GSA's newly-launched Apps.gov, the virtual storefront intended to revolutionize how federal agencies buy IT applications, is meeting mixed reviews from government and industry. As one of the most visible procurement modernization efforts, the new site is created to look and act like user-friendly e-commerce websites such as Amazon.com. With perhaps one of the sleekest site designs in all of federal government, the site's creators appear to have successfully made a splash with the new storefront--but it is a movement that will continue to evolve.

Proponents have hailed the site's usability, clear definitions, and up-front structure. The cloud-computing components are explained to users, and GSA has made it easy for federal staff to find what they need and buy it from the vendor. Unfortunately, underneath the shiny new site, some critics have found that Apps.gov has not improved on its predecessor, GSA Advantage--which provided agencies with access to the GSA Schedules. Its offerings are not extensive, and the process for ordering is much the same. Users identify the product, Apps.gov contacts the vendor, the vendor contacts the agency, the order is confirmed ... etc.

Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra, the site's most outspoken champion, has cautioned users from drawing conclusions about the site in its early stages. "We are just beginning this undertaking," Kundra said on the White House blog. It may be the first step toward the new and modern federal acquisiton environment, and as Apps.gov signals the first move, look for the site to continue its evolution.