What are Shared Services (QSMO? Interagency Acquisition?)?

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

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.

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."

Thanks everyone! I will study your links.