In keeping with this Administration’s drive for centralized management, new life is being breathed into the concept of shared services.  While not new, OMB is seeking to succeed in driving agencies to share services and eliminate duplication in places where others have not.  GSA is taking the lead role in the multi-agency Unified Shared Services Management Office and is focusing on areas such as financial management, human resources, information technology use, grants and – of course – acquisition.  GSA officials see the shared services operation as larger than the acquisition-focused Category Management initiative.  This may be news to industry since Category Management has been more widely promoted, but is instructive given the potential impact a true shared acquisition services organization could have.  The multi-faceted natures of shared services also creates business opportunities for contractors.  As the GSA-led team seeks to identify best practices in financial management, grants and other areas, it is likely that they will turn to industry for support.