GSA Chief Promotes Expansion of Agency's Procurement Role Leave the buying to us, says GSA Administrator Stephen Perry. At a briefing for reporters April 20, he said “it would make sense” for GSA and other agencies with expertise to handle most procurements for all agencies, except for such specialized purchases as munitions. That is one answer to the impending retirement of many federal acquisition personnel, he said. “Agencies should not have no procurement staff, but they should not duplicate what GSA does.” Perry said the centralization of procurement is already happening, as shown by the rapid growth of GSA Schedule sales over the past several years. Purchases through the schedules topped $31 billion in fiscal 2004, a 16% increase over the previous year. However, GSA officials said sales growth on the schedules has slowed in the first months of fiscal 2005. Some contractor groups blame the slowdown on GSA’s “Get It Right” initiative, which has imposed new controls on schedule purchases. (SAA, 4/15) Perry said GSA is on track to complete a draft reorganization plan by the end of May. It will include a merger of the agency’s two primary contracting vehicles, the Federal Supply Service and the Federal Technology Service. Congressional action will be needed to authorize the merger. Four large contractor associations formed a coalition to press their priorities in GSA’s reorganization. The One GSA Coalition includes the Coalition for Government Procurement, the Professional Services Council, the Contract Services Association of America and the Information Technology Association of America.