Confusion hinders use of GSA schedule contracts

Information technology security officials hesitate to make purchases off the General Services Administration's multiple awards schedules because they view them as too confusing and overly bureaucratic, according to a recent survey.

In particular, officials are reluctant to use Schedule 84 to buy security products and services, the survey, released on Dec. 1 by the Coalition for Government Procurement, indicated.

"The general consensus among the survey participants is that GSA services are very difficult to use," the report stated. "Often, agencies have one 'GSA guru' who they rely on whenever they must utilize a GSA schedule to procure an item."

GSA approached the coalition 18 months ago for help gathering information on how security convergence -- the practice of integrating physical safeguards, personnel and IT security -- is defined and used. The coalition then formed an interview team that spoke with industry representatives as well as officials in charge of physical and IT security at 11 agencies, from July through September 2008. About 24 people were included in the survey.

Coalition president Larry Allen said the effort was intended to help GSA increase use of the schedules contracts, governmentwide agreements through which federal customers can buy a vast assortment of products and services.

One respondent told the coalition "there is a lot of red tape associated with procurement." Another official said, "GSA is a 'big mess' with a lot of contract vehicles," while a third stated, "There is layer after layer of contracting bureaucracy."

"It's not the way it's supposed to work, but it's not the first time I've heard that," Allen said.

Allen also was concerned about the survey's finding that most security officials consider the standard identification cards required under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 to be the extent of security convergence.

"There is a lot more to security than HSPD-12 implementation and smart ID cards," said Allen, adding many survey respondents seemed more concerned with compliance than security. "It's, let me check that box off as quickly as I can, so I can show people I've done that."