When the federal government opens up a new line of business related to technology, the industry takes notice. This happened over the past few years with the evolution of the Technology Transformation Service (TTS) and its predecessors like the office of citizen services and innovative technology, the presidential innovation fellows and 18F. This month, the CompTIA Human Services IT Advisory Group (HSITAG) heard from David Zvenyach, who is the executive director of 18F and a deputy commissioner with GSA’s TTS. Also talking to the group was Alla Goldman Seiffert, deputy director for the Office of Acquisition with TTS. Hearing from these leaders helped to dispel some myths that the industry has been hearing and also helped to solidify the partnership that CompTIA’s industry members and 18F have in connecting industry best practices and experience with the work that 18F is doing.
Here are a few 18 F perceptions that were discussed and the reality of those perceptions:
Perception No. 1: 18F is operating as a non-competitive manner in federal and state technology projects.
Reality: With 180 people at 18F, they are certainly a much smaller scaled operation than many of the technology giants in the industry. To date, 18F has operated as more of a connector for industry contractors that are actually doing the work and reaping the contracts for the federal government. The team used the example of the implementation of the Data Act and the contractor that is knocking it out of the park thanks to the scoping and procurement work done by 18F on the front end.
Perception No. 2: 18F’s preference for open source keeps COTS and SaaS/IaaS at arm’s length.
Reality: 18F absolutely embraces OTS products and services where they exist. In fact, 18F is working to show other government agencies that SaaS, cloud offerings and other commercially available products can work efficiently in government by using many of these products themselves. “Most of what we do is not custom,” Zvenyach said. “We use a lot of infrastructure and software as a service, if it exists we’ll use it. That won’t change.”
Perception No. 3: 18F is running a deficit, its cost recovery model will be its demise.
Reality: While 18F has struggled to recover costs and generate revenue, things are looking up for the agency. They are more focused on billable work and are getting to the point of cost recovery even more quickly than they have promised administrative and legislative leadership. They are moving in the right direction.
Perception No. 4: In the new administration’s lean-government landscape, 18F won’t survive.
Reality: Zvenyach was late to our HSITAG meeting because he was at a town hall meeting with GSA and administrative leaders like the White House’s newly appointed Chief Digital Officer Gerrit Lansing and President Trump’s assistant for intragovernmental and tech initiatives Reed Cordish. What came out of that meeting? Zvenyach gave us a peek behind the curtain and told us that interactions with the new administration have all been positive. 18F has taken an evolving approach and are looking at what’s best for government as opposed to just what’s best for 18F. At the town hall, Cordish told attendees, “We have your back.” Additionally, CDO Lansing told the twitterverse, “FYI: USDS is here to stay in the new administration. Period.”
Conclusion
18F was born to serve as a technology consulting service for federal agencies that partners predominantly private sector minds that serve as appointees to 18F for limited time. They aim to agitate for change among federal agencies and, as of about six months ago, have stood up a state practice that is looking at state technology projects as well. This agitation was taken personally by some in the IT industry but our HSITAG discussions with 18F leadership point to this agitation being more of a partnership than in the past and CompTIA looks forward to the evolution. 18F will come to a future HSITAG meeting and keep us updated on their activities. To get more information about HSITAG and upcoming meetings, visit www.comptia.org/HSITAG.
