Federal CIO Steven VanRoekel on Dec. 8, 2012 released a draft document that focuses on a “Shared First”approach to federal IT. He elaborated on that strategy in a White House blog post the following day.

It is the foundational paradigm for this Federal Information Technology (IT) Shared Services Strategy, which provides Federal agencies with guidance on the identification, implementation, and operation of shared services for commodity, support, and mission IT functions.

The strategy is part of IT Reform #6 (“Develop a strategy for shared services”) of the 25-Point Implementation Plan to Reform Federal Information Technology Management that seeks to increase return on investment (ROI), eliminate waste and duplication, improve the effectiveness of technology solutions, and reduce costs through shared approaches to program activities.

Feedback on the place was being solicited through Jan. 31, 2012. The final document is to be released in April 2012.