OBSERVATIONS FROM THE GSA EXPO AND THANK YOU: My feet hurt! There was lots of walking and talking this week at the GSA Expo and that’s a good thing. Communication among, by and between customer agencies, GSA personnel, and industry is vital to the success of the procurement system. It enhances the understanding of the policies and procedures governing the acquisition of products and services by the federal government. It also increases the awareness of best procurement practices that enhance opportunities, foster competition and deliver the best value to customer agencies. The sharing of experiences across the procurement community is one of the most enduring benefits of the GSA Expo. So, although my feet still hurt–it was a great week.
On behalf of The Coalition for Government Procurement, I want to thank all those who attended the Partnership Dinner. It was great event and it was wonderful to see so many former colleagues from GSA, as well as Coalition members. A special note of thanks to Administrator Martha Johnson for her dinner address. Administrator Johnson articulated a forceful and thoughtful business case explaining why sustainability is good for government, the taxpayer and the private sector. Her comments emphasized the leading role GSA’s procurement programs are playing in transforming government by creating efficiencies that save money and enhance performance. She also emphasized the importance of cooperation and communication between GSA and industry in meeting the challenges and opportunities that come with creating a sustainable government infrastructure. It was a call to service.
The Coalition for Government Procurement and I would like to extend a special thank you to CGI Federal, who was both the Reception and the Green Sponsor at the Partnership Dinner at GSA Expo. Thank you to the Keystone Sponsors, Booz Allen Hamilton, General Dynamics IT, Northrop Grumman, HNI, and McKenna Long & Aldridge LLC and the Silver Table Sponsors, Accenture and Deloitte. Finally, thank you to all those who attended, with a special thanks to our member firms, our Board of Advisors and Committee Chairs and the General Services Administration.
