GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) is said to be organizing its operation around various Category Management (CM) focus areas, with the aim of developing expertise in each specific area.  Information Technology, Supplies, Services, Industrial Products, and Travel are just some of the areas of specific focus.  The move is consistent with directives coming from the Office of Management and Budget and is aimed at providing user agencies with small, medium, or large service options when making acquisition decisions.  FAS is also adding new people to its organization to be able to go deep in each area.  Previously, GSA officials had expressed concern that they did not have enough personnel resources to operate in such a specialized manner.  The focus then was on being flexible with the personnel resources at hand.  Now, however, the agency is going in the complete opposite direction.  If successful, the organization around CM areas may, indeed, create areas of expertise that provide both customers and contractors with a more knowledgeable GSA business partner.  The agency will have to guard, however, against the creation of stovepipes and ensure that communication is horizontal as well as vertical.  As the recent service Schedule consolidation showed, for example, customer needs can transcend single specialty areas.