GSA's Administration of the Automatic Data Processing Equipment (ADPE) Interim Upgrade Acquisition Policy

Gao ID: FGMSD-79-10 December 28, 1978

A review was made of the automatic data processing (ADP) equipment interim upgrade acquisition process at the General Services Administration (GSA) to evaluate the interim upgrade policy, the administration of the interim upgrade process, and the effect the interim upgrade policy has had on competition in ADP procurement. The interim upgrade process prescribed in the Federal property management regulations permits an agency to acquire ADP equipment under circumstances of limited competition, but only on a temporary basis pending fully competitive reprocurement. The process calls for an agency to document its ADP requirements and submit a request to GSA for procurement action or delegation of procurement authority.

The written definition of the policy differed from GSA practices in assigning the interim upgrade designation. It was found that agreements to procure on a competitive basis within specified time frames had not been enforced. The interim upgrade process as administered by GSA had not improved competition in ADP procurements. The application of criteria different from that in the regulations made it difficult to determine which situations qualified for interim procurements. The lack of an effective tracking and followup procedure by GSA has contributed further to the ineffectiveness of the interim upgrade process.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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