GSA Updates Federal Fleet With Energy Efficient Saturn Hybrids

WASHINGTON (Map) - Administrator Lurita Doan today accepted delivery of 55 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid sedans that the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has purchased to bolster its inventory of fuel-efficient vehicles.

"GSA bought these vehicles as part of our effort to provide a selection of the latest model hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles to the federal community," Administrator Doan said at a ceremonial event with Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak, outside the Andrew Mellon Auditorium.

"GSA is committed to providing the best fleet services in the business at the lowest possible cost, a formula that will yield major dividends for our customers, our citizens and our environment," Administrator Doan said.

GSA will lease 43 of the hybrids to the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy, and to the Departments of Transportation, Interior, Energy and Commerce, the Environmental Protection Agency and National Space and Aeronautics Administration. The other 12 will remain in the GSA fleet, for agency use and to use as demonstration models during sales presentations to federal customers.

In addition to purchasing the Saturns, GSA also purchased more than 24,000 alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) for federal customers this year. In total, GSA has purchased more than 140,000 AFVs and hybrids since 1991.

Alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles are among an array of products and services GSA's Federal Acquisition Service makes available to help federal agencies meet the requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the 2007 President's Executive Order 13423. Both directives require the federal community to save energy by buying fuel-efficient vehicles and other energy- efficient products and services.

Founded in 1949, GSA serves as a centralized procurement and property management agency for the federal government. GSA manages more than one- fourth of the government's total procurement dollars and influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets, including 8,300 government-owned or leased buildings and 208,000 vehicles. GSA helps preserve our past and define our future, as a steward of more than 420 historic properties, and as manager of USA.gov, the official portal to federal government information and services. GSA's mission to provide superior workplaces, expert technology solutions, acquisition services, purchasing and E-Gov travel solutions and management policies, at best value, allows federal agencies to focus on their core missions.

Did You Know? As a leader in motor vehicle fleet management, GSA issued the Federal Management Regulation instructing agencies to select motor vehicles that achieve maximum fuel efficiency.