OPENING STATEMENT

Mr. BUCKHOLTZ. We have of course responsibilities regarding computing, telecommunications, and records management, both government-wide and within GSA.

Before getting to the opening statement, I would just like to note that we are asking for an appropriation slightly in excess of $46 million, but in a report submitted very recently to Congressman Conyers, Chairman of the Government Operations Committee we note that in Fiscal Year 1990 we helped the Government achieve cost avoidance of approximately $2 billion with our programs. So with that, would you like me to read the opening statement or just submit it?

Mr. ROYBAL. In any way you wish.

Mr. BUCKHOLTZ. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate this opportunity to present the Fiscal Year 1992 Budget request for GSA's Information Resources Management Service (IRMS) before this subcommittee. I am accompanied by Mr. G. Martin Wagner, the Deputy Commissioner, Vincette L. Goerl, Controller for our service, Frank McDonough, the Assistant Commissioner for Federal Information Resources Management, Mike Corrigan, the Assistant Commissioner for Telecommunications Services, and Allen Olson, the Assistant Commissioner for Information Resources Procurement.

We in GSA's Information Resources Management Service are responsible for ensuring that the management, procurement and utilization of information resources by Federal agencies are accomplished in the most efficient and cost effective manner.

We are currently making considerable progress in several major projects related to our responsibilities. We have undertaken a number of recent initiatives to improve the management and acquisition of information resources throughout the Federal Government. In an effort to enhance the delegations process, GSA will begin to conduct reviews of agencies automated data processing support acquisitions. This will lead to more complete and effective oversight since a complete acquisition strategy must start with software development. Effective April 29, 1991, agencies are required to submit Agency Procurement Requests to GSA for all support services procurements over $2.5 million unless agencies have received a specific agency delegation of a different threshold.

In an effort to improve the acquisition process and ensure timely processing of awards, we are requesting an increase in funding and personnel in our Multiple Awards Schedules Program. Workload under this program has increased substantially over the past years with little or no staff increases. Our Fiscal Year 1992 Budget request includes funding to enhance the automated systems of the Schedules Division and the Systems and Services Division. Additional funding for office automation is required to meet the data processing requirements and allow electronic submission of portions of vendors' proposals.

Within GSA, IRMS is responsible for improving the quality assurance and oversight of the agency's information technology initiatives. We are requesting additional funding and personnel so that we may provide advice and oversight to the other services within GSA and assist them in formulating strategies and review

ing the execution and implementation of their information systems acquisitions.

In addition, we also provide on a reimbursable basis information processing, data communications, networking, and end user technical support services for all GSA organizations.

The transition to FTS2000 has been completed. It was initially anticipated that FTS2000 would save the Federal Government $150 million over the old FTS and that there would be an additional $50 million savings from new services. Cost analysis through December 1990 indicate that over $200 million has been saved and will be saved annually in voice service alone. Call minutes have grown from approximately 1.3 billion under FTS to 1.8 billion under FTS2000, while customers served has grown from 1.1 million to 1.3 million. Now that the transition is over, the implementation of new services such as dedicated circuits, packet switched service for data services and video conferencing is expanding rapidly.

The Washington Interagency Telecommunications System was awarded on January 12, 1989 and replaces a major portion of the current local service telephone system for Federal agencies in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area with an integrated voice and data transmission facility. Phase one of this project was completed on May 28 of last year. The transition to WITS, with completion of phases two and three, is currently scheduled to be completed in May of 1992.

The Aggregated System Procurement or ASP replaces existing, outdated, local service telecommunications systems outside the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. ASP will consolidate existing service areas into larger geographical areas for single competitive procurements and provide cost-effective state of the art technology. The ASP systems will serve more than 300 locations in 100 cities across the country. It is anticipated that the installation of the new systems will begin in Fiscal Year 1992.

Our request for Budget Authority for Operating Expenses, IRMS, is slightly over $46 million for Fiscal Year 1992. This is an increase of slightly over $6 million and 21 full time equivalents from our authorized level for Fiscal Year 1991. There is a table summarizing this request.

We are requesting no increase in Budget Authority for the Information Technology Fund. We will be happy to answer any questions.

[The information follows:]

STATEMENT BY THOMAS J. BUCKHOLTZ

COMMISSIONER, INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT SERVICE

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, AND GENERAL

GOVERNMENT

OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

FY 1992

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate this opportunity to present the Fiscal Year 1992 Budget request for GSA's Information Resources Management Service (IRMS) before this

subcommittee. I am accompanied by Mr. G. Martin Wagner, the Deputy Commissioner for the Information Resources Management Service, Ms. Vincette L. Goerl, Controller for the Information Resources Management Service, Mr Francis A. McDonough, the Assistant Commissioner for Federal

Information Resources Management, Mr. Michael L. Corrigan, the Assistant Commissioner for Telecommunications Services, and Mr. C. Allen Olson, the Assistant Commissioner for Information Resources Procurement.

We in GSA's Information Resources Management Service are responsible for ensuring that the management, procurement and utilization of information resources by Federal agencies are accomplished in the most efficient and cost effective manner.

We

We are currently making considerable progress in several major projects related to our responsibilities. have undertaken a number of recent initiatives to improve the management and acquisition of information resources throughout the Federal Government. In an effort to enhance the delegations process GSA will begin to conduct reviews of agencies ADP support acquisitions. This will lead to more complete and effective oversight since a complete acquisition strategy must start with software development. Effective April 29, 1991, agencies are required to submit Agency Procurement Requests to GSA for all support service procurements over $2.5 million unless agencies have received a specific agency delegation of a different threshold.

In an effort to improve the acquisition process and ensure timely processing of awards, we are requesting an increase in funding and personnel in our Multiple Award Schedules Program. Workload under this program has increased substantially over the past years with little or no staff increases. Our Fiscal Year 1992 Budget request includes funding to enhance the automated systems of the Schedules Division and the Systems and Services Division. funding for office automation is required to meet data processing requirements and allow for electronic data submission of significant portions of vendors' proposals.

Additional

Within GSA, IRMS is responsible for improving the quality assurance and oversight of the agency's information

technology initiatives. We are requesting additional funding and personnel so that we may provide advice and oversight to the other services within GSA and assist them in formulating strategies and reviewing the execution and implementation of their information systems acquisitions.

In addition, we also provide on a reimbursable basis information processing, data communications, networking, and end user technical support services for all GSA organizations.

It was

The transition to FTS2000 has been completed. initially anticipated that FTS2000 would save the Federal Government $150 million over the old FTS and that there would be an additional $50 million savings from new

services. Cost analysis through December 1990 indicate that over $200 million has been and will be saved annually in voice service alone. Call minutes have grown from

approximately 1.3 billion under FTS to 1.8 billion under FTS2000, while customers served have grown from 1.1 million

to 1.3 million. Now that the transition is over, the

implementation of new services such as dedicated circuits,

packet switched service for data services and video

conferencing is rapidly expanding.