The Daily Scoop Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode: GSA seeks industry input on improving reseller market value
Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Billy Mitchell

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Billy Mitchell discusses two major topics facing federal leaders: the General Services Administration (GSA) seeking industry feedback on enhancing the value of technology resellers in government procurement, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) advancement in automation and adoption of AI chatbots. The episode spotlights GSA’s market research efforts and ICE’s push to automate business functions, providing insights into ongoing trends of digital transformation and procurement streamlining within government agencies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. GSA Seeks Input on Reseller Market Value (00:23 – 03:10)

• GSA’s Request for Information (RFI):
  The General Services Administration is actively soliciting feedback from technology resellers to improve the federal procurement process, especially as it relates to Value Added Resellers (VARs).
• Objective:
  GSA’s RFI aims to gather cost reduction strategies for products sold to the government through VARs as opposed to direct purchases from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
• Role of Value Added Resellers:
  VARs purchase infrastructure or software from OEMs and enhance them with additional features or services prior to reselling to federal agencies.
• Findings from Analysis:
  There is significant variance in the services offered and the markup percentages added to vendor pricing across different VARs.
• Pricing and Controls:
  Market research is set to inform whether GSA needs “additional controls to ensure the government receives fair and reasonable pricing when markups exceed a specified percentage threshold.”
• Understanding Value Add:
  GSA's goal is to develop a “clearer understanding of the value added by resellers and the resulting impact of these services on pricing and the ability to meet the government’s requirements.”
• Josh Grunbaum's Comment:
  Josh Grunbaum, Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner at GSA, emphasizes the importance of industry feedback:

  “The agency wants to hear directly from the VARs about the value they add to the government within the supply chain.” (01:42)

• Outcome for Contracting Officers:
  The info gathered will “help contracting officers, allowing them to more accurately evaluate proposed pricing and ensure fair and reasonable costs for these types of products.”
• Context – OneGov Initiative:
  This is part of the “OneGov initiative, which focuses on streamlining the federal procurement process by working directly with vendors to reduce costs and avoid duplicative actions.”
  • Despite the push for direct vendor deals, resellers remain involved in many agreements, albeit potentially in new capacities.

2. ICE’s Push for Automation and AI Chatbots (03:11 – 06:00)

• Automation Expansion:
  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) IT department is accelerating the automation of business functions.
• Dustin Goetz Remarks:
  Dustin Goetz, CIO at ICE, at a Homeland Security and Defense forum event:

  “We’re already tapping our automation tool set for compliance checks on applications, code review, and identification of issues in infrastructure…” (03:30)

• Prime Areas for Automation:
  Lower-level cybersecurity tasks, service desk operations, and administrative duties identified as “prime areas for automation.”
• Training AI Models:
  Goetz highlights the need to “train models to help a process that’s already underway” using existing agency data.
• Adoption of Internal AI Chatbot:
  ICE has launched an internal AI chatbot named Stella, led by the DHS division’s Chief Innovation and AI Officer.
  • Openness to industry partnerships: “The agency is open to bringing on industry partners to sharpen the tool and help ICE reach its automation goals.” (04:22)
• Maintaining Human Oversight:
  Despite automation, “human review will remain a vital part of the adoption process, even as tasks are automated.”
• Legacy Technology Identification:
  ICE is pushing to “identify legacy tech and shadow it,” consistent with a broader federal trend toward IT efficiency.
• Policy Context:
  This aligns with the Trump administration’s continued emphasis on “efficiency and eliminating waste.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Josh Grunbaum, GSA Commissioner:

  “The agency wants to hear directly from the VARs about the value they add to the government within the supply chain.” (01:42)

• Dustin Goetz, ICE CIO:

  “We’re already tapping our automation tool set for compliance checks on applications, code review, and identification of issues in infrastructure…” (03:30)

• On Human Review:

  “Human review will remain a vital part of the adoption process, even as tasks are automated.” (04:33)

• On Value Assessment:

  “The information received in the RFI will also help contracting officers, allowing them to more accurately evaluate proposed pricing and ensure fair and reasonable costs…” (02:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:23 – GSA seeks industry input on reseller value
• 01:42 – Josh Grunbaum on VAR value in supply chain
• 02:36 – RFI’s impact on fair pricing and contracting
• 03:11 – ICE’s drive for automation and new AI chatbot
• 03:30 – Dustin Goetz on current automation use
• 04:22 – Openness to industry partners for ICE’s Stella chatbot
• 04:33 – Importance of human review in automation
• 05:10 – ICE’s push to identify and shadow legacy tech

Conclusion

This episode delivers useful updates on how GSA is reevaluating the value proposition and oversight of technology resellers, and how ICE is making bold advances in federal IT automation, including deployment of an internal AI chatbot. Federal agencies continue to balance efficiency, technological integration, and oversight in an era of increasing digital transformation.

For more details, visit FedScoop.com.