Category Management - Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI) - Office Supplies, JanSan & MRO, OS3, and BMO

Bornstein & Song Research focuses on the FSSI since its inception as it was applied to the GSA Pilot FSSI Program for Schedule 75 Office Supplies (OS2). The research concluded that the FSSI was detrimental for small businesses, jobs, and the U.S. Economy.

If you sell to the Federal Government, you should know about the upcoming impact of the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI) on your business.

Bornstein & Song developed this website as an informational tool:

(1) to alert the federal government and the federal contracting community of the dangers of the FSSI in its present form and (2) in response to the federal government’s decision to implement and make mandatory the FSSI for annual federal government procurement of $500+ billion. The FSSI decision was clearly defined in the December 5, 2012 Office of Management & Budget (OMB) on Strategic Sourcing - “Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies - Improving Acquisition through Strategic Sourcing”.

"There will be winners and losers, and not all who want to sell to the government can sell to the government."

The OMB Memo made it clear that the FSSI would be made mandatory for federal agency purchasing of goods and services. According to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy at the OMB, "Mandatory is what we're moving toward. There will be winners and losers, and not all who want to sell to the government can sell to the government."

There is an immediate sense of urgency as GSA intends to implement 10 new FSSIs in FY 2013-2014, beginning with the following areas.

• Janitorial/ Sanitation Products (JanSan) and Maintenance, Repair, and Operations Supplies (MRO)

• Building Maintenance and Operations (BMO)

• Office Supplies (OS3)

Most contractors and vendors are unaware of the FSSI.

Yesterday, it was the FSSI for Office Supplies (OS2).

Today, it is the FSSI for JanSan & MRO and Office Supplies (OS3).

Tomorrow, it may be you.

All businesses selling to the federal government are vulnerable as the government implements the FSSI on a mandatory basis across all federal government spending.

Bornstein & Song determined that the FSSI was going mostly unnoticed and the soon-to-be-affected federal contractors were unaware of the implications of this controversial and risky policy.

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