Today’s blog addresses two significant technology related changes at GSA. First, GSA’s rollout of its Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Catalog Program (FCP) continues with minimal disruptions. Second, reductions in IT staff are having an impact on GSA’s other, more established, tools.
The FCP rollout is increasing in pace. As a refresher, FCP is replacing GSA’s horribly outdated SIP program. FCP is a web-based application, as opposed to the SIP desktop software. It is more flexible, reliable, better integrated into other GSA tools (e.g., GSA Advantage and eMod), simpler, and provides access to GSA market research. GSA is currently rolling FCP out to contractors with product catalogs and will move to service catalogs in FY2025. We’ve received a lot of questions from clients regarding the onboarding emails, but very few questions once clients have begun the transition process. In other words, the onboarding email is a little bit complicated and intimidating, but the process itself is relatively straight forward. Of course, with the longstanding frustration many contractors have had with SIP, merely minor difficulties with FCP would be seen as a revelation.
Few people are aware of the Integrated Award Environment (IAE), at least by name. The IAE is responsible for many of GSA’s online tools, including the System of Award Management (SAM), the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System, the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System, the Federal Procurement Data System, and the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Sub-award Reporting System. This understates how much work IAE does, as it has consolidated ten systems to these remainders, and continues to work towards more consolidation. Every government contractor works with these systems, sometimes daily.
Those contractors who do interact with IAE systems frequently may have noticed disruptions recently. We have attributed those to reduced workforce and other behind-the-scenes transitions, including the loss of almost all of its contractor support staff. Now, news is coming out that IAE will be subject to a significant Reduction in Force (RIF). This will both stop system enhancement and increase errors and disruptions. Contractors should take immediate steps to do everything in their power to complete any business in these tools as soon as possible.
Should you have questions about these changes or need help through issues we are all seeing, please reach out to Brandon Graves at [email protected] or any of our other professionals.
