Opportunities for Savings Through the Elimination of Nonessential Stock Items: General Services Administration
Abstract
The General Services Administration (GSA) provides a wide range of supplies and equipment to civil agencies and the military services through its stock system. The number of stock items has increased almost sixfold--from about 8,500 to 48,000--and the value of inventories has increased from about $51 million to $255 million during the last decade. This substantial growth is attributable mainly to a national supply system begun in 1964 under which classes of items being managed by both GSA and the Department of Defense are assigned to either one agency or the other, the majority being assigned to GSA. During its continuing examination into GSA's supply activities, the General Accounting Office (GAO) has noted items in the stock system which appeared to be nonessential to the Government's needs and has brought these to the attention of GSA. GAO defines nonessential as (1) inactive and low-demand items not justifying continued stocking and (2)uneconomical items, namely those which are not the best buy for the Government. Nonessential items make a supply system unwieldly and result in unnecessary inventory investment and excess storage and inventory management costs. This report evaluates GSA's efforts to eliminate nonessential items.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 22, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD1121951
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office