USPS Site Acquisition

GAO reviewed the concerns about the United States Postal Service's (USPS) selection of a site in Waltham, Massachusetts, for a construction project. GAO found that: (1) as part of the site selection process, USPS identified three contending sites and concluded that one was the preferred site, although the city disagreed; (2) assuming that the city would not oppose it, USPS agreed to purchase the preferred property for $38 million in December 1990; (3) USPS purchased the site without roadway improvement commitments from the city; and (4) the lack of roadway improvements would make the site an unacceptable location for efficient operation of a mail processing center unless USPS reached an agreement with the city.