USDA is currently looking for a new home base for the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The two groups are being moved out of the D.C. area in an effort to reduce costs, among other things. The ERS will similarly be “realigned” under the USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist.Currently, the ERS is part of the USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics office.
The USDA issued a comment period, seeking “expressions of interest” from state and local governments and other stakeholders for potential new locations.
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said, “There has been considerable interest in housing the headquarters of NIFA and ERS, expressed by universities and localities from around the country. … Some stakeholders have relayed concerns about staff summer vacation schedules interfering with the preparation of proposals, and some have asked for more time to have their plans approved by boards of regents, city councils, or other governing bodies. An extra 30 days will give everyone time to get organized and will not interfere with our timeline.”
The comment period originally was set to end on Sept. 14, but now runs through Oct. 15. According to the Federal Register, a proposed NIFA facility would need to be approximately 90,000 square feet and house approximately 360 employees. A proposed ERS facility would be up to 70,000 square feet to house up to 260 employees. Bids can be submitted by email to relocation@usda.gov.
