GSA and NIST Partner to Boost AI Evaluation Science in Federal Procurement

GSA News Releases

Published March 18th, 2026

Detected March 19th, 2026

Summary

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are partnering to enhance the evaluation of artificial intelligence models and services for federal procurement. This initiative aims to develop consistent methods for testing AI systems, supporting the White House's AI Action Plan and enabling agencies to adopt AI more securely and confidently.

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What changed

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and NIST's Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) have announced a partnership to improve the evaluation science for artificial intelligence (AI) in federal procurement. This collaboration will support GSA's AI platform, USAi, by developing standardized methods for testing and measuring AI systems before agency adoption. The initiative aligns with the White House's America's AI Action Plan, aiming to foster faster, more secure AI adoption across government agencies.

Federal agencies will benefit from tooling, methodological guidance, and practical resources like evaluation guidelines and checklists provided by CAISI and GSA. This partnership is expected to reduce duplicated efforts, lower costs, and accelerate the deployment of AI technologies. The goal is to equip agencies with the confidence and tools needed to adopt AI securely, supporting U.S. leadership in AI innovation.

What to do next

Review GSA and NIST guidance on AI evaluation tools and checklists when available.
Assess current agency AI procurement and testing processes for alignment with new standards.
Incorporate new evaluation methodologies into future AI procurements.

Source document (simplified)

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March 18, 2026
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GSA and NIST Partner to Boost AI Evaluation Science in Federal Procurement

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. General Services Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation announced a joint effort to strengthen how the federal government evaluates artificial intelligence models and services.

The partnership will support USAi, GSA’s secure AI platform for the federal workforce, by developing clearer, more consistent ways to test and measure AI systems before agencies use them in real-world settings. This work supports the White House’s ** America’s AI Action Plan, which calls for stronger AI evaluation practices and expanded AI adoption across government.

The goal is simple: help agencies adopt AI faster, more securely, and with greater confidence.

“This partnership gives agencies the tools they need to adopt AI with confidence and advances President Trump’s vision for U.S. leadership in the global AI race,” said GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst. “By combining GSA’s government-wide reach with NIST’s AI evaluation expertise, we’re strengthening how the federal government deploys AI.”

Through the collaboration, CAISI will provide tooling and methodological guidance to help GSA evaluate advanced AI models, select and interpret benchmarks, and conduct hands-on testing within real federal workflows. GSA and NIST will also create practical resources, including clear evaluation guidelines and checklists, that other agencies can use to assess AI tools for their own missions.

“We’re at a pivotal time in the AI revolution and this partnership between CAISI and GSA will enable federal agencies to adopt AI in ways that help the American people,” said Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Acting NIST Director Craig Burkhardt. “We are excited to help advance AI in support of the Trump Administration’s vision for innovation.”

By working together, GSA and CAISI will help agencies avoid duplicating efforts, lower costs, and move more quickly from experimentation to full deployment. The collaboration reflects both agencies’ shared commitment to transparency, strong standards, and building trust in emerging technologies.

About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government. GSA manages a nationwide real estate portfolio of approximately 360 million rentable square feet, oversees more than $116 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivers technology services to millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver exceptional customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

Contact
press@gsa.gov

Last updated: Mar 19, 2026

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