GSA's Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer was established on June 4, 2004 to strengthen GSA's acquisition activities and assure that best value acquisition services are delivered to federal agency customers in support of their missions of service, while balancing an emphasis on compliance, ethics and integrity.

The Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer (OCAO) reports directly to the GSA Administrator and is responsible for managing a broad range of acquisition activities including: ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies; fostering full and open competition for contract awards; developing the acquisition workforce, and accountability for acquisition decision making. 

The Office of the CAO consists of functions formerly under GSA's Office of Governmentwide Policy, including the Office of the Senior Procurement Executive, Contract Policy Division, Acquisition Systems Division (including the President's E-Government initiative for the Integrated Acquisition Environment), Acquisition Workforce Division and the Suspension/Debarment Division. The Chief Acquisition Officer will participate in the new Chief Acquisition Officer Council, and has responsibility for overseeing all of GSA's contract vehicles including the Multiple Award Schedules, Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), City-Pairs, and the federal credit card programs. The OCAO will also be responsible for policy, training and management of GSA's acquisition workforce, numbering 2,400 associates nationally.