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Quarterly ITVMO Newsletter

Quarterly ITVMO Newsletter icon

ITVMO Newsletter Q4 FY2024

ITVMO Annual Assessment

As we look back on FY24 here at the Information Technology Vendor Management Office (ITVMO), we want to recognize the IT industry and procurement workforce for their relentless commitment and professionalism, and the incredible value they bring to the acquisition community. Their efforts ensure the government has the technology it needs to serve the American people.

IT Across the US

Technology touches every facet of government operations, from powering public safety and health services to enabling infrastructure, education, and more. This interconnected system relies on the dedication and expertise of both government and industry to drive innovation and deliver meaningful outcomes. The IT procurement community plays a pivotal role in this ecosystem, ensuring that agencies have access to the smart, secure solutions needed to achieve their missions. Though much of this work happens behind the scenes, its ripple effects are seen and felt across the nation, advancing public service and mission delivery.

Looking ahead, the ITVMO remains steadfast in its commitment to support this vital collaboration. Our mission is clear: to partner with the IT industry and empower the acquisition workforce with the tools, strategies, and innovations they need to thrive. Whether refining acquisition technologies, streamlining procurement processes, or fostering meaningful connections between government and industry, our initiatives are designed to meet the dynamic challenges of IT procurement with confidence and precision.

Thanks to the support and expertise of many of you, the ITVMO achieved several impactful milestones in 2024. Together, we’re strengthening acquisition practices, promoting financial management, and enhancing digital engagement across federal IT.

  • Sharing Knowledge and Acquisition Intelligence – Through the IT Buyers CoP, OEM webinars, and the Zero Trust Cohort, we awarded over 840 Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) to procurement professionals. We developed and published over 95 resources, including in-depth FinOps resources and case studies. These resources offer actionable insights into financial management practices, supporting agencies in streamlining and optimizing their financial operations.
  • Expanding Small Business Participation – Through detailed studies, targeted agency engagements, multiple events, and several new resources we helped increase government-wide small business utilization to 40.2% in FY24.
  • Driving Strategic Partnerships – The ITVMO led the charge in enhancing relationships with OEMs and federal IT buyers, facilitating cooperative agreements that streamlined procurement processes. Our team also helped to develop best-in-class terms that will result in more secure, cost-effective contracts.
  • Supporting IT Category Initiatives – The ITVMO successfully guided all thirteen best-in-class vehicles through the re-designation process.
  • ITVMO Annual Summit – We convened nearly 200 leaders and acquisition experts to share insights, build partnerships, and foster collaboration on critical IT procurement strategies across government agencies.
  • Enhancing Our Digital Presence – Our improved digital presence has expanded communication and outreach efforts. The ITVMO website and new generative AI buying microsite have surpassed last year’s total visits, reaching 43,810 views —reflecting a 20% increase in traffic over the last two years.
  • Sustaining Customer Satisfaction – We sustained a high net promoter score (NPS) of 92.6%. Our IT Buyers CoP membership and subscriber base has grown significantly, with customer renewal rates rising from 80% in 2023 to 157% in 2024.

For full details on our annual assessment, Click Here.

Hackathon Teams Tackle Key Procurement Challenges

In an exciting collaboration between government and industry, the ITVMO hosted a highly successful Procurement Hackathon that brought together procurement professionals and thought leaders from across government and industry to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the federal procurement system.

Prior to the event, participants and IT Buyers CoP members identified critical issues impacting procurement speed, efficiency, and technology adoption. Armed with these insights, nine teams collaborated intensively during the ITVMO Procurement Hackathon, focusing on the themes of People, Process, and Technology. Below are just a selection of the many standout ideas that emerged:

  • People: A 1:1 Mentorship/Coaching/Peer Programming initiative for Contracting Officers (COs). This program pairs experienced professionals with newer team members, creating an on-the-job mentorship environment to enhance acquisition skills. By offering practical, hands-on learning, the program aims to supplement traditional textbook training and improve workforce development in the federal procurement sector.
  • Process: The PROPEL Framework (Problem-Oriented Procurement for Enhanced Lifecycle Solutions) focuses on user-centered, agile contract lifecycle management. Designed for digital acquisitions, such as Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) software, Software as a Service (SaaS), and development services, this solution promotes early stakeholder alignment and iterative processes, prioritizing solutions and qualifications over traditional procurement requirements.
  • Technology: The Acquisition Center of Excellence (ACE) is a proposed collaborative platform that brings together government, industry, and academia to identify and solve procurement challenges before they escalate into risks. ACE aims to explore unconventional contracting approaches, such as AI integration to automate procurement processes, offering more creative and flexible solutions for future acquisitions.

In the weeks ahead, the ITVMO will review all of the ideas generated during the Procurement Hackathon and prioritize those ideal for piloting or further development. We'll also assess their alignment with ongoing procurement initiatives. Stay tuned for an update outlining prioritized solutions and actionable plans for select ideas.

The success of this event marks a significant step in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of federal IT procurement, and the ITVMO looks forward to continuing this momentum with the support of its community and stakeholders.

Enhancing Small Business Participation in the Federal IT Software Reseller Market

The ITVMO, recently undertook an initiative to expand opportunities for small businesses (SBs) in federal IT contract spending focusing on small business participation within the OEM-VAR landscape. Federal agencies acquire a significant portion of commercial software through Value-Added Resellers (VARs); however, small business participation in this market varies widely depending on the practices of OEMs.

Recognizing this gap, a study was launched to better understand the challenges small businesses face in entering and thriving in the federal marketplace and to examine inconsistencies in OEM management of their VAR networks.

The initiative kicked off with a Request for Information (RFI), inviting insights and feedback from stakeholders across the IT industry.

The ITVMO would like to extend our sincere thanks to the 40+ industry partners who responded to the OEM and VAR Vendor Assessment Initiative RFI. The insights gained have provided us with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities small businesses face in the federal IT marketplace. This work helps direct the ITVMO’s efforts, ensuring resources are strategically aligned to address key challenges that drive meaningful improvements.

Challenges Faced by Small Businesses

RFI respondents outlined several challenges faced when entering and growing in the federal marketplace. Some of the most common roadblocks highlighted included:

  • Building effective relationships with OEMs: Businesses, particularly small businesses, struggle to build the formal relationships the federal government requires to act as resellers.
  • The complexities of navigating federal contract vehicles: Understanding of the contracts federal agencies use and visibility into federal VAR opportunities remains limited, hindering growth and participation
  • The inconsistent application of size standards: Businesses reported they are considered small on some contracts, but not on others. This complicates the competitive environment.

Our Commitment to Action

In response, the ITVMO is committed to taking actionable steps to improve the reseller market based on feedback in the RFI, with the goal of enhancing small business participation in federal IT procurement. We’ve increased opportunities for businesses to learn about the federal OEM marketplace. For example, we've begun hosting training sessions on federal contract vehicles, including a recent session via the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and we have an upcoming session on GSA's FAS Lane and Springboard Programs scheduled for December 10. These training programs are designed to increase the understanding of governmentwide contracts, helping small businesses better navigate the procurement process.

Looking ahead, we’ll host matchmaking events in early 2025 to connect OEMs and VARs, further strengthening these vital relationships. Additionally, we are actively working with policymakers to explore ways to improve consistency in the use of NAICS codes, enhancing transparency in the marketplace. These initiatives are part of our broader strategy to streamline the OEM-VAR relationship-building process and make it easier for reseller businesses in the federal marketplace to access federal contracts.

For more information and resources please visit our small business webpage or contact us directly at itvmo@gsa.gov

Unlocking the Power of Best-In-Class (BIC) IT Procurement: Your Guide to Streamlined Solutions

Announcement: FY25 Best-in-Class (BIC) Solutions Re-designations

The ITVMO and IT Government-wide Category Management (ITGCM) team is proud to support IT Best-in-Class (BIC) vehicles—federal procurement solutions that set the standard for excellence in IT acquisitions. These vehicles undergo rigorous assessments to ensure they deliver optimal value, aligning with federal priorities like cost-effectiveness, performance, and innovation.

This month the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), with the support of the Government-wide Category Management Program Management Office (GWCM PMO), is pleased to announce the re-designation of 38 of the 39 Best-in-Class (BIC) solutions for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) including all the Information Technology Vehicles These solutions have earned their re-designation based on their continued Green ratings across all BIC review dimensions, highlighting their effectiveness in advancing

Category Management principles and operational objectives. For a full listing of IT best-in-class vehicles

Note: The final solution, Rental Cars, is pending development and approval of their Action Plan on Cost Avoidance, which is due no later than November 30, 2024.

Significance of BIC Solutions

The BIC initiative remains a cornerstone of the broader category management strategy. It continues to foster cooperative excellence among customer agencies, vendors, and solution owners, optimizing the government's collective buying power while ensuring efficient, secure, equitable, and sustainable procurement practices in direct support of the key Administration priorities. Additionally, all high-priority BICs have secured the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) sustainability check for FY25.

For more information on BIC solutions or to access the supporting documentation, please visit the ITVMO Vehicles Webpage

IT Government-Wide Category Forum in October

Thank you for helping to make the FY25 Government-Wide IT Category Forum a resounding success. The day brought together over 150+ attendees from government and industry, a dynamic line-up of speakers, panelists, and moderators, and a diverse array of small business holders of IT Best-In-Class contracts. The IT Category is excited to partner with you to carry that energy forward into innovative initiatives aimed at revolutionizing the federal IT marketplace through the use of IT Best-In-Class contracts; applying Category Management strategies to your business or agency, and understanding skills-based hiring opportunities for federal contractors. We would love to hear from attendees such as yourself about your experience in attending the FY25 Government-Wide IT Category Forum. Please help us create a better experience next year by sharing areas of success and opportunities for improvement.

We want to hear from you. Help shape future events!

Share your feedback on this year’s event and what you’d like to see in future events via a quick survey, which you can access here. The survey should take around 2-3 minutes to complete and will remain open until November 29, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Your feedback will provide us with invaluable insights that will help shape our planning for 2025.

Whether you attended the event in person, or registered but were unable to attend, please take a moment to check out a list of IT Best-In-Class Vehicles available on the ITVMO website. We also encourage you to explore the IT Category’s page on the ITVMO website and follow the ITVMO on LinkedIn.

Meet the ITVMO Team

Introducing: Peng Chhour

Peng Chhour image

Peng has dedicated 14 years to federal service and currently provides counsel to the ITVMO and the IT Government-Wide Category, overseeing more than $78 billion in obligations. This category includes 13 Best in Class IT Acquisition contract solutions operated by NASA, DoD, GSA, and HHS' NIH. Peng is part of an exceptional team that develops and executes interagency initiatives to promote the federal government's premier IT solutions and support American small businesses.

Peng's expertise lies in program and category management and process improvement. A key ongoing project involves developing the IT Government-wide Category’s strategic plan for FY25. In this role, Peng leads a team of domain experts in data and IT financial management to produce benchmarks and performance assessments. These outputs inform the priorities for the coming year, ensuring the category meets its key performance indicators (KPIs) for improving spend under management, increasing small business utilization, and achieving cost avoidance.

A 2019 Partnership for Public Service Federal IT Leaders program graduate, Peng holds a BA in Finance and an MBA from Temple University. Based in Philadelphia, Peng enjoys spending time with his family and hiking remote mountains or saltwater fishing when it’s not football season—Go Birds!

For more on the ITVMO visit ITVMO.gsa.gov or email us at ITVMO@gsa.gov and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn.

On this Page

ITVMO Annual Assessment Hackathon Teams Tackle Key Procurement Challenges Enhancing Small Business Participation in the Federal IT Software Reseller Market Unlocking the Power of Best-In-Class (BIC) IT Procurement: Your Guide to Streamlined Solutions IT Government-wide Category Forum in October Meet the ITVMO Team Prior Newsletters

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