A GSA Schedule Contract is a Government-wide contract vehicle for commercial products, services, and solutions. GSA Schedule Contracts, also known as Federal Supply Schedules, are indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ), long-term contracts under the General Services Administration’s Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program. The contracts include an initial award period of 5 years, with 3 potential option periods to extend the contract, with a potential total of 20 contract years. GSA Schedule Contracts are the most widely used government contract vehicle annually, and many government buyers prefer to purchase products and services through the GSA Schedule because it streamlines the procurement process through a host of benefits, such as:
- Orders placed under the Schedules program can count towards an agency’s socioeconomic goals and accomplishments
- Flexible Pricing: Customers are free to request price reductions beyond discounted Schedule prices
- Skill Pool: Contractor Team Arrangements (CTAs) allow agencies to customize solutions from a vast skill pool to obtain “total solutions”
- Control of procurement process: Ordering activity maintains a direct relationship with the contract service provider; GSA is not involved in the process except to initially establish the Schedules Contract
- Easy payment options: GSA SmartPay®, is accepted for all Schedule orders under $3,000
- No order limitations: Customers can place an order for any dollar amount
- Expedited Delivery: Available in many cases and items can frequently be delivered overnight or within two days
- Environmental Compliance: Orders placed under the GSA Schedules provide compliance with environmental requirements for application services and products
Contractors also receive some unique benefits in the form of Contractor Teaming Arrangements (CTAs), Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), and access to GSA’s proprietary opportunity portal, GSA eBuy.
CTAs allow GSA Schedule Contract holders to offer “total solutions” by teaming with other schedule holders to combine product and service offerings, subsequently reducing the level of viable competition and increasing the scope and capability of a contractors’ ability to perform on any requirement.
BPAs permit the consolidation of agency and multi-agency requirements, while eliminating the need for immediate funding requirements. This creates an opportunity for the government to further negotiate improved discounts, while subsequently satisfying recurring agency requirements while significantly increasing the turn-around time on orders.
GSA eBuy is an online portal of federal opportunities, similar in design to FedBizOpps.gov, however the requirements posted to GSA’s eBuy are only visible to GSA Schedule Contract holders. What does that mean? Without a GSA Schedule Contract, there are hundreds of Federal procurement opportunities that are being posted that, without a GSA Schedule Contract, your firm not only cannot view, but doesn’t even know exist. Opportunities within eBuy range from simple “best offer” quotes, to full-blown proposal efforts, and everything in between. Whether you realize it or not, without a GSA Schedule Contract, your firm is missing out on millions of dollars in opportunities that you simply don’t even know are there.
Whether you are ready to take on the process of obtaining your company’s GSA Schedule contract, need assistance with a current contract you have in place, or just want to gain a better understanding of the GSA and its requirements, we’re here to help. With more than a decade of hands-on experience assisting firms in all things GSA, our experts are ready to answer your questions and get you on the road to GSA Schedule contract award.
Click here to contact one of our consultants to determine your eligibility or complete one of our eligibility questionnaires.