Numerous factors played into Sun Microsystems' decision to cancel its multiple-award schedule contract as of Oct. 12. But one major point of contention, sources say, was how much pricing information the company should give to the General Services Administration's Office of Inspector General, which was reviewing the vendor's pricing policies. GSA Administrator Lurita Doan indicated that this particular case is only the latest manifestation of a larger industry problem that threatens to undermine the IG's function. “It is imperative, given our core mission, for GSA to have a fully capable, competent, independent and respected OIG, capable of gaining industry and GSA employee cooperation for investigations and audits,” Doan said (read the complete story here). FCW Editor in Chief Chris Dorobek has a different take. He believes the dispute fails to take into account market dynamics. The GSA schedule is important, Dorobek wrote in this week's editorial, but "nobody wins business simply by having a schedule contract. In general, agencies view the prices on schedule contracts as a place to start negotiations. And in a healthy, competitive market, there should be multiple vehicles that agencies can use. If schedule prices are out of whack, there are -- and should be -- other buying options." (Read the editorial here.) What do you think? Is GSA asking for too much information? Or is a pricing policy unnecessary because the market will take care of it?
