Federal Buying Power: OMB Can Further Advance Category Management Initiative by Focusing on Requirements, Data, and Training
Abstract
In fiscal year 2019, federal agencies obligated over $350 billion to meet requirements for common products and services, such as medical supplies and computers. Since 2016, OMB has led efforts to improve how agencies buy these products and services through the category management initiative, which directs agencies across the government to buy more like a single enterprise. OMB has reported the federal government has saved $27.3 billion in 3 years through category management. GAO was asked to assess the initiative. This report assesses the extent to which: (1) OMB has focused on agencies requirements definition, (2) agencies face challenges analyzing data, and (3) agencies bought common products and services from small businesses. GAO assessed data for all 28 agencies OMB tracks under the initiative, reviewed category management guidance from four selected agencies (with varying levels of implementation experience), and interviewed a broad range of officials from nine agencies as well as four small business advocacy groups.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1149379
Entities
People
- Timothy J. Dinapoli
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office