The General Services Administration has begun the process of soliciting e-commerce platforms to demonstrate an initial proof-of-concept meant to simplify buying and selling transactions in the federal government.
GSA said Wednesday it intends to partner with multiple e-marketplace providers to implement the Commercial Platforms program and increase spending visibility for agencies as part of the Federal Marketplace Strategy.
The agency decided to adopt an “iterative” approach to manage the program after completing market studies and stakeholder outreach efforts during 2018.
Emily Murphy, administrator of GSA and a 2019 Wash100 winner, said federal spending on goods and services via web-based portals reached $260M last year.
As federal procurement continues to evolve, simplifying how we purchase basic commodities will allow agencies to focus more on work that directly serves their missions, Murphy added.
GSA will accept proposals over a 30-day period and commence the pilot project early next year.