HB, Supply Operations, Volume 2, Commodity Management

1.  Purpose.

This Handbook transmits the revised HB, Supply Operations, Volume 2, Commodity Management (FAS 2901.1).

2.  Background.

The Federal Property and Administration Services Act of 1949 established the Federal Catalog System. The Defense Cataloging and Standardization Act of 1952 further provided for the coordination of cataloging and standardization activities between the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). It established a single catalog system and a related supply standardization program which was instrumental in establishing a uniform National Supply System.  GSA is responsible for providing catalog and management data for items it manages as part of the National Supply System. This handbook establishes policy and provides guidance to Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) personnel who perform cataloging and standardization functions relating to items-of-supply across the National supply chain.

3.  Scope and Applicability.

     a.  This Handbook contains policies and procedures to be followed by FAS personnel in carrying out the functions of standardization, specification management, technical support, and supply determination.

     b.  The provisions of this Handbook are applicable to all FAS personnel engaged in the functions of standardization, specification management, technical support or supply determination. Certain chapters that relate to supply determination and the integrity of GSA and the DoD databases are also applicable to FAS personnel engaged in the functions of procurement and requisition processing.

4.  Supersedes.

This Handbook supersedes GSA Order FSS P 2901.11B, which was cancelled on July 24, 2019.