Shared Services project

The ACT-IAC Small Business Alliance is looking to perform a study around the roles that small businesses can play to support the federal government’s ongoing and recently jumpstarted effort to implement Shared Services for mission support functions (e.g., finance, human resources and acquisitions) across the federal government.  The intended result from this study is to deliver a white paper and presentation to the new Unified Shared Services Management (USSM) office. The USSM is a new organization established within the General Services Administration (GSA) charged with overseeing the day to day operations of the newly minted Shared Service Management and Oversight structure[1]. Shared Services is one of the major management initiatives the federal government has been engaged in for the past 13 years, and activity is expected to continue and increase with the establishment of the new Shared Service Management and Oversight structure and a focus on improving the performance and efficiency of the federal government. Shared Services work can encompass a variety of functions and services for the provider and customer agencies from the time a move to shared services is identified to the ongoing operations and maintenance of services once a migration is complete.  While they can require use of small business plans, some feel like most of the contract work is awarded to large businesses.

This study will use three methodologies: blind surveys of government and industry (they will have the option of identifying themselves), interviews with select survey respondents, and hopefully three focus group discussions (one government, one industry and one joint).  Through this effort, we intend to:

• Determine the key characteristics of a Shared Services procurement that might make small business a better choice
• Evaluate the use of small business for the different elements of the Shared Services ecosystem, including ability, limitations and scale
• Make recommendations on the best areas to utilize small business
• Discuss the advantages of using small businesses in those areas

Note: This study is for research and informational purposes only.  It is not affiliated with any open, planned or unplanned procurements and will not result in any obligation on behalf of the government.