Here is the official history of how the Hard Skills Center came to QAC, courtesy of QACA
(Entries are excerpted from the Weekly Updates at http://www.state.gov/recovery/weekly/index.htm in reverse chronological order. The updates have been reviewed from their apparent inception on 3-3-09)
[No FASTC updates for weeks of January 25 or January 18, 2010]
Financial and Activity Report Weekly Update: January 11, 2010
ARRA Diplomatic and Consular Programs Hard Skills Training Center (HSTC)/Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC): On Tuesday, January 5, the Project Team conducted a public meeting at the Queen Anne’s County High School in Centreville, MD.
FASTC: On Thursday, January 7, the Project Team conducted a public meeting at the Queen Anne’s County High School in Centreville, MD to discuss the NHPA Section 106 and NEPA processes.
Financial and Activity Report Weekly Update: January 4, 2010
FASTC: On Tuesday, January 5, the Project Team will conduct a public meeting at the Queen Anne’s County High School in Centreville, MD.
FASTC: On Thursday, January 7, the Project Team will conduct a public meeting at the Queen Anne’s County High School in Centreville, MD to discuss the NHPA Section 106 and NEPA process.
Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC): On Wednesday, December 30, the Project Team conducted a planning session to discuss strategy and required actions to support the NHPA Section 106 and NEPA process.
From the 12-28-09 weekly update:
Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC): FASTC – On Tuesday, December 22, the Project Team conducted a planning session to discuss strategy and required actions to support the NHPA Section 106 and NEPA process.
FASTC: The Project Team is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, December 30 to continue preparations for the Jan 5 and Jan 7 public meeting in Queen Anne’s County.
FASTC: On Tuesday, December 22, The Deputy Commissioner, GSA Region 3 and the Executive Director, of DS participated in a Queen Anne’s County Commissioner’s Public Meeting via phone conference to discuss various program elements of the project.
FASTC: On Wednesday, December 23, the Project Team conducted a Master Planning workshop to refine the DRAFT Master Plan and prepare a conceptual site plan for the January 5 public meeting.
From the 12-21-09 weekly update:
Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC): On Tuesday, December 15, 2009, the Project Team met with Maryland legislative stakeholders to brief them on the project and plans for upcoming public outreach
From 12-14-09 weekly update:
Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC): FASTC – The Project Team conducted several planning sessions to discuss strategy and required actions to support the NHPA Section 106 and NEPA process
From 12-07-09 weekly update:
FASTC: On Monday, November 30, GSA contacted the Hunt-Ray Farm property owners to begin negotiations for the purchase of the site.
FASTC: On Tuesday, December 1, the Project Team conducted a review of all open comments to finalize the Program of Requirements.
FASTC: On Thursday, December 3, the Project Team conducted a site visit with the Maryland State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) to review the existing structures on the Hunt Ray Farm site. Action required as part of the Section 106 process.
From 11-30-09 weekly update:
FASTC: A preferred site was selected and notifications commenced.
From 11-23-09 weekly update:
FASTC: The Project Team met to discussion Section 106 issues related to the site acquisition process.
From 11-02-09 weekly update:
Hard Skills Training Center: The project team conducted an on-site evaluation and market survey at a potential site in Maryland.
From 9-21-09 weekly update
FASTC: The Project Team completed the Government review of the DRAFT program of requirements.
FASTC: The Project Team conducted a market survey/site evaluation in Maryland.
FASTC: The Project Team will continue detailed site evaluation activities.
FASTC: The Project Team conducted a site evaluation workshop to review the results of recent site visits and determine which properties may be worthy of further consideration.
From 9-14-09 weekly update:
FASTC: On September 9, 2009, conducted an initial evaluation of a property in Maryland.
From 9-7-09 weekly update:
Hard Skills Training Center (HSTC) – On Tuesday, September 1, the Project Team conducted a site evaluation/market survey of a 1505 acre site in Maryland
HSTC – On Tuesday, September 8, the Government will receive the first DRAFT of the Program of Requirements from the A & E firm and begin the formal, 5-day, review process.
HSTC – On Wednesday, September 2, the Project Team conducted a site evaluation/market survey of a 1250 acre site in Virginia.
HSTC – The site evaluation/market surveys included meetings with the respective property owners and members of the County and State Economic Development Councils.
From the 8-31-09 weekly update:
Hard Skills Training Center (HSTC) – On Wednesday, August 26, the Project Team conducted a site evaluation/market survey of a 2033 acre site in West Virginia. Hard Skills Training Center
(HSTC) – On Tuesday, September 1, the Project Team will conduct a site evaluation/market survey of a 1503 acre site in Maryland.
HSTC – On Thursday, August 27, the Project Team conducted a site evaluation/market survey of a 1868 acre site in West Virginia. HSTC – On Wednesday, September 2, the Project Team will conduct a site evaluation/market survey of a 2038 acre site in Virginia.
HSTC – On Thursday, August 27, the Project Team met with West Virginia State officials.
From the 8-24-09 weekly update:
HSTC: The Project Team will begin actual site visits to the 5 sites selected for further consideration and conduct meetings with respective State and local officials.
From the 8-17-09 weekly update:
Hard Skills Training Center (HSTC) – A & E firm completed detailed interviews with DS subject matter experts to develop the Program of Requirements
HSTC – The Project Team will conduct a site evaluation workshop on Monday, August 17. This workshop will pare the current list of 14 sites to a short-list of 5-7 for further detailed analysis.
HSTC – The Project Team concluded the programmed visits to existing training facilities with a visit to the FLETC North facility in Cheltenham, MD.
From the 7-20-09 weekly update:
Hard Skills Training Center: Project team will conduct initial evaluation of potential sites on July 24, 2009
From the 7-13-09 weekly update:
HSTC: Received and began evaluating and responding to numerous inquiries and expressions of interest in response to the site acquisition advertisement published in FEDBIZOPPS.gov
From the 6-29-09 weekly update:
HSTC: Site acquisition advertisement was completed
From 6-15-09 weekly update:
Hard Skills Training Center: With GSA project team, conducted initial screening of sites
From 6-08-09 weekly update:
Hard Skills Training Center: Hired a Program Manager to coordinate project. Position to be paid for using ARRA funds. Expected arrival date is July 1.
From 5-25-09 weekly update:
Hard Skills Training Center: Presolicitation notice for Architectural and Engineering Services posted in FEDBIZOPS
From 4-27-09 weekly update:
Hard Skills Training Center (HSTC): Met with GSA General Counsel and reached agreement on ownership of of HSTC and conveyance of unfettered use of the facility to DOS. DOS are GSA are drafting a MOA.
From 4-13-09 weekly update:
Hard Skills Training Center: DOS Office of Real Property Management sent letter to GSA Office of Real Estate Aquisition formally requesting assistance in acquiring a site