Stout, along with Charles Dilks, vice president, and KeithLavey, vice president, facilitated the transaction. Even if thelegal and financial issues surrounding that project do straightenout, there is a possibility that NOAA would maintain a presence inits current building. The building owners, Stout says, are hopefulthat might happen.

In general, the federal government is proving, once again itsworth to the District – NOAA's contracting issues and how they mayhave impacted Opus East aside. The Department of Agriculture, forexample, just inked a330,000-square-foot deal at Patriots Plaza III. Stout saysthere is more than one million square feet of GSA leases currentlylooking for space. More will be joining - the Department ofHomeland Security released a prospectus for one million square feeta few weeks ago, which could be one large lease or two or threesmaller ones, Stout says. GSA will start looking at properties forthat deal shortly.