The General Services Administration has started following a new acquisition process that aims to help agencies combine purchases and shorten negotiations with contractors, GCW reported Tuesday.
GSA created new order level materials and commercial supplier agreement rules after vendors and the agency’s personnel sought to leverage the two procurement policies.
Alan Thomas, commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at GSA, said the first phase of the policy implementation will run through the end of 2018, with the official execution expected to start in 2019.
The agency also seeks to focus on the commercial solutions opening process, which streamlines vendor selection timelines, simplifies contract terms and protects the intellectual property of contractors.Â
The 2017 National Defense Authorization Act included provisions appointing authorities that GSA can approach regarding CSOs.