Good afternoon,
I am responding on behalf of my colleague Bob Lesino [PR for the General Services Administration] and at this time we can’t provide any other information than what was in the press release.
Thank you.
MaryAnne
Gee, I wonder if this has anything to do with the country of origin for these vehicles . . . TTAC will now file a Freedom of Information Act request. Press release after the jump.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. General Services Administration is one step closer to fulfilling its responsibilities outlined in President Obama’s economic recovery legislation. On June 1, 2009, the agency ordered 14,105 fuel efficient vehicles for the Federal fleet using $210 million of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
This brings the total number of fuel efficient vehicles ordered by GSA using ARRA funds to 17,205 at a cost of $287 million. The breakdown includes:
2,933 Chrysler vehicles for $53 million;
7,924 Ford vehicles for $129 million; and
6,348 General Motors vehicles for $105 million.
“This order represents just one of the multiple ways we are helping our customers meet their economic recovery and green government initiatives,” said Acting Administrator Paul F. Prouty.
On April 9, 2009, GSA announced that by June 1, 2009, it would spend about $285 million in ARRA funds for commercially available fuel efficient vehicles. On April 14, 2009, GSA ordered 3,100 fuel efficient hybrid vehicles, worth $77 million. By September 30, 2009, GSA will order $15 million worth of advanced technology buses and electric vehicles for use in the Federal fleet.
“GSA is committed to spending Recovery dollars quickly and wisely,” said Commissioner James A. Williams of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service. “Simultaneously, we are focused on acquiring vehicles that will provide long-term environmental benefits and savings by increasing the fuel efficiency of the Federal fleet.”
Each new fuel efficient vehicle replaces, on a one-for-one basis, operational motor vehicles in the federal inventory that met replacement standards. Each new vehicle will have a higher miles-per-gallon (MPG) rating than the one it replaces.
TTAC will now file a Freedom of Information Act request.
Thank you. Will be interesting to read.
…or should we just wait until the June sales numbers are out and the Crown Vic is up 100%?? :)
Never suspect subterfuge when incompetence is a more likely explanation. I would guess that nobody knows the exact model count that was ordered.
Or, as Paulie Walnuts replied, “who wants to know”?
Does Chrysler even have 2,933 fuel efficient cars to buy? I thought they were awash in Rams, 300s, and Chargers.
GSA: “at this time we can’t provide any other information than what was in the press release”
In all likelihood, “can’t” means “won’t.” They know a dollar amount, so they can look again at the purchase orders to see what was bought. GSA’s reply is unexcusable arrogance.
Gee, I wonder if this has anything to do with the country of origin for these vehicles . . . TTAC will now file a Freedom of Information Act request.
Go for it, Mr Farago. This should be interesting.
I’m pretty sure they just don’t have that information yet. It’s the government. I’d shocked if they know what cars they currently own.
Each new fuel efficient vehicle replaces, on a one-for-one basis, operational motor vehicles in the federal inventory that met replacement standards. Each new vehicle will have a higher miles-per-gallon (MPG) rating than the one it replaces.
Shouldn’t our government look for ways to reduce the size of it’s fleet of cars regardless of it’s mileage? This smells of someone buying cars to help ‘their customers’ rather than possibly replacing the cars that actually need replacing. We’re in a recession, no?
Also, the price per vehicle breaks down to just under $16.7k per car spent. How many PT Cruisers, Cobalts, G6’s and other ‘extras’ were purchased to balance out the Panthers?
Good Luck with the FIA.
If its like here in Illinois, fat chance.
superbadd75
Does Chrysler even have 2,933 fuel efficient cars to buy? I thought they were awash in Rams, 300s, and Chargers.
Except they don’t really have to be all that fuel efficient. Read the final sentence of the press release: “Each new vehicle will have a higher miles-per-gallon (MPG) rating than the one it replaces”
When you’re replacing Suburbans and Crown Vics using that rule, it isn’t hard to make a Ram, Durango, 300 or Charger fit.
Shouldn’t our government look for ways to reduce the size of it’s fleet of cars regardless of it’s mileage?
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/zipcar/38015/
This smells of someone buying cars to help ‘their customers’ rather than possibly replacing the cars that actually need replacing. We’re in a recession, no?
I think the whole point was to expedite purchases as a form of fiscal stimulus. This administration isn’t following the Hoover playbook.
We might as well all submit to the GSA FOIA department… strength in numbers?
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=11388&noc=T
All FOIA requests for the GSA must be sent to the mailing address or, alternatively, to the email address shown below:
General Services Administration
FOIA Requester Service Center (ACMC)
1800 F Street, NW, Room 3116
Washington, DC 20405
(202) 501-2727 Fax
EFOIA: gsa.foia@gsa.gov
Ask for a breakdown where the cars are going and you will get nowhere.
They will go to the department heads for their commuter car instead of to the people in the field putting in 25K miles a year.
Another government pork perk.