GSA to take over IT Dashboard, preps for MGT

The General Services Administration looks to have a busy 2019 expanding its shared services efforts, setting up the operational framework to manage the technology modernization fund and operating the federal IT Dashboard, among other things.

The agency's FY2019 budget justification to Congress outlines new responsibilities the agency will take on -- and some others that it hopes to -- in the next budget cycle.

GSA's 2019 justification sketches the scope of the revolving cost-recovery Technology Modernization Fund it was tasked with overseeing under the Managing Government Technology Act.

The agency's budget request seeks $210 million to fund the TMF -- the vast majority of it earmarked for "equipment" and outside consulting.

GSA's Office of Governmentwide Policy will also shoulder the duties of running the federal IT Dashboard, which was launched by the Office of Management and Budget. The Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act mandates data collection on IT projects.

GSA is seeking $3.5 million to manage the collection, analysis, and public presentation of IT budget and performance data.

GSA plans to manage operational responsibilities of the dashboard, closely coordinating with OMB's Office of E-Government and the federal CIO. OMB will continue to provide the overarching vision and product direction for the dashboard and continue to issue guidance and reporting requirements for agencies.

GSA's Shared Solutions and Performance Improvement Office, meanwhile, will be at the heart of one of the agency's 2018 strategic objectives of pushing shared services deeper into federal operations.

SSPI, formed from the fiscal 2018 merger of Unified Shared Services Management Office and the Office of Executive Councils, would get $2 million for salaries and core expenses, which is what Congress provided for the organizations in fiscal 2017.

However, GSA wants another $2.5 million for SSPI reimbursable authority that could fund shared services priorities that may come up through OMB-driven efficiency initiatives.

Designing and delivering expanded shared services within GSA and across the federal government is one of four strategic goals listed by the agency in the document. The others include: improving the way agencies buy, build and use technology; establish the agency as the premier provider of federal contracting solutions; and saving tax dollars through more efficient real estate management

In addition to expanding its shared services effort and taking over the dashboard, GSA wants to stand up a Technology Business Management program management office in fiscal 2019. It asked for $1.5 million and four full-time employees.

The TBM PMO, GSA said, would coordinate implementation of program management practices across the federal government. It said the office would provide technology leaders with standards and validated best practices to communicate cost, quality, and value of IT investments. The management tool, it said, would help the government benchmark IT spending with a standard framework, and better allow the government to leverage its buying power.