Increase IT Delegation of Authority to Agencies

Increase IT delegation of authority to agencies.

By May 1994, the Administrator, GSA, should change agency delegation
amounts for competitive procurements based on the interagency team's
recommendations. It is possible that agency delegations may be reduced,
but more probable and expected that some agencies will receive greater
or unlimited delegations while other agencies will receive delegations
as follows.

-- For agencies with information technology budgets reported to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Circular No. A11, section
43, information technology exhibits 43A and 43B, over $1 billion in the
prior fiscal year: $20 million.

-- For agencies with information technology budgets reported to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Circular No. A11, section
43, information technology exhibits 43A and 43B, from $100 million
through $1 billion in the prior fiscal year: $10 million.

-- For agencies with information technology budgets reported to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Circular No. A11, section
43, information technology exhibits 43A and 43B, from zero through $100
million in the prior fiscal year:  $5 million.

GSA should cooperate with agency heads to ensure that these delegations
are passed through to operating components and line managers with
minimum restrictions and with an emphasis on expected performance
outcomes and measures of success.

It is very important to increase delegation authorities and revise the
FIRMR rules to more accurately reflect and take advantage of the
commoditylike characteristics of computer products, services, and
software. It is also still essential to have a "center of expertise"
that can keep track of rapid changes in technology and performance,
ensure that the types of relationships with the American computer
industry provide vehicles to maximize the advantages to government of
their capabilities; and ensure that the agencies with delegated
authority have necessary skills, management controls, and motivations to
take maximum advantage of what American industry can offer. The "center
of expertise" probably best fits in GSA and would fit into a broad
mandate of the existing law. One of the primary tasks of the interagency
team (referred to in action item 1) would be to develop a plan to enable
the above transition to happen as easily as possible.