GSA’s IT Schedule program needs attention.  It’s not that the program isn’t driving sales.  It does, but apparently at a cost that is increasingly high to industry.  A recent industry discussion covered a number of specific issues that are ripe for intervention to ensure that the program continues to benefit GSA, contractors, and their common government customers. First up are multiple reports of contracting officers essentially saying “I can ask for whatever I want, I’m the CO” (uh, no you can’t).  This results in data requests that apparently have thrown the Paperwork Reduction Act out the window.  Another is a financial review team that, quite literally, leaves offerors in tears.  There is tough and then there is unprofessional.  Perhaps most alarmingly, are demands on industry to supply supporting documentation and data even for TDR-based contracts under which contractors are not supposed to be asked for such information and for which there is no agreed upon standard as to what constitutes “enough” information.  Although we’ve seen our fair share of Schedules ups and downs over the years, the current status quo clearly needs attention.  The constant demands for ever-lower pricing, arbitrary removal of products that “may” violate the Trade Agreements Act, and a reported lack of meaningful management-level oversight have all contributed to the creation of a market that leaves contractors in the untenable position of playing “whac-a-mole” in order to try and manage their contracts and, oh yeah, maybe actually serve federal customers through them.  All taxpayers want the government to make wise use of their money.  That does not mean, though, that there can be a perpetual open season on IT contractors to undo previously negotiated deals, change the categories that they sell under without explanation, or allow largely unknown, and therefore unaccountable, “experts” to make decisions on what is and what is not in scope.  FAS management must step into this situation and ensure that IT Schedule contracts are properly managed.  The Schedules program can be a great asset to federal agencies but not if industry “partners” feel like they have a target on their back.