OFFICE OF SECRETARY

Appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent, the Secretary of General Services is chief executive officer of the Department. The Secretary sets policy, promulgates rules and regulations, and manages Department programs and services. The Secretary also develops and oversees the budgets of the Department and its boards, commissions, and offices.

The Secretary of General Services advises the Board of Public Works and State government agencies on all public improvements and engineering matters (Code State Finance and Procurement Article, secs. 4-403 through 4-406). At meetings of the Board of Public Works, the Secretary presents the Department's portion of the Board's agenda. The Secretary also serves on the Board's Procurement Advisory Council.

In addition to chairing the Government House Trust, the Secretary serves on the Governor's Executive Council; the Smart Growth and Neighborhood Conservation Subcabinet; the State Information Technology Board; the Hall of Records Commission; the Maryland Food Center Authority; the General Professional Services Selection Board; and the Asbestos Oversight Committee. The Secretary also is a member of the Pricing Committee for Blind Industries and Services of Maryland; the Pricing and Selection Committee for Rehabilitation and Employment Programs; the State Use Industries Advisory Committee; the Commission on Correctional Standards; the Interagency Committee on School Construction; the Interagency Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Committee; and the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee for Minority Affairs.

The Deputy Secretary advises the Secretary of General Services, performs special assignments, and shares responsibility with the Secretary for management of the Department. The Deputy Secretary also oversees the work of the State Board of Architectural Review, the Procurement Review Board, and the War Memorial Commission.

Functions of the Information Technology Group were organized by 1981 as Data Information Services under the Office of Administration and Fiscal Services. By 1983, the unit became the Information Services Division and continued under the Office of Administrative and Fiscal Services until 1989, when it transferred to the Office of Telecommunications. In 1991, the Division was made part of Finance and Administration. Then, in 1997, it was transferred to Procurement and Logistics. The Division reformed in March 1999 as the Information Technology Group and transferred to the Office of the Secretary at that time.

The Information Technology Group manages and operates the Department's data and word processing resources, including the Department's AS/400 Minicomputer and 350 personal computers. The Group also provides security for these systems and serves as project manager in developing custom applications software for the AS/400.

Centralized word processing for the Department is provided by the Group. In addition, the Group supports the Department through systems analysis and programming, and network and personal computer administration.

FACILITIES OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE

To separate operations and maintenance from planning, engineering, and construction, Facilities Operations and Maintenance was established in 1993. This office oversees operations and maintenance of the 51 facilities throughout the State for which the Department of General Services is responsible. These facilities, totalling over 5.6 million square feet of space, include the three State office centers and eleven regional multi-service centers.

Under Facilities Operations and Maintenance are three divisions: Annapolis Public Buildings and Grounds; Baltimore Public Buildings and Grounds; and the Inner Harbor State Office Complex.

The responsibility to care for State buildings in Annapolis dates to 1862 when the Governor was authorized to appoint custodians (Chapter 15, Acts of 1862). These duties devolved to a superintendent who, in 1970, headed the Office of Annapolis Public Buildings and Grounds within the Department of General Services (Chapter 97, Acts of 1970).

The Annapolis Public Buildings and Grounds Division operates, maintains, and secures the State Office Center in Annapolis. Some thirty State-owned buildings encompassing over 2 million square feet on 49 acres of landscaped areas and 24.5 acres of parking lots are overseen by the Division. The buildings house approximately 5,000 State employees and elected officials. The Division also maintains Government House and other historic buildings, including the State House, the Old Treasury Building and Shaw House. In addition, the Division cares for the Crownsville People's Resource Center and the Crownsville Day Care Center in Anne Arundel County. Since 1993, the Division has been responsible for the multi-service centers in Anne Arundel, Queen Anne's, Caroline and Wicomico counties.

To preserve facilities and equipment, the Division provides both preventive and routine maintenance; makes major repairs, alterations, and improvements; and supplies equipment and materials to maintain the State Office Center. A special police force and guards provide 24-hour security.

The Baltimore Public Buildings and Grounds Division originated in 1958 when responsibilities for State buildings in Baltimore were assigned to a superintendent (Chapter 40, Acts of 1958). In 1970, these duties were delegated to the Office of Baltimore Public Buildings and Grounds when the Department of General Services was established (Chapter 97, Acts of 1970). By 1979, the Office was called a division.

The Baltimore Public Buildings and Grounds Division is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and security of five State buildings in Baltimore City. They are located at 201 West Preston St.; 300 West Preston St.; 301 West Preston St.; 2100 Guilford Ave.; and 500 North Calvert St. The Division also oversees multi-service centers in Baltimore City, and Baltimore and Howard counties.

The Division provides both preventive and routine maintenance, major repairs, alterations, improvements, supplies, and housekeeping services for facilities and equipment. The Division's special police and building guards offer around-the-clock security. The Baltimore State Office Complex includes seven buildings housing some 5,400 State employees, 14 acres of landscaped area, and 19 acres of parking lots. The Division also maintains the four acres of the Maryland Vietnam Veterans' Memorial.

The Inner Harbor State Office Complex was formed in 1986 as the Saratoga State Center Division. The Division reorganized in 1992 as the Central North Public Buildings and Grounds Division and received its present name in 1994.

In Baltimore City, the Inner Harbor State Office Complex operates, maintains, and secures State buildings at 6 St. Paul St. (William Donald Schaefer Tower); 200 West Baltimore St. (Civic Plaza); 310 West Saratoga St.; 311 West Saratoga St.; and 500 North Hilton St. (Rosemont Center). In Howard County, the Complex is responsible for the State Records Management Center and Warehouse at 7275 Waterloo Road and the Motor Fuel Lab in Jessup. The Complex also oversees the Woodstock Center and multi-service centers in Baltimore, Calvert, Cecil and Harford counties.

At the Jessup facility, the Complex provides both preventive and routine maintenance and oversees the contractual provision of some maintenance tasks and services. At the Saratoga State Center, the Complex provides preventive and routine maintenance, repairs, alterations, improvements, housekeeping, and security services for facilities and equipment. The Complex also supplies maintenance equipment and materials.

FACILITIES PLANNING, ENGINEERING, & CONSTRUCTION

Facilities Planning, Engineering, and Construction began as the Office of Plant Management in 1971 to oversee State buildings and grounds in Annapolis and Baltimore. The Office was reorganized in 1974 as the Division of Plant Management under the Office of Engineering and Construction. By 1979, the Division joined the Office of Facilities Acquisition and Management, which became the Office of Facilities Management by 1985. In 1989, the Office was renamed the Office of Statewide Facilities Maintenance. It reformed in 1993 as Facilities Planning, Engineering, and Construction. At that time, Facilities Operations and Maintenance began to oversee government buildings and grounds.

Facilities Planning, Engineering, and Construction is responsible for the Project Cost Center, and three divisions: Construction and Inspection; Maintenance Engineering; and Project Management and Design. This office also provides architectural and engineering staff to the General Professional Services Selection Board.

Origins of the Construction and Inspection Division date to 1970, when the Construction Supervision and Inspection Division was formed. Renamed Construction Management and Assessment Division in 1992, the Division became Construction and Assessment in 1993, and later that year the Construction Division. In 1996, it received its present name.

The Division inspects and supervises private contractors as they alter, renovate, or construct State buildings. By monitoring their work, the Division ensures that construction conforms to approved designs and specifications.

The Project Cost Center provides architectural engineering and construction services in the cost management of major and complex building and related facilities projects. It prepares the Department's capital budget and represents the Department at legislative budget hearings. For the Department of Budget and Management, the Center reviews and revises capital budget requests from State agencies, including estimates analysis, conceptual design, and coordination. It also supervises value engineering procedures of in-house personnel and consultants to assure that capital projects over $10 million stay within their budget.

The Project Management and Design Division was created in 1970 as the Design and Approval Division. Renamed Technical Services in 1991, it reorganized as the Engineering and Design Division in 1992. Under its present name, it assumed duties of the Project Management Division and the Public School and Community College Construction Division in 1996.

The Division prepares all project documents required to construct and renovate State facilities. It oversees the work of architectural and engineering firms in preparing construction documents; reviews those documents at programmed stages of development; administers the construction bidding phase of the project; and advises the Construction Division during construction on any technical changes that occur.

To maintain State-owned facilities, the Division sets standards; assesses the condition and management practices of each building; and, for most facilities, reviews and verifies the funding needed for maintenance. For Facilities Operations and Maintenance, the Division performs special consulting services.

The Division also administers two programs.

Public School Construction Program. For public school construction, the Division reviews requests from each local education agency, participates in public hearings, and reviews design documents for all public school projects receiving State funding. It recommends which projects should be authorized for construction bidding.

Community College Capital Improvement Program. For community colleges, the Division reviews design documents of each State-funded project, and master plans for the facilities of each institution and program.

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Finance and Administration directs Department operations and administration, and coordinates preparation of the Department budget. Under Finance and Administration are three divisions: Fiscal Services, Personnel, and Portfolio Management.

The Fiscal Services Division started as the Office of Administrative and Fiscal Services and was reorganized in 1991 as Fiscal and Contract Services. The unit received its present name in 1993.

The Division manages the Department budget and provides accounting services to the Department and for statewide capital construction and maintenance administered by the Department. The Division formulates accounting policies, procedures, and internal control standards and monitors compliance with them.

PROCUREMENT & LOGISTICS

In 1970, Procurement and Logistics began as the Office of Central Services. The Office was reorganized as Services and Logistics in 1991 and assumed its present name in 1995.

Procurement and Logistics oversees the Procurement and Contracting Office, Minority Business Enterprise, and three divisions: Inventory Standards and Support Services; Records Management; and Visual Communications and Digital Imaging.

The Inventory Standards and Support Services Division originated in 1977 as the Inventory Management Division (Chapter 970, Acts of 1977). It became the Inventory Standards and Support Services Division in 1992. As Inventory Standards and Support Services, it was placed under the Materials Management Division in 1996. It was reorganized as a division again in 1997.

The Division manages the use of State government property and plans and controls inventories of State materials, supplies, and food items. To minimize the cost of maintaining inventories, it establishes investment standards and controls for government agencies. The Division issues policy guidelines and regulations and provides technical assistance to State agencies on inventory controls, planning, storage, and distribution. It manages physical inventory, personal property disposal, and the Department's Fleet Management Program. The Division also oversees the Automated Fuel Management Program which, by 1998, had 85 stations dispensing gasoline, diesel fuel, and compressed natural gas to some 12,000 State agency vehicles.

The Procurement and Contracting Office was formed in November 1993 to centralize procurement and contracting functions of the Department. The Office oversees procurement for commodities, design and construction, and services for facilities and real estate.

Under the Office are five programs: Commodity Procurement and the Purchasing Bureau; Facilities and Construction Contracting; Management Support; Procurement Administration and Support; and Services Contracting.

Authorized in 1953, the Records Management Division originally was administered by the Hall of Records Commission (Chapter 436, Acts of 1953). The Division moved to the Department of General Services in 1984 (Chapter 286, Acts of 1984).

The Division manages the records of all departments and agencies of Maryland State government and helps prepare retention and disposal schedules for those records. By law, no public records of State agencies can be destroyed without scheduling and the prior approval of the State Archives.

At the Central Records Center in Jessup, the Division stores inactive State records, which must be retained for specified periods of time to meet State legal and administrative needs. The Division also coordinates the Forms Management Program and the forms management plans of each department or agency to minimize the number of forms needed. In addition, to all State agencies, the Division offers cost-reimbursable microfilm services, including both source-document and computer-output microfilming (Code State Government Article, secs. 10-631 through 10-634).

The Visual Communications and Digital Imaging Division evolved from certain functions of two agencies: the Purchasing Bureau and the Office Services Section. In 1970, the Office Services Section was formed within the Office of Central Services. When the printing purchasing functions of the Purchasing Bureau were combined with the Office Services Section, the Printing and Publication Division was created in 1974. After formation of the Office of Procurements and Contracting, the Division restructured as the Graphics and Reproduction Services in 1994. It was renamed the Visual Communications and Digital Imaging Division in 1997.

The Division assists State agencies with graphic reproduction, including printing, publishing, duplicating, photocopying, graphic design, typography and graphic art production. The Division helps State agencies set performance standards and goals for in-State duplicating and copying installations. It also prepares State specifications and standards for printing, publication, equipment, and supplies. Procurements of equipment, supplies and services for them are made by or through the Division and are subject to Division standards (Code State Finance and Procurement Article, sec. 4-305).

ANNAPOLIS DUPLICATING CENTER
BALTIMORE DUPLICATING CENTER
The Division provides agencies with duplicating and photocopying on a reimbursable basis from its Annapolis and Baltimore Duplicating Centers. These centers offer same-day service and short-run, short-schedule service not economically available from commercial sources.

MAIL COURIER SERVICE
In Baltimore and Annapolis, the Division's courier system delivers interoffice mail and duplicating orders for State government agencies. U.S. mail is picked up by the Division, metered with postage, and given to a contract firm for presorting.

VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS SECTION
The Division's Visual Communications Section provides layout and design services, including type selection, lettering, line drawings, arrangement of composite copy for photography, cover design, and preparation of camera-ready copy on a reimbursable basis.

REAL ESTATE

In July 1978, Real Estate was formed administratively by the Department of General Services. This office coordinates the State's real estate activities and long-term strategic planning for the acquisition and disposition of leased and State-owned real property.

Under Real Estate are four units: Land Acquisition and Disposal; Lease Management and Procurement; Legal Counsel; and Valuation and Appraisal.

Land Acquisition and Disposal purchases, leases, and disposes of real property for all State agencies (except the Department of Transportation). The office also oversees the Program Open Space unit.

MARYLAND STATE AGENCY FOR SURPLUS PROPERTY

The Maryland State Agency for Surplus Property acquires for sale or other purposes federal and State surplus property. Surplus State property is available for sale to government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or the general public. Federal surplus property is limited to eligible donee institutions. The Agency is a self-sustaining public service.

The Agency offers jobs and training to inmates from Jessup correctional facilities who are in the pre-release program. The inmates are taught wood refinishing; reupholstery; automotive repair; and general construction and maintenance. The Agency also coordinates with other State agencies such programs as the distribution of surplus federal blankets to homeless shelters and surplus federal computers and educational equipment to local school boards.

Originally organized in 1947, the Agency was established by Executive Order in 1955. The Agency was formerly under the University of Maryland and joined the Department of General Services in 1987 (Executive Order 01.01.1987.19). In 1996, it was placed under the Materials Management Division and, in 1997, under Finance and Administration. The Agency was elevated to the assistant secretariat level in March 1998.