Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI)

Overview

FSSI encourages cross-government collaboration and adoption of industry best practices. This allows the government to aggregate requirements, streamline processes and leverage its buying power. As a result, best value and repeatable processes are created that can be used in any acquisition environment to drive down the cost of commonly purchased commodities.

• Strategically source across federal agencies;
• Establish mechanisms to increase total cost savings, value, and socioeconomic participation;
• Collaborate with industry to develop optimal solutions;
• Share best practices; and
• Create a strategic sourcing community of practice.

History

GSA, in partnership with the Department of Treasury, launched FSSI in November 2005 (in response to a May 2005 memo from the Office of Management and Budget/Office of Federal Procurement Policy requiring agencies to identify commodities that could be purchased more efficiently through strategic sourcing). FSSI counts more than 20 federal agencies, both military and civilian, as active participants. Current FSSI commodity teams include: Express and Ground Domestic Delivery Services, Wireless Telecommunications Expense Management Services and Office Supplies.

Benefits

FSSI solutions provide easy access to common procurement vehicles that offer greater discounts as collective volume increases, business intelligence and best practice solutions. Additional benefits include:

• Meets OMB's goal for cross-government participation
• Assists with socioeconomic goals
• Collect and analyze data
• Identify trends
• Re-engineer high cost business processes
• Replicate cost-saving business processes
• Share lessons learned and best practices
• Realize cost efficiencies
• Streamlines procurement process
• Drives additional discounts

Current Commodity Purchasing Programs

• Wireless Telecommunications Expense Management Services
• Office Supplies
• Express and Ground Domestic Delivery Services