Federal Agency Participation in the National Supply System

The Federal Catalog System was established to provide government agencies with common identification for repetitively used supply items and to help manage logistical operations. The catalog system provides a standard reference language or terminology that can be used by all activities engaged in the process of supply. Approximately 125 civil activities carry out supply operations to some degree. Only 10 of the 125 activities are full participants--4 independent agencies and 6 offices within the executive departments. Some agencies are not familiar with the Federal Catalog System, and others do not care to participate. Supply activity reports which are supposed to reflect the level of participation in the catalog system are often either not submitted or are incomplete and inaccurate. The General Services Administration (GSA) recognizes the need to increase agency participation in the National Supply System, but its efforts have not been very successful. GSA needs to increase its efforts to develop a systematic plan for achieving orderly integration of civil agency supply activities into the Federal Catalog System. GSA should assist the agencies in identifying their supply items, developing the capacity to participate in the National Supply System, and preparing or improving supply activity reports.