GSA Blog

GSA to Drive Savings Through Acquisition Shared Services and Solutions Quality Service

Today, the federal government currently operates a growing number of acquisition shared services and systems. This duplication wastes taxpayer dollars, complicates tracking, and prevents us from working together as one government.

For example, there are more than 229 known contract writing systems. While these systems support important agency missions, the overall landscape has become highly fragmented. The result is siloed data, inconsistent processes, and higher costs to modernize and maintain systems across government.

That’s why the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently pre-designated GSA to establish a Governmentwide Acquisition Shared Services and Solutions Quality Service Management Office, or Acquisition QSMO, to help bring greater coordination, transparency, and efficiency to federal procurement systems and related services. 

This initiative extends beyond just systems to encompass people and processes, and shared service providers. It will define, establish, and promote standard business practices for the buying process. Given the rapid evolution of procurement, we must maintain an adaptable and interactive approach. The QSMO will serve as the central source for sharing expertise, including how technology can enhance the process.

Quality Service Management Offices, as defined in OMB Memorandum M-19-16 [PDF], establish and manage governmentwide marketplaces for common mission support capabilities. QSMOs define business standards, evaluate and vet providers, monitor performance, and support agencies in adopting approved shared solutions to improve efficiency, transparency, and interoperability.

The new Acquisition Shared Services and Solutions QSMO at GSA will work with OMB and agencies to:

• Define a marketplace-based operating model to drive federal efforts to reduce duplicative business service and technology investments by agencies.
• Define and promote common business and data standards for acquisition systems and supporting shared services.
• Monitor provider performance and support continuous improvement.
• Consolidate demand toward vetted, standards-based acquisition shared services and solutions where appropriate.
• Align marketplace offerings with federal acquisition policy and governance processes.

In FY26, GSA will focus on defining the QSMO marketplace operating model, establishing evaluation criteria, identifying service providers, and initiating work with agencies on transition pathways. GSA aims for formal QSMO designation later this year. Once designated, the Acquisition QSMO will work with OMB, interagency governance bodies, and other QSMOs to facilitate agency participation, transparency, and cross-functional alignment.

For more information on the Acquisition QSMO, visit acquisitiongateway.gov.