2) Reorganization of GSA

Last summer, GSA Administrator Stephen Perry announced the agency’s plan to restructure some of its services. Most significant is the creation of a new GSA service called the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS). This emerges from the consolidation of GSA’s Federal Technology Service (FTS) and Federal Supply Service (FSS). Many factors led to the planned reorganization, including shifting customer needs, an evolution in how agencies acquire technology products and services, and a greater emphasis on GSA’s role in federal procurement.

FSS was created in 1949 to provide an economic and efficient system for the procurement and supply of goods and services to federal agencies. FTS has always provided agencies with a range of information technology and telecommunications products and services on a number of contract vehicles. These include the GSA Schedules, which are run by FSS.

Currently, the two units utilize separate funds, the Information Technology Fund and the General Supply Fund. FAS will simplify the administrative process since the two funds used will also merge into one.

The planned FAS organization will have five program areas:

• Customer Accounts and Research will enable GSA to better understand customer requirements and become a strategic partner in helping agencies meet their acquisition needs.
• Acquisition Management will ensure that GSA’s activities are fully compliant with federal laws, regulations, and policies, and that operating practices are consistent across business lines and regions.
• Integrated Technology Services will group together the GSA business lines that acquire information technology, telecommunications, and professional services.
• General Supplies and Services will group together the GSA business lines that acquire a broad range of commercial products and closely-related services, as well as some specialized logistics-based activities.
• Travel, Motor Vehicles, and Card Services will group together GSA business lines that share commonalities and can provide opportunities for synergy and scale.

Benefits from establishing FAS will include a deeper understanding by GSA of customer requirements; stronger management of the agency’s acquisition processes and programs; and greater integration of GSA business lines to provide multiple channels for customers to acquire the products, services, and solutions they need. GSA intends to make the organization capable of delivering excellent acquisition services more efficiently and effectively while providing value to federal customers and taxpayers.

The new look of FAS has already started taking shape. Mr. Perry has named G. Martin Wagner as acting FAS commissioner; Deidre Lee to manage Integrated Technology Solutions, which includes telecommunications contracts, government-wide acquisition contracts, professional-services schedules, IT schedules, and program, planning and development; and Jon Jordan to be the service’s controller. In addition, Jeff Koses was chosen as acting head of Acquisition Management; Mary Davie as acting head of Customer Accounts and Research; Joseph Jeu as head of General Supplies and Services; Barney Brasseux as head of Travel, Motor Vehicles, and Card Services; Casey Coleman as Acting CIO; and Brenda Maxson as the acting head of Administration.

GSA officials’ goal has always been to establish the Federal Acquisition Service before the end of the fiscal year. FTS and FSS, however, still remain in place until the transfer can be completed effectively.