Perry 'comfortable' leaving GSA

Stephen Perry's decision to leave as administrator of the General Services Administration comes at a time when the agency appears to be in flux.Although a major part of GSA's reorganization is in limbo, Perry said the pieces are in place to improve the agency's short- and long-term prospects."You never get to where you can say everything is done, but at some point you feel like you've made some of the improvements you started," Perry said. "I feel like things are operating in a good way, in a steady state way. I feel comfortable making the transition."Perry's resignation is effective Oct. 31.Over the last month, Perry, who has been rumored to be leaving since the summer, signed the order merging the Federal Technology and Federal Supply services into the Federal Acquisition Service, and named the national business and administrative program leaders."We are in a stable period with a good foundation, and it is a good time to make the transition," he said.David Bibb, GSA deputy administrator, will take over for Perry if President Bush does not name a new administrator by the end of the month.Perry's announcement comes shortly after the arrest of his former chief of staff, David Safavian, on charges of obstructing a federal investigation and making false statements under oath. Perry's departure now leaves the government without leaders in two of its most important acquisition positions.Perry's decision to resign will delay GSA's reorganization, which some have said already has taken too long, because the Senate now will wait for a new administrator to move on GSA Modernization Act legislation.