The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S. government offices, provides transportation, office space, building services, and property management to federal employees, agencies, and develops government-wide cost-minimizing policies and other management tasks. The GSA employs about 12,000 federal workers. It has an annual operating budget of roughly $33 billion and oversees $66 billion of procurement annually. It contributes to the management of about $500 billion in U.S. federal property, divided chiefly among 8,397 owned and leased buildings (with a total of 363 million square feet of space) as well as a 215,000-vehicle motor pool.
Government Websites and Digital Services
The GSA manages the development and maintenance of government websites, including the official website of the U.S. government, USA.gov, and the federal portal for online services, known as the DigitalGov platform. The GSA provides guidelines, standards, and best practices for government agencies to improve their online digital presence and user experience.
Federal Acquisition Service (FAS)
Within the GSA, the Federal Acquisition Service oversees the procurement of goods and services for federal agencies. This includes managing online acquisition platforms like GSA Advantage, which allows government agencies to purchase products and services online. The FAS plays a role in ensuring compliance, efficiency, and transparency in online procurement processes.
FedRAMP
The GSA operates the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), which provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud service providers seeking to offer their services to federal agencies. FedRAMP helps ensure the security and privacy of federal data stored and processed in the cloud, fostering online services within the government.
Data and Analytics
The GSA collects and analyzes data related to government operations, including online performance metrics, user behavior, and service utilization. This data-driven approach helps inform decision-making, improve online services, and enhance citizens' overall experience interacting with government websites and digital platforms.
