Let’s stipulate up front that smart use of technology is generally a good thing.  That doesn’t mean, though, that contracting professionals should cede all judgement to tech tools meant to help, but not supplant, their ability to make common sense business decisions.  Talk to just about any GSA Schedule contractor today, though, and you’ll definitely walk away with the sense that the “HAL 9000” has taken over Schedule negotiations.  This results in outcomes that frustrate contractors, limit customer choices and are not, ultimately, in the best interests of GSA.  We’ve spoken recently will a small company that offers a unique commercial solution.  There are no easy ways to compare their pricing model to other companies because of this.  As a result, the company has been unsuccessful in adding what should be a popular product to its Schedule.  Will federal buyers still obtain this solution?  Probably, but at higher prices and via more complicated acquisition methods.  There are dozens of similar stories in nearly every part of the Schedules program.  GSA leadership can help counteract this trend by emphasizing the simple point that the Schedules program offers thousands of solutions across multiple industry sectors from companies of all sizes.  It should be no surprise, therefore, that rote analysis tools cannot, by definition, supply a “one size fits all” solution.  Leadership should support the ability of contracting officials to use their automated tools as one set of inputs, while allowing the final decisions on contract discounts and terms to be made by actual people  Contracting officials will continue to rely on tools in an attempt to avoid criticism from what the IG may view as a questionable decision unless senior management makes it clear that they support their contracting officers.  This used to be the way the Schedules program operated.  CO’s used their training to hold contractors accountable, but also used common sense to recognize and accommodate special circumstances.  No one expects GSA to allow contractors to do whatever they want, but the phrase “Sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that” should come from a CO, not an automated tool.