Numbers Tell the Story - TL;DL

In this Too Long;Didn't Listen version of GSA Does That!, host Rob Trubia sits down with Greg Rollins, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for GSA's Office of Policy and Compliance, to explore how Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) is transforming federal purchasing. From saving contractors time to giving small businesses a competitive edge, TDR brings transparency and efficiency to government procurement. Join us for an introduction to how GSA leverages data to make smarter buying decisions that benefit both industry, government and the American taxpayer.

"GSA Does That!?" is the U.S. General Services Administration's first agency-wide podcast, offering listeners an inside look into how GSA and its partners benefit the American people. Hosted by Rob Trubia, the podcast features interviews with GSA leaders, experts, partners, and customers, covering topics such as federal real estate, acquisitions, and technology. The title reflects many's surprise at the scope of GSA's impact. At the same time, the artwork pays homage to President Harry S. Truman, who established GSA in 1949 to improve government efficiency and save taxpayer money. Whether you're a policy wonk or just curious about government operations, you can join the listener community.

For more information about the show visit, gsa.gov/podcast.

Transcript

Welcome to the Too Long; Didn't Listen Edition of GSA Does That!?

Today, we're diving into Transactional Data Reporting, or TDR, with program manager Greg Rollins to learn how TDR is helping both GSA and Industry partners make smarter, data-driven purchasing decisions.

So, if you're too busy to listen to the entire episode, here’s the highlights.

[Clip of Greg Rollins]: "So really, transactional data at its core enables the government to understand, you know, what is being bought and sold on some of the government's largest procurement vehicles. And it allows us to understand that at a more granular level than we've traditionally been able to understand. Think of TDR like a detailed receipt versus, you know, a rolled up invoice."

That's Greg Rollins, explaining how TDR works. And while this program has been around for a few years, it's continuing to grow and opened up to more vendors in August 2024.

[Clip of Greg Rollins]: "And, yeah, we're very excited to, open up that aperture to allow more vendors to opt into this optional program, which we feel has tremendous value for both industry and for the government."

So how does this data help? Well by understanding spending trends, GSA can ensure small businesses are more involved and it can help mitigate supply chain risks.

[Clip of Greg Rollins]: "And delving a little deeper, that allowed that team to understand that small businesses weren't participating because they weren't given letters of supply from original equipment manufacturers, and that led the program team to then engage with those original equipment manufacturers. And, you know, be able to to get more small businesses authorized to sell those products."

And it's not just GSA that’s benefiting from TDR. The program helps vendors become more competitive by showing them where the government is spending its money.

[Clip of Greg Rollins]: "And we found that the majority of sales, you know, on our contract vehicles are from, a very small number of line items. So that business intelligence allows industry to understand that and focus on the items with the highest potential for sales."

And that's just a glimpse into our conversation with Greg Rollins.

To dive deeper into TDR, be sure to check out the full episode of GSA Does That!? Available on all major podcasting platforms or by visiting gsa.gov/podcast.

As always, thanks for listening and stay tuned for more episodes of GSA Does That!?