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The Design Excellence Program is the center for GSA’s assurance of quality in the federal built environment. Through the program’s internal oversight and thought leadership, GSA maximizes the functionality and public benefit of its investments in new construction and modernization. Design Excellence is essential to realizing the full potential of a project.
The Design Excellence Program:
Design and Construction Excellence Policies and Procedures [PDF - 203 KB] deliver exceptional value to our partner agencies and local communities and are a proven method for producing high-quality facilities. The policies and procedures inform GSA’s selection of the most appropriate architects and integrated design teams for commissions, and they guide GSA project teams’ management of the assessment processes that ensure enduring value in design and construction.
In construction and modernization projects, implementation of Design Excellence policies and procedures:
We produce resource materials about the historical, social, and cultural significance of federal civilian workplaces—most notably in our monograph series, which documents the multidisciplinary accomplishments of buildings commissioned through the Design Excellence process.
To expand its impact, the program allows the Office of Architecture and Engineering to partner and collaborate with organizations such as the American Institute of Architects, the National Organization of Minority Architects, the American Society of Interior Designers, and the American Society of Landscape Architects, as well as with museums and schools of architecture and design, on educational and outreach activities.
Design Excellence extends into public entry lobbies of federal buildings. These are the areas which shape a visitor’s “first impression” of the federal government. Lobby security is a critical part of these public spaces, and visitors should be able to seamlessly navigate these areas without delay or confusion. Take a look at the First Impressions Guide [PDF - 37 MB] for information on improving a public lobby and guidance on signage and presidential portraits. Please contact your local Building Manager or GSA Facilities Management regarding portrait purchase, disposal, and legal requirements.
Visit the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) to find requests for quotes and solicitations for architect/engineering work. You can also learn more about our counterpart program in construction.
If you have questions, contact design.excellence@gsa.gov.
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Rates for Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories and possessions are set by the Department of Defense.
Rates for foreign countries are set by the Department of State.
Rates are available between 10/1/2022 and 09/30/2025.
The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date.
Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.
Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."
Per diem localities with county definitions shall include"all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."
When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.
U.S. General Services Administration