About DGS
The Department of General Services (DGS) makes it easier for government to do business, and Virginians to do business with government, by providing a broad range of services to other state agencies, institutions of higher education, local governments, businesses, and citizens. DGS provides the services that allow agencies to direct their energies toward their core missions without having to worry about the logistics of the operation.
The department is comprised of multiple business units, each specializing in a core function of government.
Office of Fiscal Services: Provides accounts payable and receivable, budgeting, and cashier services for the agency.
Office of Budget Services: Manages and oversees the agency’s budgetary matters.
Office of Human Resources: Provides comprehensive services for DGS, such as recruitment, classification/compensation, benefits, employee relations and training. (See HR Team page for names and phone number of Division’s HR team members.)
Office of Information System Services (ISS): Provides central support for the agency's applications and infrastructure, including the data cabling infrastructure within and between DGS buildings.
Office of Procurement Services: Procures goods and services for the agency.
Office of Information Security (OIS): Works with VITA to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all DGS applications, databases, web interfaces and internal data.
Division of Purchases & Supplies (DPS) administers the centralized procurement function for the Commonwealth. This division prescribes the rules and regulations under which all agencies and institutions buy materials, supplies and services.
Administers eVA, a web-based purchasing system used by Virginia government. State agencies, colleges, universities and many local governments use eVA to announce bid opportunities, invite bidders, receive quotes, and place orders for goods and services.
Provides procurement services for agencies that do not have or have limited purchasing expertise.
Provides review and compliance monitoring and consulting services to line agencies and assists them in structuring their procurement function.
Develops and delivers statewide technical training and certification programs for agency purchasing staff and vendors, and on an annual basis, provides a procurement Forum for state procurement professionals.
Operates the Virginia Distribution Center (VDC), which provides centralized purchasing and warehousing of supplies for state agencies and political subdivisions across the Commonwealth. VDC also performs laboratory testing of products to ensure quality and compliance with specifications before distribution.
Surplus Property Management redistributes a wide range of surplus state and federal property to agencies of the Commonwealth, qualified nonprofit organizations, small businesses in the SBA 8(a) program, and the public.
Policy and Legislative Affairs: Manages DGS’ legislative process, serves as the primary coordinator for all audits and works with business units on policy development.
Communications: Directs, manages, and coordinates the agency’s strategic internal and external communications efforts.
Division of Real Estate Services (DRES) is an enterprise-wide effort to consolidate real estate management and consists of three organizational units aimed at maximizing the use of state-owned and leased spaces throughout Virginia.
Transactions: Directs the Commonwealth’s real estate acquisition and leasing processes and executes real estate transactions.
Policy & Planning: Forecasts facility and space needs, partners with customer agencies on their real estate requirements, and strategic planning for real estate holdings.
Leased Assets: Administers contracts related to the management and maintenance of the Commonwealth’s leased facilities.
Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS), the first consolidated laboratory in the nation, offers a wide variety of unique laboratory testing services in support of public health, environmental protection and emergency response. DCLS performs over 7 million tests each year to ensure the safety and health of Virginia's citizens, our food supply and our environment.
Performs analytical testing on pesticides used on fruits and vegetables; TB, AIDS and other infectious disease samples; milk, fruit, vegetable, grains, motor fuels and feed for livestock; suspected rabies cases; various water, air, sediment, and soil testing, and more.
Operates the Newborn Screening laboratory, which tests samples of blood from all babies born in Virginia to detect genetic impairments or diseases that can cause severe disability or death.
Provides inspection, certification, and training for certain laboratories throughout the state for quality compliance.
Biological and Chemical Terrorism labs provide emergency testing services in the event of acts of terrorism.
Office of Facilities Management: operates and maintains DGS-owned buildings and grounds totaling over 40 buildings and 6.5 million square feet of facilities managed throughout the seat of government complex and the Richmond area.
Office of Parking & Badging: manages the parking program of approximately 7,000 parking spaces and building access for employees and contractors in the downtown campus.
Office of State Mail Services: Provides consolidated mail operations for state government in the Capitol District.
Office of Security & Event Services: Coordinates DGS emergency management programs, the agency’s preparedness response, and permitted events.
Office of Fleet Management Services: Oversees the maintenance, repair and replacement of the statewide fleet of approximately 4,000 vehicles; manages the fuel contracts, short-term rental contracts and alternative fuel contracts that are used by state government and local governments throughout the Commonwealth; and administers, monitors and enforces all rules and regulations regarding fleet vehicles.
Office of Planning, Design, and Construction: Manages all new construction and renovation for DGS-owned facilities.