| GSA
Schedules |
| 1.
What are the differences between GSA Multiple Award
Schedule (MAS) contracts, Governmentwide acquisition contracts
(GWACs), and Multi-agency contracts (MACs)? |
| 2.
Who is eligible to use GSA Multiple Award Schedule
contracts? |
| 3.
How do I know I am getting the best price? |
| 4.
Is it really easier to purchase from Multiple Award
Schedule (MAS) contracts than it is to procure on the open market?
|
| 5.
How are the procedures for ordering services under
the Multiple Award Schedules Program different from the procedures
for ordering products? |
| 6.
What are the documentation requirements when placing
orders against Multiple Award Schedule contracts? |
| 7.
Can I use GSA Advantage! to order Multiple Award
Schedule services and products electronically? |
| 8.
What is e-Buy? |
| 9.
Can the Multiple Award Schedules meet all of my
needs? Even large or complex requirements? What if the Schedule
contractor doesn't have everything under contract? How can I
be certain that the services or products I need, including new
technology, are always available under Schedule contracts? |
| 10.
Can items NOT on a Multiple Award Schedule contract
be included on a Schedule order? |
| 11.
Sometimes I need delivery right away. Can I get
it when I use Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts? |
| 12.
What is a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) under
a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract? Are there any dollar
limitations when establishing BPAs? |
| 13.
Can I use my governmentwide commercial purchase
card for payment? |
| 14.
When I place an order under a Multiple Award Schedule
(MAS) contract does it meet Competition in Contracting Act (CICA)
requirements? |
| 15.
What is a Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA) under
the Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) Program? |
| 16.
Are all products offered under GSA Schedule contracts
compliant with the Trade Agreements Act? |
| 17.
As an ordering agency Contracting Officer, can
I terminate an order or must I go through the GSA Contracting
Officer? |
| 18.
Where can I obtain more information regarding
GSA Schedules? |
| GSA
Schedules |
| 1.
What are the differences between GSA Multiple Award Schedule
(MAS) contracts, Governmentwide acquisition contracts (GWACs),
and Multi-agency contracts (MACs)? |
| GSA
Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts are indefinite delivery,
indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts available to all federal
agencies worldwide. GSA awards and administers MAS contracts
pursuant to section 201 of the Federal Property and Administrative
Services Act of 1949, as amended. Under the MAS Program, GSA
enters into governmentwide contracts with commercial firms to
provide over 4 million commercial services and products. Agencies
place orders directly with MAS contractors. Interagency agreements
are not required to use MAS contracts. The Economy Act does
not apply to orders placed against MAS contracts. |
| Governmentwide
acquisition contracts (GWACS) are task order or delivery
order contracts for information technology established by one
agency for governmentwide use. Each GWAC is operated by an executive
agent designated by the Office of Management and Budget pursuant
to section 5112(e) of the Clinger-Cohen Act. The Economy Act
does not apply to orders under GWACs. |
| Multi-agency
contracts (MACs) are task order or delivery order contracts
established by one agency for use by government agencies to
obtain a variety of supplies and services. The Economy Act (Federal
Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 17.5) applies to orders
placed under MACs, with the exception of MACs for information
technology that are established pursuant to the Clinger-Cohen
Act. |
| 2.
Who is eligible to use GSA Multiple Award Schedule contracts?
|
| GSA
Order ADM 4800.2E, "Eligibility to Use GSA Sources of Supply
and Services," provides detailed information regarding
those agencies, activities, and organizations that have been
determined to be eligible to use GSA Multiple Award Schedule
contracts. |
| 3.
How do I know I am getting the best price? |
| GSA's
goal is to be the best value supplier of choice. |
| Multiple
Award Schedule (MAS) contracts offer "most favored customer"
pricing/discounts. Quantity discounts may also be available.
With the elimination of maximum order limitations, and the implementation
of maximum order thresholds, contractors may now accept "any
size" orders. In accordance with Federal Acquisition
Regulation (FAR) 8.404(b)(3), the maximum order threshold represents
the point where it is advantageous for customers to seek price
reductions. In fact, for orders exceeding this threshold, after
a customer reviews additional Schedule contractors' pricelists
or GSA Advantage!, the FAR, as well as the Ordering Procedures
for Services (Requiring a Statement of Work), instructs the
customer to generally seek price reductions from Schedule contractor(s)
appearing to provide the best value (considering price and other
factors). Agencies are encouraged and empowered to seek price
reductions, not only for orders over the maximum order threshold,
but also when circumstances warrant, for orders below this amount
in order to ensure that when using MAS contracts, they receive
the best value at the lowest overall cost. |
| 4.
Is it really easier to purchase from Multiple Award Schedule
(MAS) contracts than it is to procure on the open market? |
| Purchasing
from MAS contracts offers the following advantages over procuring
on the open market: |
| *
GSA has determined prices under MAS contracts to be fair and
reasonable. |
| *
Synopses are not required for MAS purchases. |
| *
MAS contracts have been awarded in compliance with all applicable
laws and regulations. |
| *
Administrative time is reduced. |
| *
MAS contracts offer a wide selection of state-of-the-art commercial
services and products. |
| 5.
How are the procedures for ordering services under the Multiple
Award Schedules Program different from the procedures for ordering
products? |
| Although
the Ordering Procedures for Services Requiring a Statement of
Work differ from the Ordering Procedures for Products and Services
That Do Not Require a Statement of Work in FAR 8.404(b), both
sets of procedures are designed to simplify the acquisition
process. |
| For
orders of services and/or products up to the micro-purchase
threshold: Place the order with any Schedule contractor. |
| For
orders above the micro-purchase threshold but below the maximum
order threshold: |
| *
Services Requiring a Statement of Work: Prepare a request for
quotes that includes the statement of work; transmit the request
to at least three Schedule contractors; evaluate responses;
and make a best value selection. |
| *
Products and Services That Do Not Require a Statement of Work:
Review the GSA Advantage! online shopping service or at least
three Schedule contractors' pricelists; evaluate; and make a
best value selection. |
| For
orders above the maximum order threshold: |
| *
Services Requiring a Statement of Work: Follow the same procedures
for orders above the micro-purchase threshold, except transmit
the request for quotes to additional Schedule contractors; seek
price reductions; evaluate responses; and make a best value
selection. |
| *
Products and Services That Do Not Require a Statement of Work:
Follow the same procedures for orders above the micro-purchase
threshold, except review additional Schedule contractors' pricelists
or use the GSA Advantage! online shopping service; seek price
reductions; evaluate; and make a best value selection. |
| Note:
For orders of services exceeding $100,000 using Department of
Defense (DoD) funds, the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation
Supplement (DFARS) has been amended in Section 208.404 to implement
Section 803 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2002 (Public Law 107-107). DoD offices and non-DoD activities
placing orders on behalf of DoD should refer to DFARS 208.404
and 208.404-70 for additional information regarding ordering
procedures and documentation requirements. |
| 6.
What are the documentation requirements when placing orders
against Multiple Award Schedule contracts? |
|
Documentation should be kept to a minimum, but should contain
the following basic information: |
| For
services that require a statement of work— |
| *
Identify the services purchased, the Schedule contractor (contractor's
name and contract number) from which the services were purchased,
and the amount paid. |
| *
If other than a firm-fixed price order is placed, include the
basis for the determination to use a labor-hour or time-and-materials
order. |
| *
For requirements over the micro-purchase threshold, document
the evaluation of Schedule contractors' quotes that formed the
basis for selecting the contractor that received the order and
the rationale for any trade-offs made in making the selection. |
| For
products and services that do not require a statement of work— |
| *
Identify the products and services purchased, the Schedule contractor
(contractor's name and contract number) from which the products
and services were purchased, and the amount paid. |
| *
For requirements over the micro-purchase threshold that are
so defined as to require a particular brand name, product, or
feature peculiar to one manufacturer, include an explanation
as to why the particular brand name, product, or feature is
essential to satisfy the agency's needs. |
| Note:
For orders of services exceeding $100,000 using Department of
Defense (DoD) funds, the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation
Supplement (DFARS) has been amended in Section 208.404 to implement
Section 803 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2002 (Public Law 107-107). DoD offices and non-DoD activities
placing orders on behalf of DoD should refer to DFARS 208.404
and 208.404-70 for additional information regarding ordering
procedures and documentation requirements. |
| 7.
Can I use GSA Advantage! to order Multiple Award Schedule services
and products electronically? |
| The
GSA Advantage! online shopping and ordering system includes
services and products under all of the GSA Multiple Award Schedules.
With over 3.2 million services and products currently available,
electronic ordering through GSA Advantage! allows a customer
to send an order directly to the Schedule contractor, creating
a direct customer-contractor relationship. However, for services
that require a statement of work, a customer cannot order such
services directly through GSA Advantage!. The customer must
create the order through the ordering agency's internal system.
|
| 8.
What is e-Buy? |
| E-Buy
is an online Request for Quote (RFQ) tool designed to facilitate
the request for submission of quotes for a wide range of commercial
services and products offered by Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)
contractors who are on GSA Advantage!. |
| E-Buy,
a component of GSA Advantage!, allows federal agencies (buyers)
to maximize their buying power by leveraging the power of the
Internet to increase Schedule contractor participation in order
to obtain quotes which will result in a best value purchase
decision. E-Buy provides Schedule contractors (sellers) with
greater opportunities to offer quotes and increase business
volume for services and products provided under their Schedule
contracts. E-Buy streamlines the buying process with point-and-click
functionality by allowing RFQs and responses to be exchanged
electronically between federal agencies and Schedule contractors.
In short, e-Buy provides both agencies and contractors with
a tool that will result in savings of both time and money. |
| 9.
Can the Multiple Award Schedules meet all of my needs? Even
large or complex requirements? What if the Schedule contractor
doesn't have everything under contract? How can I be certain
that the services or products I need, including new technology,
are always available under Schedule contracts? |
| With
over 4 million commercial services and products available, Multiple
Award Schedules (MAS) can meet the vast majority of a customer's
needs. For those large or complex requirements, MAS contractors
can join with other Schedule contract holders and submit a total
solution to meet a customer's needs under a Contractor Team
Arrangement (CTA). MAS contractors may request that their contracts
be modified at any time during the contract period to add new
services and products to meet a customer's requirements. The
modification process also ensures that the latest technology
is always available to the customer. Schedule contract periods
are as long as five years with three five-year option periods
to provide for continued sources of services and products. Most
MAS solicitations now have continuous open seasons, which enable
companies to submit offers at any time and further ensure that
customers have, not only a variety of services and products
to meet their requirements, but also the latest technology available
in the commercial marketplace. |
| 10.
Can items NOT on a Multiple Award Schedule contract be included
on a Schedule order? |
| Yes.
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) has been amended to
incorporate policies that address the handling of open market
items. |
| Note:
Open market items are also known as incidental items, noncontract
items, non-Schedule items, and items not on a Federal Supply
Schedule contract. |
| In
accordance with FAR 8.401(d), for administrative convenience,
an ordering office contracting officer may add items not on
the Federal Supply Schedule (Multiple Award Schedule) contract—i.e.,
open market items—to a Federal Supply Schedule blanket
purchase agreement (BPA) or an individual task or delivery order
only if— |
|
- - 1. All applicable acquisition regulations pertaining to
the purchase of the items not on the Federal Supply Schedule
contract have been followed (e.g., publicizing (Part 5), competition
requirements (Part 6), acquisition of commercial items (Part
12), contracting methods (Parts 13, 14, and 15), and small business
programs (Part 19); |
| -
- 2. The ordering office contracting officer has determined
the price for the items not on the Federal Supply Schedule contract
is fair and reasonable; |
| -
- 3. The items are clearly labeled on the order as items not
on the Federal Supply Schedule contract; and |
| -
- 4. All clauses applicable to items not on the Federal Supply
Schedule contract are included in the order. |
| 11.
Sometimes I need delivery right away. Can I get it when
I use Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts? |
| MAS
contracts have the same delivery times as the Schedule contractors'
commercial delivery times. MAS contracts may also contain expedited
delivery terms, or customers may request expedited delivery
to meet their requirements. |
| 12.
What is a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) under a Multiple
Award Schedule (MAS) contract? Are there any dollar limitations
when establishing BPAs? |
| An
MAS BPA is a simplified method of filling recurring needs for
services and products, while leveraging a customer's buying
power by taking advantage of quantity discounts, saving administrative
time, and reducing paperwork. A BPA is an "account"
established by a customer with a Schedule contractor. MAS BPAs
are authorized by FAR 13.303-2(c)(3). |
| With
an MAS BPA customers can order as little as they want, as much
as they want, and as often as they want. Customers are not restricted
by any dollar limitations when placing orders under an MAS BPA.
A BPA can be set up for field offices across the nation to use,
thus allowing them to participate in a customer's BPA and place
orders directly with Schedule contractors. In doing so, the
entire agency reaps the benefits of additional discounts negotiated
into the BPA. |
| A
BPA cannot exceed the contractor's Schedule contract period.
Customers should always perform an annual review of each BPA
to determine whether the BPA is still a "best value." |
| Contractor
Team Arrangements, which are permitted with MAS contractors
in accordance with FAR 9.6, may be incorporated into a BPA.
|
| 13.
Can I use my governmentwide commercial purchase card for payment?
|
| Acceptance
of the governmentwide commercial purchase card is a strongly
encouraged payment method. Schedule contractors are required
to accept the purchase card for payments equal to or less than
the micro-purchase threshold. Schedule contractors are also
encouraged to accept the card for dollar amounts above this
threshold. |
| 14.
When I place an order under a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)
contract does it meet Competition in Contracting Act (CICA)
requirements? |
| In
accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d)(3),
use of the Multiple Award Schedules Program is considered a
"competitive procedure" under CICA when the MAS ordering
procedures are followed; i.e., the ordering procedures in FAR
8.404 and the Ordering Procedures for Services (Requiring a
Statement of Work). |
| 15.
What is a Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA) under the Multiple
Award Schedules (MAS) Program? |
| A
CTA under the MAS Program is an arrangement in which two or
more Schedule contractors join together to provide a total solution
to meet a customer's needs. |
| Orders
placed under a CTA are subject to the terms and conditions of
each team member's Schedule contract. |
| 16.
Are all products offered under GSA Schedule contracts compliant
with the Trade Agreements Act? |
| Yes.
|
| 17.
As an ordering agency Contracting Officer, can I terminate an
order or must I go through the GSA Contracting Officer? |
| In
accordance with FAR 8.405, an ordering agency Contracting Officer
may terminate an order for cause or for the convenience of the
government. Such terminations shall comply with FAR 12.403.
The GSA Contracting Officer shall be notified in all cases where
an order has been terminated for cause or fraud is suspected.
|
| 18.
Where can I obtain more information regarding GSA Schedules?
|
| To
view a wealth of information on GSA Schedules, register at the
FSS Center for Acquisition Excellence Virtual Campus. |
