Floodplain Management

Purpose

This Order establishes policy and assigns responsibility within the General Services Administration (GSA) concerning GSA actions that may affect floodplains by issuing the attached PBS Floodplain Management Desk Guide, November 2025.

Background

Flooding can severely damage federally owned and leased structures and facilities, resulting in costs and impacts to agency mission and continuity of operations. Floodplain compliance is a component of responsible property management that can reduce the risk of property loss and protect federal agency resources. Executive Order (E.O.) 11988, "Floodplain Management" (May 24, 1977), requires Federal agencies to take action to reduce the risk of flood loss and to avoid, to the extent possible, the long- and short-term adverse impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of floodplains and the direct or indirect support of floodplain development wherever there is a practicable alternative.

Applicability

This Order and the companion Desk Guide apply to all real property management and operation activities for federal buildings under GSA’s jurisdiction, custody, or control, including all buildings delegated to other federal agencies by the GSA Administrator. This Order and Desk Guide applies to all projects as of the effective date. 

This Order applies to all GSA employees and contractors as they perform their duties, with the following exceptions:

1. The Office of Inspector General (OIG), given its independence under the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008 (5 U.S.C. §§ 401-424).
2. The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, due to its independent authorities.

Cancellation

This Order cancels PBS 1095.8A, Floodplain Management, and the companion PBS Desk Guide for Floodplain Management issued in November 2023.

Summary of Changes

1. To provide updated floodplain management guidance in accordance with E.O. 14148 (January 20, 2025), Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions, that revoked E.O. 14030 (May 20, 2021), thereby leaving E.O. 11988 (May 24, 1977), Floodplain Management, as the primary source of direction on floodplain management for Federal agencies.
2. The updated Desk Guide maintains two subsets of action: Actions; and Specific Actions and Certain Disposal Actions.
3. The updated Desk Guide removes the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) for federally funded projects.  

Roles and Responsibilities

1. The Office of Engineering, the Chief Architect, is responsible for the program office that maintains and updates this floodplain policy.
2. Implementation of this policy is a shared responsibility among PBS offices who are responsible for incorporating applicable elements into operations, planning activities, management decisions, and policy development.
3. The following offices or teams have responsibility for executing the policy described in this Order: Office of Engineering (PA); Office of Project and Project Management (PX); Office of Facilities Management (PM); Office of Acquisition Management (PQ); Office of Portfolio Management (PT); Office of Leasing (PR).