Procedures for GSA Schedule Application

It is very challenging to obtain General Service Administration (GSA) contract for a company, be it of any size. General Service Administration helps a lot through the process which includes free training to be held online and at the regional offices of GSA. There are several workshops, few of which are tailored for small businesses while the others are based on targeted information technology products and services industry partners. The support system offers resources and training for self-study which is accessible at any time and from any place. More information on the GSA schedule program addition to the training resources can be found at General Service Administrative Schedule and e-library of GSA. GSA also offers many onsite and web-based courses to help small businesses.

The GSA schedule can also be termed as the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) and Multiple Award Schedule (MAS). Before you are going to have a GSA contract you will have to negotiate your standard EPA (Equitable Price Adjustment). GSA usually maintains a standard which is not more than 10 percent increase in price per item category yearly.

Steps to apply for a GSA Schedule contract:

There are several steps that relates to the application of a GSA schedule contract. These steps are written below to have a detailed view of the process of GSA schedule application:

  • There is a solicitation package which should be downloaded in the first steps of the procedure. This particular package helps to provide guidance to the industry partners who are willing to offer information technology (IT) products and services. It also provides solutions to federal, state as well as local government clients on the information technology contract of the MAS vehicle. This part of the GSA Schedule Application offers to give you multiple opportunities for your business venture to grow. In response to this solicitation you might be awarded with a MAS technology contract. 
  • You need to then prepare your order in the second step by gathering several important documents of the company including catalogues, price lists, brochures, organizational charts, etc. At this stage of conduct you have to obtain the required registrations and validations from the websites such as SAM, D-U-N-S and Open Ratings. But at the time of negotiations other documentation may also be requested. 
  • The third step of GSA schedule application goes with submission of your offers or proposals. So an online and paperless contracting environment act with accordance with FAR regulations that can meet our friendly aims efficiently and quickly with less paper work. The e-offer system allows potential partners to submit an electronic offer to the current solicitation by a following step-by-step procedure. 
  • After submission of your offer to GSA, the fourth step will be of the contracting officer who will be assigned for the review process. As soon as the review is completed, negotiation will be done by the contracting officer based on certain contractual terms and conditions. If it is found that the prices are reasonably fair, all the requirements have been met and the offer is found to be the best in the interest of the government, a contract on MAS Information Technology will be awarded. 
  • The fifth step states that even after the contract is awarded, an industry partner will have to modify the contract information.

It is not possible for GSA contracting officers to award contracts involving products and services without reviewing the terms in the agreements so as to make them compatible with federal law. Awards given against the GSA schedule application without consent and verification of the same would lead the government towards high level of risks

Is GSA Schedule Application a simple or complex process?

The process of GSA Schedule application is not simple rather it is quite complex. The process of application involves a comprehensive review of documents of solicitation. A proper GSA proposal is a list of various important documents that involves a technical proposal in a detailed version, where you have the description of your products and services. It has to determine a sound and comprehensive GSA pricing policy also. Here properly disclosed sales practices is needed which is required by the law. Preparation and submission of a GSA proposal or offer is highly needed. After this there is a prior need to go through the due diligence of GSA and the negotiation process.

There is a wrong myth that there is no such thing as a GSA schedule application. The all you need to do is to fill up some application forms and you will get the contract very easily. The fact is that to get a GSA Schedule Contract you actually require to respond to a comprehensive GSA solicitation that fits fine for your business. The contract officers of GSA will use the information provided by you to make a ‘responsibility determination’. After when GSA decides you to be a responsible vendor then only they move on to negotiate for the most favoured customer pricing.

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