reflects a mission-driven focus on securing optimal space solutions through market-wide competition rather than socioeconomic targeting, consistent with the agency’s mandate to prioritize efficiency and value over programmatic set-asides in real property acquisitions. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 531120 (Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings) and 531190 (Lessors of Other Real Estate Property), indicating deep expertise in negotiating leases for office, laboratory, and mixed-use commercial spaces. He specializes in evaluating building systems, lease term structures, tenant improvement allowances, and operational cost allocations to ensure long-term fiscal responsibility and regulatory compliance.