The Request for Information aims to achieve greater value for taxpayers by gaining a clearer understanding of the services and value provided by resellers and the resulting impact on pricing
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to explore potential improvements to the federal procurement process, specifically concerning the acquisition of Information Technology (IT) hardware and software through Value Added Resellers (VARs).
“Industry partners are indispensable allies in our mission,” said GSA Administrator Ed Forst. “By working collaboratively with GSA on this request they’ll directly contribute to achieving our goals: enhancing the procurement process, maximizing efficiency, and ultimately, saving taxpayer dollars.”
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This GSA initiative demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and ensuring the government receives the best possible value for its IT investments. This RFI aligns with the goals of the OneGov initiative. Specifically, aiming to streamline the federal procurement process by working directly with Original Equipment Manufacturers to achieve cost efficiencies and eliminate duplicative efforts.
“We value the knowledge of our industry partners as we seek opportunities to streamline the federal procurement lifecycle/ecosystem, eliminating duplication and achieving cost efficiencies,” said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum. “We want to learn directly from Value Added Resellers about the value they add to the government within the supply chain.”
GSA is soliciting industry input to identify cost-reduction strategies for items resold to the government that were not originally purchased directly from original equipment manufacturers.
The RFI seeks to gain a clearer understanding of the value added by resellers, and the resulting impact of these services on pricing and the ability to meet the Government’s requirements. Ultimately, this initiative aims to:
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- Enhance the Government’s understanding of the reseller marketplace.
- Align contracting operations with commercial practices and standards to boost efficiency and effectiveness.
- Enable Industry to clearly propose and communicate the value of their offerings.
- Provide Contracting Officers with the necessary information and tools to more accurately and efficiently evaluate proposed pricing, ensuring the government secures fair and reasonable pricing for this substantial category of spending.
This RFI is intended to increase transparency in markups by VARs, which helps to dispel any notion of unfair pricing practices. Following that understanding, the government can determine if operational practices for evaluating the pricing of IT hardware acquired through VARs under SIN 33411 require updating. This may include establishing additional controls to ensure the government receives fair and reasonable pricing when markups exceed a certain percentage threshold under SIN 33411.
Parties interested in providing feedback should review the draft RFI — which includes the scope, objectives, and questions GSA is requesting feedback on.
Responses to the RFI are due February 9, 2026. GSA anticipates using the feedback gathered through this process to inform potential follow-on activities, including potential individual follow-up meetings. GSA anticipates amending the MAS solicitation in support of this initiative shortly after receiving and evaluating feedback.
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