GSA FAQ
Who is GSA?
GSA BACKGROUND
The GSA (General Services Administration) was created in 1949 when President
Truman signed into law the "Federal Property and Administrative Services
Act". Its tasks back then included: - Disposition and sale of surplus materials accumulated during
World War II.
- Stockpiling essential supplies that might be in critical
shortage in a future war or National Emergency.
- Civil Defense & Emergency Preparedness.
- Storage of Government records.
.....and other tasks. The GSA's stated
mission today is to:
"Help Federal Agencies better serve the Public by offering, at best
value, superior workplaces, expert solutions, acquisition services and
management policies."
In short, the GSA has become the main buying arm for the Government,
especially for commercially available products and services.
GSA
today!
GSA is the government’s “landlord,” meeting the office and
other space requirements of the federal workforce. GSA is also the premier
federal acquisition and procurement force offering equipment, supplies,
telecommunications, and integrated information technology solutions to customer
agencies. GSA also plays a key role in developing and implementing policies
that affect many government agencies and helps other federal agencies improve
their service to and communication with the public by offering effective
citizen-response tools and services.
GSA acts as a catalyst for nearly $66 billion in federal
spending—more than one-fourth of the government's total procurement dollars.
The agency also influences the management of federal assets valued at nearly
$500 billion. These assets include more than 8,300 government-owned or leased
buildings, an interagency fleet of 170,000 vehicles, and technology programs
and products ranging from laptop computers to systems that cost over $100
million.
Although GSA leverages billions of dollars in the
marketplace, only one percent of the agency's total budget is provided through
direct congressional appropriations. The majority of GSA's operating costs must
be recovered through the products and services it provides.
In the 21st Century, GSA is focusing increasingly on adding
value through new, efficient, and effective ways for federal employees to do
their work. GSA, building on its strong record of accomplishment, is helping to
create a citizen-centric, results-oriented government that is even more
productive and responsible to all Americans.
Is it true that GSA Schedules are
going away?
GSA schedule activity is bigger than ever. They are not going away. They just
recently moved and merged back under Federal Supply Service (FSS) so now they
have unlimited resources. Effective April 1, 1996, GSA began charging a 1%
Industrial Funding Fee (IFF) to allow them to continue to grow. That fee
dropped to 0.75% as of January 1, 2004. As of June 1996 GSA had added IT
Services to the contract which opened up a whole new world in procurement. In
addition, we are seeing that large IDIQ contracts will be a thing of the past
shortly and GSA will be the only procurement vehicle within the next 5 years.
Who can purchase from a GSA
Schedule?
All Federal and DoD offices, the District of Columbia, some state and local
agencies, and some approved commercial enterprises are eligible to purchase
from GSA Schedules.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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