Trends in the Growth of Advisory and Assistance Service Contracting

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided trend data on the funds executive branch agencies obligated for advisory and assistance service contracts over fiscal years (FY) 1992 through 1995. GAO noted that: (1) 42 agencies reported to the Federal Procurement Data System that they obligated funds in FY 1992, 1993, and 1994 for advisory and assistance services; (2) over the 4 years, these agencies obligated, in inflation-adjusted dollars, about $55 billion in total for advisory and assistance services; (3) the amount obligated increased from about $12.3 billion in FY 1992 to about $15.7 billion in FY 1995; (4) although the total dollar amount increased in each succeeding year, the amount obligated by individual agencies varied and in some cases decreased; (5) 10 agencies accounted for about 89 percent of the amount obligated; and (6) 7 of these agencies were among the 10 largest users of advisory and assistance services in each of the 4 years, while the other 3 were among the top 10 in 3 of the 4 years.