Glossary
ADA: The Americans with Disabilities Act, which legislates access for disabled persons
on most privately-owned buildings or businesses which serve the public.
A/E: architectural and engineering.
AFF: Above finish floor; a term used on working drawings to relate the height of a
component to a known reference point.
Acceptance of Space: A certification and commitment to occupy GSA controlled
space.
Acceptance Inspection: An inspection of newly leased space at the completion of
alterations and improvements, but before occupancy by a tenant agency, to ensure that
the space was built to specifications per drawings. It is similar to a punch list inspection
in general construction. (See also Punch List and Market Survey).
Adjacency Diagram: A diagram (not to scale) illustrating the relative proximity of each
workspace to other workspaces. It is used to help space planners arrange spaces next
to each other appropriately so they can function efficiently.
Agency-Controlled Space: Federally owned, leased, or controlled space acquired or
used by Federal agencies under any authority other than the Federal Property and
Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended. It also includes space for which
authorities for acquisition, use, or disposal have been delegated to other agencies by
GSA.
Assignment: The block of assignable area administratively assigned by GSA to a
tenant agency, under a single bureau code in the PBS/IS. As a rule, this includes all
usable space minus public corridors on each floor which serves multiple tenants. (See
also Space Assignment.)
BAFO: Best and final offer, from an offeror or proposer on a government contract (in
PBS, usually a lease).
Base Building Drawings: Scaled, architectural drawings indicating the building shell
and accurately representing all architectural and structural elements. They shall
include but not be limited to exterior building elements, all permanent partitions, core
areas, columns, and convectors. Numerical identification of all columns, stairwells,
elevators, toilets, doors, etc., shall be included.
Base Feed: An electrical connection, usually from the building floor, to the electrical
raceway in a systems furniture panel.
Bay: The space in a building bounded by four columns. 20, 25 and 30 foot bays are
common.
VBA Design Guide
Page 5-12
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