GSA initiates hunt for fresh Alexandria office premises to accommodate relocated National Science Foundation

The General Services Administration (GSA) has officially begun a search for office space in Alexandria, Virginia. The agency is seeking a high-profile science and innovation hub, with a specific requirement for Class A office space between 240,000 and 280,000 square feet.

The lease term for the space is unusually short, spanning just 48 months. The space must be a fully serviced lease and cannot be located in a 1% annual chance floodplain. GSA has defined a search area bounded by Duke Street to the north, Interstate 495 to the south, South Patrick Street to the east, and Telegraph Road to the west. Any proposed space must be located within 2,640 walkable feet of a Metrorail station.

The space must meet government standards for fire safety, accessibility, seismic, and sustainability, and must also meet ISC Level III security requirements. It must be delivered in turnkey condition, furnished and ready for immediate 100% occupancy.

Interested parties must submit detailed information, including building names and addresses, available square footage, asking rental rates, scaled floor plans, and evidence that the space meets all requirements by September 4 at 3 p.m. The current notice is a market research phase rather than a formal request for proposals.

The search comes as the Trump administration announced in June that the Department of Housing and Urban Development would take over the National Science Foundation's (NSF) current headquarters. However, no information is available about which federal agency has taken over the former NSF headquarters in Alexandria or when the official handover was announced.

GSA is seeking office space that can be leased below the agency's fiscal year 2025 prospectus threshold of $3.926 million. The space must also have premium amenities such as flexible meeting and event spaces, shared services like cafeterias, parking, fitness rooms, bike storage, and childcare facilities. Specific requirements for the space include 35% systems furniture and 65% office furniture.

Occupancy is required by the end of November. The federal government's emphasis on transit-oriented locations is reflected in the requirement for only four total parking spaces for the 240,000-280,000 square foot facility.

This search marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to find a new home for the NSF, which has been displaced from its Eisenhower Avenue headquarters. The agency's new location is expected to play a crucial role in its continued work in promoting scientific discovery and technological innovation.

GSA initiates hunt for fresh Alexandria office premises to accommodate relocated National Science Foundation