The General Services Administration's Purchase and Options To Expand the Silver Spring Metro Center

GAO discussed the General Services Administration's (GSA) purchase of one building with the option to buy four additional buildings at the Silver Spring Metro Center in Maryland. GAO found that: (1) GSA needs to improve its program guidance for carrying out complex real estate negotiations; (2) the four optional buildings will need special modifications to meet GSA needs; (3) GSA and the developer must acquire land for two of the optional buildings from the county that owns it; and (4) GSA apparently obtained reasonable prices for the lease and purchase options.