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GSA’S
Federal Supply Schedule
The General Services Administration
(GSA) contracts with companies in order to make products and
services available to other federal agencies. Obtaining a contract
with GSA is similar to having your product or service listed in a
catalogue - it does not guarantee that anyone will buy from the
catalogue. But, having your product/service on a Schedule makes it
much easier for other agencies to purchase from you.
GSA's
Federal Supply Schedules, also known as Multiple Award Schedules
(MAS), are contracts that allow federal customers to acquire more
than 4 million services and products directly from more than 8,600
commercial suppliers.
GSA
Schedules cover a vast array of commercial items--from office
supplies and copier paper to systems furniture, from computers to
laboratory equipment, and services ranging from accounting to
graphic design to landscaping. Customers can order services and
products using the GSA
Advantage! online
ordering system.
To become a GSA Schedule contractor, you must first be awarded a
contract. To obtain a GSA Schedule contract, you must submit an
offer in response to the applicable GSA Schedule solicitation. GSA
awards contracts to responsible companies that offer commercial
items falling within the generic descriptions in the GSA Schedules.
Contracting
Officers determine whether prices are fair and reasonable by
comparing the prices/discounts that a company offers the government
with the prices/discounts that the company offers to its commercial
customers. The negotiation objective is commonly known as "most
favored customer" pricing. To make this comparison, GSA
requires offerors to provide commercial pricelists and disclose
information regarding their pricing/discounting practices.
Getting
Started:
Identify
the GSA Schedule solicitation that covers your services or products.
Review
the list of GSA
Schedule Solicitations to determine the applicable GSA
Schedule and corresponding solicitation number under which your
services or products may be offered. A point of contact is provided
for each Schedule solicitation.
Search
Schedules
e-Library by keyword to identify services or products
covered by GSA Schedules. Each GSA Schedule has a point of contact who
can provide specific information about individual GSA Schedule
items.
Review
the FSS
Contractor Guide. This document will provide you with
valuable information regarding the GSA Schedules Program.
Visit
FedBizOpps
to obtain a copy of the GSA Schedule solicitation. From the
FedBizOpps website-- Click on "go"
next to the "Find Business Opportunity" on the left side
of the screen. Scroll down to the "Search by
Solicitation/Award Number" bar, and type in the applicable
solicitation number for the services or products you are interested
in offering. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on
"Start Search."
GSA's Office
of Small Business Utilization offers workshops on
"How to Obtain a GSA Schedule Contract." Details regarding
these sessions are available online.
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