Letter: A collapsing GSA needs to listen and lead
To date I have met no one at GSA genuinely interested in feedback from clients or industry on how to take charge of the acquisition arena as they could well do again. But even if they did listen, they would surely be unable to synthesize and manage the data and effectively respond.
What do you think? Paste a comment in the box below (registration required), or send your comment to (subject line: Blog comment) and we'll post it.
Regading,"Editorial: GSA's Alliant lessons": I began regular interaction with [the General Service Administration] several years ago. At that time GSA astonished me at how well they represented exemplary streamlined government. Now they are simply a disgrace. More of my clients flee GSA's lawyer-paralyzed assisted service everyday, cursing all the way. Now GSA at the national level cannot even conduct a proposal evaluation! How could such a bright spot in government collapse so fundamentally?
It pains me to say it, but GSA clearly needs more leaders and fewer lawyers. A law degree does not qualify a manager. In fact, a law degree might be a liability, so to speak, in the management
realm. To date I have met no one at GSA genuinely interested in feedback from clients or industry on how to take charge of the acquisition arena as they could well do again. But even if they did listen, they would surely be unable to synthesize and manage the data and effectively respond. I recently heard one of the GSA Alliant evaluation leaders speak. He casually dimissed the protests as if protesting is some crazy new fad.
Nevermind the very logical ruling against GSA's plainly inept execution of a process they should master like no other agency. There wasn't a hint of learning taking place or responsibility taken. So, I have no faith that GSA will fix this enormous mess. I fully expect them to make it worse.
Anonymous
letters@fcw.com
It pains me to say it, but GSA clearly needs more leaders and fewer lawyers. A law degree does not qualify a manager. In fact, a law degree might be a liability, so to speak, in the management
realm. To date I have met no one at GSA genuinely interested in feedback from clients or industry on how to take charge of the acquisition arena as they could well do again. But even if they did listen, they would surely be unable to synthesize and manage the data and effectively respond. I recently heard one of the GSA Alliant evaluation leaders speak. He casually dimissed the protests as if protesting is some crazy new fad.
Nevermind the very logical ruling against GSA's plainly inept execution of a process they should master like no other agency. There wasn't a hint of learning taking place or responsibility taken. So, I have no faith that GSA will fix this enormous mess. I fully expect them to make it worse.
Anonymous
letters@fcw.com