General Services, Office of

The Office of General Services was established by Laws of 1960 (Chapter 459). As a part of a plan to reduce the multiplicity of State agencies and duplication of State services, Laws of 1960, Chapters 459 through 463 consolidated responsibility for all State administrative support services in OGS, transferring to it the functions of the Department of Public Works relating to the operation and maintenance of public buildings and grounds (including communications systems); the Division of the Budget relating to retention and disposition of State records and the transfer and disposal of surplus State property; the functions of the Board of Commissioners of the Land Office (in the Department of State) relating to the sale, lease, or other disposition of State-owned lands not devoted to any specific purpose; and the functions of the Division of Standards and Purchase relating to the purchasing and standardization of equipment and supplies. The Board of Commissioners of the Land Office and the Division of the Land Office and the Standards and Purchase were abolished. By 1963, responsibility had been added to OGS for new parking facilities, fleet management, mail and messenger service, tour guide service in the Capitol, central data-processing services and development of the new South Mall (Empire State Plaza). In 1967, responsibility was transferred to OGS from the (then) Department of Public Works for design, construction, and rehabilitation of State buildings. The federal surplus property and food distribution programs were transferred from the Education Department to OGS in 1973 and 1975. OGS established the Emergency Fuel Office in 1973 to implement the federal gasoline allocation plan during the gas and fuel oil crisis; this program was subsequently transferred to the newly created New York State Energy Office. OGS served, in 1974, as secretariat to the Committee on Public Access to Records, which was responsible for statewide implementation of the Freedom of Information Law. In 1977-78, the State's supply support system was transferred to OGS from the Department of Mental Hygiene. The transfer from the Department of Mental Hygiene to OGS of the first laundry services operation was accomplished in 1982; additional laundries were transferred in 1984-85. By Executive Order No. 21 of 1983, OGS gained responsibility to assist all State agencies in increasing their business and contracts with businesses owned by minorities and women. OGS's responsibilities relating to the retention and disposition of State records were transferred to the Education Department in 1987 (Chapter 42). Chapter 170 of the Laws of 1994 expanded and clarified the duties of the Office of General Services. OGS was mandated to provide coordinated services in support of state departments and agencies, and, as specified, authorities, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations. Also, the commissioner of general services was given the power to recommend to the governor new services that could be offered by OGS, which would reduce state or local expenditures. In 1995 (Chapter 83), the State Finance Law was amended in order to create the State Procurement Council. The council is responsible for the study, analysis, and development of recommendations to improve State procurement policy and practices; and, for the development and issuance of guidelines governing State agency procurement. The commissioner of the Office of General Services serves by statute as an ex officio member and chair of the council. OGS was given administrative control over the State Clean-Fuel Vehicle program upon its creation in 1996 (Chapter 413). The purpose of the program is to evaluate clean-fueled vehicle technology (powered by electricity, or compressed natural gas, propane, methanol, hydrogen, or ethanol) and devise a strategy to incorporate clean-fuel vehicle into the State fleet. OGS was also charged with developing a plan to procure and install the necessary infrastructure for a sustainable State clean-fuel vehicle fleet.