GWACs: Let the debate begin
GWACs: Let the debate begin
Lurita Doan certainly has gotten everyone's attention. The administrator at the General Services Administration has made it known that she believes her agency should be managing most governmentwide acquisition contracts. One case in point is NASA's Scientific and Engineering Workstation Procurement contract, one of the oldest and most popular GWACs.
In an interview with Federal Computer Week, Doan pointed out that managing information technology product contracts is not part of NASA's core mission. GSA, on the other hand, is in the governmentwide contracting business.
That simple proposition raises all sorts of questions. Many people ask how Doan could even think about handling more work at such an early stage of GSA's rebuilding process. GSA officials are working hard to win back the confidence of the Defense Department and other customers, but that process is far from complete.
Putting aside concerns about the state of GSA, some people also question Doan's central premise. Should GSA manage the GWACs? Perhaps Doan is not out of line to raise the issue of core mission. But many procurement experts would hate to lose the competitive environment that comes from having different agencies running GWACs. Contracting shops at NASA and the National Institutes of Health will keep the heat on GSA and ensure a high level of customer service, they say.
Nevertheless, you have to say this for Doan: Under her leadership, GSA may still be doubted, but it will not ignored.
Other noteworthy news
A roundup of the week's news, complete with links to the original stories, can be found on FCW.com Download's Week in Review at www.fcw.com/download.
GAO: Agencies lag in IPv6 transition [FCW.com, July 31, 2006]
NIST releases PIV-card related publications [FCW.com, July 31, 2006]
Senate gives $5 million to e-government fund [FCW.com, July 31, 2006]
VA leads in small-biz contracts [FCW.com, July 31, 2006]
NEXT STORY: IPv6 on the radio this week




