GSA replumbs its Web portal

The General Services Administration is reworking the back-end linkage and programming of all components on its portal. The site got a new look last month as part of a third-generation redesign of the agency’s public Web interface. “We needed to do something” about complaints from citizens, contractors and government users that things were too hard to find, said Vicky Moss, the site’s deputy editor. Moss said people wanted easier access to things such as GSA schedules—how to be listed on them as well as how to buy from them—and government per diem rates. They are now one click from the home page. Moss called that step remediation but said the underlying content reorganization is a rolling process that will take several more months.GSA contracted with Bates Worldwide Inc. and interactive partner 141XM, both of New York, to do the $930,000 redesign. Moss, who works in the Office of Citizen Services and Communications, said her job is to “make sure the information is presented in the best way to reflect GSA’s marketing focus.”