The General Services Administration announced Wednesday the award of a rideshare blanket purchase agreement to Uber that the agency expects will help reduce federal travel costs and modernize the experience.
The agreement is the latest in a series made by GSA through its OneGov initiative, which uses the buying power of the entire federal government to drive down costs for goods and services. The rideshare agreement with Uber for Business has major implications for federal employees working domestically and abroad, as well as military personnel and select government contractors.
“GSA’s agreement with Uber exemplifies our commitment to provide efficient and cost-effective solutions to our agency partners, especially as we welcome employees back to the office,” said GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian. “This partnership significantly enhances the overall employee experience by offering convenient and reliable transportation options, aligning with our broader efforts to modernize the federal workplace and experience.”
GSA’s latest partnership with Uber builds off a previous BPA originally awarded to Uber and competitor Lyft in 2020 and recompeted through last year. Uber also built partnerships with large federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, which launched the VHA-Uber Health Connect initiative — later renamed the Veterans Transportation Program Beneficiary Travel Rideshare Services after adding Lyft — to ensure veterans received transportation to and from medical appointments.
Uber subsequently won a single-award BPA from GSA in April — with a ceiling value of up to $75 million — and will offer several enhancements and services over the previous agreement.
“Our renewed partnership with the GSA will help government agencies simplify their travel and transportation needs,” said Uber President and Chief Operating Officer Andrew Macdonald. “We’re paving the way for a future where integrated mobility, meal delivery, and fleet management can help transform the full range of government services.”
Beyond federal employees and military personnel, government contractors — with contracting officer approval — can receive the same benefits as federal employees. Federal employees and contractors will access rideshare services through an Uber for Business profile, which gives agencies backend visibility into all business activities and ensures compliance over work-related expenses.
In addition, government employees and contractors can use Uber for Business anywhere in the world Uber operates, which includes more than 15,000 cities and 70 countries. Uber for Business’ platform also supports mission-specific transportation use cases, such as natural disaster relief and recovery efforts.
“We value Uber’s collaborative approach in working with GSA to create a bespoke agreement with attractive pricing that meets the broad needs of the federal government,” said GSA Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum. “This is an exciting first step, with more to come, to deliver compelling rideshare options for the federal workforce. GSA is streamlining common services, reducing duplication, and helping agencies focus on their core missions.”
Finally, agency users will have the ability through the platform to access high-capacity vehicles that can accommodate large groups for fixed routes, trainings, off-site parking and other transportation needs.
“Uber for Business brings the best of Uber’s innovations to the world’s largest and most important organizations,” said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. “We’re proud to be able to help simplify operations and reduce inefficiencies with our leading global technology platform.”
