GSA: Sept. 1 deadline for new FTS, FSS orders for 2005
Agencies have until Sept. 1 to send new task orders through the General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service.
The fiscal year may end Sept. 30, but agencies only have until Sept. 1 to send new task orders through the General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service.
Emily Murphy, GSA's chief acquisition officer, sent a memo last month to agency contracting offices detailing the cutoff date for new orders or funding modifications.
"These cutoff dates provide a reasonable period for making awards by the end of the fiscal year," Murphy said in the memo. "The acquisition letter is issued to achieve consistency and discipline in the GSA acquisition process."
For new orders under the Federal Supply Service, agencies have a little longer?until Sept. 16.
Agencies can place delivery orders for supplies such as hardware, software or software licenses through FTS until Sept. 15 but must exercise options on contracts and process funding modifications by Aug. 26.
The head of the contracting activity has the authority to approve orders after GSA's deadlines, the memo added.
GSA established these dates in part as a way to stop agencies from "parking" or "banking" unused money in the IT Fund or the General Supply Fund.
Jason Miller is an assistant managing editor of Washington Technology's sister publication, Government Computer News.