Time to change government-buying habits

It's always tough doing business with the government. Just ask any vendor. A vendor has to comply with many rules that are not in place in the private sector, and must offer government agencies their lowest prices.

But the world of government-related business contracts is about to change. An advisory panel is recommending that vendors no longer offer government agencies their lowest prices, according to recommendations by the Multiple Award Schedules Advisory Panel and reported by nextgov.com. The panel has been studying the General Services Administration's Federal Supply Schedule program and is looking for ways to modernize it.

It's about time, too. For any IT executive looking to buy IT goods and services, the process is fraught with frustrations and difficulties in getting what you want at a good price and in the door on time.

"They are holding on to an antiquated and not very useful tool for the schedules program as they exist today," Alan Chvotkin, Professional Services Council executive vice president and counsel, who was a panel member, told nextgov.com. "In my view, the panel adopted a series of forward-looking recommendations that should increase the transparency of schedules pricing."

The report recommends a new way of doing things--obtaining at least three bids to get a competitive process going. What's not to like about that idea? It's a good one and definitely worth exploring.

For more on new ways for government to buy products and services:
- check out this nextgov.com article