The General Services Administration will launch a pilot program to collect data and identify best practices from multiple e-commerce providers, Bloomberg Government reported Friday.
In a proposal released earlier this month, GSA said it wants to increase the availability of commercial platforms designed to help agencies procure goods and services online.
“We are not looking for a proof of concept with one provider. There needs to be multiple e-commerce marketplaces for this to be successful, for this to accomplish its purpose,†said Jeff Koses, a senior procurement executive at GSA’s Office of Government-Wide Policy.
The agency currently reviews industry responses to a request for information on the project and aims to implement a prototype portal for web-based purchases by the end of next year.
In September, the Air Force introduced a pilot program to help military procurement officers buy products through Amazon’s business-to-business marketplace.