GSA Modernizes End-To-End Procurement Process

By Karla Paris

New application enables smarter decisions and faster action.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Public Building Service (PBS) recently deployed a modern and flexible Procurement Request Module (PRM) application with the help of Appian and its work platform.

Installation of the PRM application from Appian is the first milestone in a larger vision to transform procurement processes across GSA PBS. The complete system, called “Electronic Acquisition System Integrated” (EASi), will accelerate and modernize the end-to-end procurement process, from initial request through solicitations and contract writing, administration and close-out. GSA PBS is “the landlord to the Federal civilian government,” acquiring and providing oversight for federal properties across the United States. Since the application's initial deployment on May 1, the system has processed 164 procurement requests across GSA PBS covering a wide range of projects.

Through a simple social interface, the PRM application enables smarter decisions and faster action for internal and external PBS users in the request, review, approval, and initiation of goods and services procurement. The application leverages Appian Records' enterprise-wide data management capabilities, as data integration is central to GSA PBS' vision for improved procurement case management. Each request becomes its own Record, providing a consolidated view of relevant data from numerous enterprise systems, and a single place from which to take action on the request at any time for all users, including all related documentation and collaborations. Overtime procurement Records will also be a source for meaningful data analysis to drive further procurement business improvement. PRM is integrated with GSA FAS' Appian-based Acquisition Planning Wizard.

It is anticipated the GSA PBS will be able to empower all employees in an organization to make smart, efficient decisions and take rapid business action. Users will be able to unite enterprise data, connect with other users through social and collaborative engagement in the context of business data, execute business processes, enforce rules, and ensure all actions taken by any users are in accordance with corporate policies and procedures.

As an independent agency of the United States government, the GSA was established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. GSA supplies products and communications for U.S. government offices, provides transportation and office space to federal employees, and develops government-wide cost-minimizing policies, among other management tasks.

SOURCE: Marketwired