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Federal Travel Transformed: GSA Teams Up with Uber for Major Cost Savings and Modernization
The General Services Administration (GSA) has announced a significant partnership with Uber for Business, marking a new era for federal travel that promises reduced costs and a modernized experience for millions. This strategic move is poised to reshape how government employees, military personnel, and even select contractors get around, both domestically and abroad.
This isn’t just about convenience; it’s a calculated effort by the GSA to leverage the buying power of the entire federal government through its OneGov initiative, aiming to drive down costs for essential goods and services. The rideshare blanket purchase agreement with Uber is a prime example of this strategy in action.
Who stands to benefit? The implications are vast. Federal employees working anywhere in the world where Uber operates—which includes over 15,000 cities and 70 countries—will gain access to reliable transportation. This extends to military personnel and even government contractors, who, with proper approval, can enjoy the same advantages.
GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian emphasized that this agreement exemplifies the agency’s commitment to providing efficient and cost-effective solutions, especially as federal employees return to the office. It’s designed to significantly enhance the overall employee experience by offering convenient and reliable transportation options, aligning with broader efforts to modernize the federal workplace.
Uber President and Chief Operating Officer Andrew Macdonald highlighted that this renewed partnership will simplify travel and transportation needs for government agencies. Uber for Business is paving the way for integrated mobility, meal delivery, and fleet management to help transform the full range of government services.
Key features of this partnership include:
- Seamless Access: Federal employees and contractors will access rideshare services through a dedicated Uber for Business profile.
- Enhanced Oversight: Agencies will gain backend visibility into all business activities, ensuring compliance over work-related expenses.
- Mission-Specific Support: The platform supports unique government use cases, such as transportation for natural disaster relief and recovery efforts.
- High-Capacity Options: Users will have the ability to book high-capacity vehicles for large groups, fixed routes, trainings, or off-site parking needs.
This collaboration builds on a previous agreement from 2020 that included both Uber and Lyft. Uber recently secured a single-award blanket purchase agreement (BPA) from GSA in April, with a ceiling value of up to $75 million, offering several enhancements over the prior arrangement. Uber has also established strong relationships with large federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, which successfully utilized Uber to provide transportation for veterans to and from medical appointments through its Veterans Transportation Program.
GSA Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum praised Uber’s collaborative approach in creating a tailored agreement with attractive pricing to meet the broad needs of the federal government. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi underscored that Uber for Business is designed to bring Uber’s innovations to the world’s largest organizations, simplifying operations and reducing inefficiencies with its leading global technology platform.
This partnership is a significant step towards streamlining common services, reducing duplication, and enabling agencies to focus more effectively on their core missions, all while delivering compelling rideshare options for the federal workforce.
Federal travel, GSA, Uber, government contractors, military travel, cost savings, modernization, Uber for Business, employee experience, OneGov initiative, federal workforce