Need for Improvements in the Federal Supply Service's Priority Requisitioning System
Abstract
The General Services Administration's (GSA's) Federal Supply Service (FSS) is responsible for supplying common-use items to Federal agencies at the lowest overall cost. The operations are carried out by 10 regional offices. Each region, together with FSS headquarters, administers a depot program; about 33,000 different common-use items are purchased and stocked in 23 regional depots. The items are sold and shipped to Federal agencies, cost reimbursable contractors, and other authorized user activities. FSS maintains a priority requisitioning system. Customers assign a priority designator to each requisition indicating the urgency of their need. FSS then handles each request as dictated by the priority assigned. These designators consist of a 2-digit number ranging from 01 through 15 and indicate the relative importance and urgency of the item requisitioned. FSS guidelines instruct customers on the appropriate use o the priority system. The designators are divided into three groups, each specifying criteria for its use. Group 1 (codes 01 through 03) and Group 2 (codes 04 through 08) are considered high priorities that require immediate action. When assigning codes 01 through 06, customers are required to maintain documentation substantiating the urgency of the need. FSS is required to deliver the items within 7 days for Group 1 and 11 days for Group 2 requisitions. Group 3 is considered a normal priority to be used for routine stock replenishment and all other conditions not covered by Groups and 2. FSS has 29 days to fill Group 3 requests. The management of the priority requisitioning system is facilitated by an electronic data processing system. This system, called the Central Requisition Router (CRR), receives all incoming requisitions; analyzes the transportation cost in each stocking depot; and selects the most economical depot, called he primary depot, to fill that requisition.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 25, 1978
- Accession Number
- AD1121981
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office