ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, formally protested the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)’s proposed implementation of the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI) as being in violation of the Small Business Act’s provisions related to the consolidation of contracts. The association formal protest was made in a letter dated August 15, 2013, to GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini.
 
Moreover, ISSA noted that GSA’s proposed implementation of the FSSI is in direct contravention of the policy established in Section 15(a) of the Small Business Act related to the awarding of government contracts to small businesses.
 
In its protest, ISSA noted that the Small Business Act states that a federal agency may not carry out an acquisition strategy that includes a consolidation of contract requirements unless federal procurement officials “identify any negative impact by the acquisition strategy on contracting with small business concerns.”
 
ISSA noted that despite this legal requirement, GSA has failed to give any consideration at all to the economic consequences to small businesses that will result from implementing FSSI in the jansan sector.  Moreover, GSA’s proposed approach of limiting the Blanket Purchase Agreements to 21 vendors does not adequately contemplate the long-term consequences of reducing competition and relying on only a handful of vendors to set prices.
 
In the protest letter, ISSA went on to argue that the GSA approach to implementing FSSI will restrict competition, eliminate business opportunities for hundreds of small businesses, and does not serve the national interests in maintaining a robust economy.
 
To read the full letter from ISSA to GSA protesting FSSI, click here.