PSC Supports Transparent, Phased-In Implementation for Government Procurement Online Marketplaces 
PSC EVP and Counsel Alan Chvotkin Discussed E-Commerce Portals at Jan. 9 GSA panel

Arlington, V.A (Jan. 11, 2018) -The Professional Services Council (PSC) supports a transparent, robust, and accelerated phase-in for the federal government’s purchase of commercial goods via e-commerce portals. PSC executive vice president and counsel Alan Chvotkin joined a General Services Administration (GSA) panel on Jan. 9, where GSA officials and other industry representatives convened for a day-long public meeting examining general program design, buying practices, and implementation through these online marketplaces.

“There are great opportunities to fulfill a promise that many of us who have been engaged in this procurement process have hoped for for a long time: for the government to take maximum advantage of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) items and make them available to the federal marketplace,” said Chvotkin. “This is an opportunity for GSA to leverage commercial marketplace best practices to deliver more efficient solutions to ultimately benefit the American taxpayers.”

The public meeting is part of GSA’s effort to implement Section 846 of the FY18 National Defense Authorization Act, which directs the agency to establish e-commerce portals that federal agencies can use for buying COTS items. 

Chvotkin outlined several key recommendations for implementing online marketplaces for federal buyers:
• Ensure transparency on price and quality;
• Leverage the existing capabilities from commercial e-commerce portal providers;
• Rapidly phase in implementation that will allow government buyers to compare items in these e-commerce portals with other available government purchasing options.

PSC will respond to GSA with written comments on Section 846 and will continue to engage its members and Administration officials during the design and implementation processes.