Cooperative Administrative Support Units CASU

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Cooperative Administrative Support Units (CASU) A
Federal Interagency Support Services Program
Briefing Small Agency Council Procurement
Committee Yvette Waugh, Executive Director (202)
219-0371 yvette.waugh_at_gsa.gov www.casu.gov
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CASU Defined

• Federal organizations that facilitate
  interagency cooperation in the acquisition of
  high quality, low cost services, with quick
  turn-around, to federal agencies throughout the
  U.S. and overseas.
• ____________________
• CASU created an entirely new way of bringing
  agencies together to identify common needs and
  then working together to meet those needs.
• The cooperative nature of CASU, with an
  interagency board of directors, makes each
  participating agency an owner/partner with a
  vested interest in maintaining quality,
  cost-effective, and timely services.

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Background

• Established in 1985 by OMB GSA charged with
  support function
• Authority
• Section 601 of the Economy Act of 1932, as
  amended
• Franchise Legislation Government Management
  Reform Act, 1994 - with amendments
• Purpose
• - Avoid duplication of services
• Gain economies of scale
• Save taxpayers money

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Distinguishing Features

• Customer Focus
• (Not Profit Driven / Value-Added Services /
  Competition)
• Fosters Interagency Cooperation (Local Boards)
• Self Supporting (No Appropriations)
• CFO Councils Operating Principles
• CASU Operating Principles
• A Board or Committee of participating agencies
• At least two customers external to the host
  agency
• A component level audit or SAS70 review of CASU
  operations

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Government Wide Impact

• Exceeds Government-wide Procurement Goals (83
  to small socioeconomic businesses)
• Actively Supports Strategic Sourcing
• A Model for Other Programs
• Franchise Legislation Est. 1994 by
  Government Management Reform Act (GMRA). Several
  CASUs part of franchise funds
• ICASS (www.icass.com) - International
  Cooperative Administrative Support Services -
  Concept in 160 US Embassies

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Organization Chart

Local CASU Board
Lead (Host) Agency
Hosted by GSA
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National Board of Directors

• Department of Defense
• Small Agency Council
• Department of Transportation
• General Services Administration

• Health and Human Services
• Department of the Interior
• Office of Management Budget
• Department of State
• Local Field Reps.

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CASU Network Members

• Mid America CASU
• Kansas City, MO
• Oklahoma, OK
• Dallas, TX
• Mid-Atlantic CASU
• New York, NY
• Pittsburgh, PA
• New Orleans
• Fort Worth CASU
• Rocky Mountain Regional CASU (Denver, CO)

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Customer Benefits

• Immediate Availability of Goods and Services
• Savings and Cost Avoidance
• Ease of Contracting for Services
• Improved Quality, Reliability and Convenience
• Improved Employee Morale and Productivity
• Voluntary Participation

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How CASU Helps Agencies?

• Co-located agencies identify needs and share in
  resource efforts to obtain best value services.
• Serves as alternate resource to obtain support
  service needs.
• Offers numerous high quality FAR-compliant
  service contracts/BPAs - negotiated volume
  discounts.
• Experienced staff and competed contracts allow
  quick response delivery.
• Handles all contract, financial, billing, payment
  and contractor issues.

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Key ServicesCompetitively Awarded Contracts/BPAs
in Place

• SERVICES
• Contract Staffing (admin/ prof/tech/indus)
• Mail Services
• Procurement Services
• Property Center
• Project Program Management
• Labor Moving Services
• Document Imaging
• Training
• Multi-Media Services

• PRODUCTS
• Copier Equipment
• Copy Paper (Bulk)
• Toner Cartridges
• Office Supplies

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How to Use CASU

• Agency completes interagency agreement
• Agency clears internal review processes (e.g.
  DF) submits description of services/ products
  required, confirms funding (CASU, with estimates
  from contractors, provides cost estimates to
  customer for acceptance)
• Agency remits final requirement and funding
  documents (CASU completes contract tasking with
  contractor agency approves final requirements
  and contractor estimate CASU notifies of
  delivery/ placement date)