FTS charts procurement variants

Federal Technology Service officials are working on a chart that would show how policies vary from one region to another, FTS Commissioner Sandra Bates confirmed today.

For example, the chart, for the benefit of industry, would reveal if a region uses a lower threshold to trigger a contract review than the national policy calls for.

Bates, through a spokesperson, said that the chart is being prepared but is not ready to show yet. She told members of the Coalition for Government Procurement about it at a recent meeting. FTS is an arm of the General Services Administration.

"FTS has a national policy," said Larry Allen, executive vice president of the coalition. "Our concern is that a number of regions adapted their own version of it."

Chip Mather, executive vice president of Acquisition Solutions Inc., said he was not aware of the effort. However, he said, "anytime industry has insight into the policies and procedures the government is using, it's good for everyone."