U.S. General Services Administration Adds First Residential Furniture and Housewares Rental Provider to Schedule

CORT to serve government agencies and the military through the Multiple Award Schedules program

CHANTILLY, VA (December 15, 2011)CORT, a Berkshire Hathaway company and the only national provider of furniture rental, has been awarded a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) contract to provide rental services for residential furniture and home essentials. This marks the first time in GSA history that federal government agencies and the military can rent these items through the Multiple Award Schedules program.

Demand for rental assistance services is at an all-time high as housing market conditions have led more than 50 percent of relocating employees to choose to rent, rather than purchase, housing. Government agencies and the military are seeking ways to lessen housing and relocating costs, particularly for employees deployed on temporary assignment.

Furniture and housewares rental services provide solutions for any temporary assignment lasting from 90 days to 18 months, on and off base military housing, employees displaced post-crisis or deployed as first responders, and as a temporary measure to bridge the gap between houses in a permanent relocation.

“Government agencies and the military have been turning to CORT for rental services for decades and now this relationship will continue to grow,” said Peggy Moore, director of federal sales for CORT. “Government employees now have a resource to minimize the expense of relocation and get settled quickly with the peace of mind that comes from knowing their needs will be met by an experienced service provider to the Government.”

CORT’s rental services include quality, stylish living room, dining room and bedroom furnishings supplemented by electronics, accessories and a complete line of housewares for kitchen, bed and bath. Government employees may visit CORT showrooms in the top 70 markets across the country or visit www.cort.com. Flexible rental terms make it easy to fill a home or just select a few items a la carte.

More than 70 percent of employees relocating for a job today will rent housing in their new location. As an additional complimentary service, CORT offers free apartment locating at www.apartmentsearch.com. The Government employee can search from over 20,000 properties nationwide to find the right apartment based on their personal preferences and lifestyle.

CORT has offered Office Furniture Rental since 1996 through the GSA MAS program, with a successful track record of supporting the federal government and the U.S. military in setting up offices nationwide. Through the new contract under Schedule 71, SIN 71 297 – Rental, Household Quarters Furnishings, CORT is able to provide the same level of service to help federal government employees and the U.S. Military in providing rental services for residential furniture and home essentials at special GSA rates. Many Government Agencies, such as the U.S. Army, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Dept. of Energy have utilized furniture and housewares rental as an adjunct to their relocation policy.

CORT is on the General Services Administration (GSA) schedule, supporting more than 75 federal agencies in all 50 states. For four decades, CORT has been the nation’s leading provider in rental furniture for offices and homes, working with more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500 companies. CORT supports temporary assignments and permanent relocation by helping businesses rapidly establish offices or help employees and their families find housing and settle into new communities. For more information about CORT, visit www.cort.com.