govt2310 Posted July 16, 2023 Report Share Posted July 16, 2023 I find that people are using the phrase "Shared Services" but using different meanings for it. What are Shared Services? Is there an agreed-upon definition? I believe Shared Services are what is talked about at https://ussm.gsa.gov/qsmo/. Are these QSMO "shared services" executed by establishing Interagency Agreements (IAAs) involving Interagency Acquisition (IA) documentation? If so, is it considered a Direct Acquisition or Assisted Acquisition? I'm being told that there is no IAA with IA involved because there is no "acquisition": the servicing agency just provides the "shared service" by using its own federal employees or contractor employees working under an existing contract. Since there is no "contract award" involved, the IAA does not require a signature from a receiving agency CO. However, the receiving agency still has to transfer funds to the servicing agency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Culham Posted July 17, 2023 Report Share Posted July 17, 2023 12 hours ago, govt2310 said: I find that people are using the phrase "Shared Services" but using different meanings for it. What are Shared Services? Is there an agreed-upon definition? I believe Shared Services are what is talked about at https://ussm.gsa.gov/qsmo/. Are these QSMO "shared services" executed by establishing Interagency Agreements (IAAs) involving Interagency Acquisition (IA) documentation? If so, is it considered a Direct Acquisition or Assisted Acquisition? I'm being told that there is no IAA with IA involved because there is no "acquisition": the servicing agency just provides the "shared service" by using its own federal employees or contractor employees working under an existing contract. Since there is no "contract award" involved, the IAA does not require a signature from a receiving agency CO. However, the receiving agency still has to transfer funds to the servicing agency. I did not dig deep but I did find the following three references. My read but not saying I am right. They may help on your continued research into the questions you raise. The first reference would indicate that GSA and what every agency (Treasury in the example here) enter into a IAA where Treasury becomes the QSMO. The other two references demonstrate that with designation of a QSMO and agency using it, such as the FMQSMO, then it is a direct acquisition. What do you think? https://ussm.gsa.gov/assets/files/QSMO-Long-term-Designation-Criteria.pdf https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/administration-announces-two-new-qsmo-treasury-and-gsa-06292020 https://www.fiscal.treasury.gov/files/fmqsmo/sin-518201fm-agency-acquisition-guide-2022.11.23.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formerfed Posted July 17, 2023 Report Share Posted July 17, 2023 Govt2310, you are right in that people are using a variety of definitions. Shared services traditionally means services which one government agency can provide to another agency. The practice, which never really caught on for a variety of reasons, had renewed interest in a few years ago. This OMB memo provides more background on the latest “buzzword” emphasis called QSMO. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/M-19-16.pdf As you will note reading over this and the references Carl provided, QSMOs focus generally on a few specific areas but shared services can encompass just about any type services. You might be familiar with the concept of “Centers of Excellence” from years past which are essentially the same as QSMOs with a different label. There should be an Interagency Agreement established. Your question of whether an Interagency Acquisition is involved and required documentation depends upon the nature of the work provided and whether a contract is involved. But I believe every agency requires a signed interagency agreement process to be used even if work involves just government employees providing the work - the one exception might be when work is done within the same agency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retreadfed Posted July 17, 2023 Report Share Posted July 17, 2023 2 hours ago, formerfed said: Shared services traditionally means services which one government agency can provide to another agency. Don't think that the concept of shared services applies just to government agencies. Larger contractors will sometimes have a single entity provide a service for all segments of the company. These are frequently referred to as "shared services." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
govt2310 Posted July 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2023 Thanks everyone! I will study your links. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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