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Acquisition Reform: NASA's Internet Service Improves Access to Contracting Information

NSIAD-99-37 Published: Feb 09, 1999. Publicly Released: Feb 09, 1999.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Acquisition Internet Service (NAIS), focusing on: (1) whether NAIS is an effective mechanism for disseminating procurement information to industry, including small businesses; and (2) the status of efforts to develop a governmentwide electronic procurement information system similar to NAIS.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of Federal Procurement Policy The Administrator, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, should describe the current plan for implementation of a governmentwide single point of entry to procurement information in its next annual report to Congress. This plan should take into consideration the status of and lessons learned from the multiagency Electronic Posting System pilot and its potential as the basis for a comprehensive governmentwide electronic posting system.
Closed – Implemented
Effective October 1, 2001, FedBizOpps was designated by the Federal Acquisition Regulation as the mandatory "Governmentwide point of entry (GPE)" for posting government business opportunities greater than $25000. Contracting officers had been required to direct the GPE to forward the notice to the Commerce Business Daily (CBD). Agencies are no longer required to provide notice in the CBD effective January 1, 2002, since access to this information will be provided on the Internet through FedBizOpps.
Office of Federal Procurement Policy The Administrator, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, should determine whether the issues raised by agency officials concerning procurements notice requirements set forth in statute, including waiting periods, require legislative action and make recommendations to Congress on legislative changes, if necessary.
Closed – Implemented
According to the Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, the Administration submitted to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, as part of the defense authorization package, a proposal addressing procurement notice requirements and waiting periods. However, the proposal was omitted from the version of the proposed legislation submitted to the Conference Committee. Alternately, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy has proposed changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulations implementing such changes. The proposal is currently out for a 60-day public comment period that ends on October 25, 2000.

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Topics

Advertised procurementComputer networksElectronic data interchangeFederal procurementFederal procurement policyInformation resources managementSmall business contractorsE-commerceE-mailProcurement