GSA's Multiple Award Schedule and Self-Service Store Programs

GAO issued a report which assessed the effectiveness of General Service Administration (GSA) actions to improve the multiple award schedule program and evaluate the Agency's efforts to correct the deficiencies identified in previous audits. GSA has begun to address the issues of improving the multiple award contracting process and reducing the number of schedules. The schedules remain in force and still are a major source of supply for Federal agencies. Congressional oversight is needed. An Agency task force has been created, which is charged with eliminating or greatly restricting multiple award schedule items and conducting test purchases using competitive methods. All multiple award schedules will be reviewed to determine if the items available under these schedules can be purchased competitively using commercial item descriptions. A multiple award database is being developed to be used for forecasting agency requirements. GAO has recently completed a comprehensive audit of the self-service stores program. The program is intended to save the Government money by providing Federal agencies with an efficient and economical retail supply system and consolidating unnecessary agency stockrooms and stores. It does neither well. Lack of management control over program operations and satisfaction of agencies' retail needs prevent the retail program from being a competent operation. GSA has attempted to attain inventory accountability by developing a computerized inventory system. Regular internal audits and effective management surveillance visits of the stores will be needed to complete a management control system. GSA can improve its control over shopping plates. GSA policies for determining which items should be stocked in self-service stores has been inconsistent. There is stockage and sale of damaged merchandise. Large volume sales are being made by the self-service stores. GSA has failed to consolidate agency stockrooms. Sales to agency retail outlets represent a large percentage of GSA store sales. Management controls are still inadequate to provide reasonable assurance that fraud and corruption are not currently a part of this program.