The General Services Administration or GSA is a US Government Agency, responsible to take care of overall federal procurement, also known as purchasing or buying. The term “GSA Schedule Contract” is known by various other names as in GSA Contract, GSA Schedule, FSS or Federal Supply Schedule, MAS or Multiple Award Schedule, GSA Number, GSA Approved etc.
GSA Schedule Contracts and the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program together, allow all the other federal agencies to purchase from you in a streamlined manner.
Let’s see how it is beneficial for any company.
Gives access to some exclusive GSA Marketplaces – All GSA Schedule Contract holders may get access to exclusive GSA systems. The marketplace will give the opportunities to pursue the GSA Schedule. The federal buyers are using both the GSA eBuy and GSA Advantage (almost USD $33 billion a year). GSA Contract is a channel for federal sales. Billions of dollars are spent annually through GSA and VA FSS Contracts. All federal agencies are allowed to buy from the GSA Schedule Program, even from the State & Local Governments.
Company validation at the level of the Federal Buyers – A GSA Contract can validate any Contractor as a trusted source, into the eyes of a government buyer. Your presence is not mandatory for a GSA Contract to conduct business with the federal government.
Offers a simplified purchase process – The GSA Schedule Contract, can make the buying processes of the federal government much simpler. A company having a GSA Contract is considered an already approved company. That is why this company or companies are safe and reliable to the eyes of federal government buyers. This process reduces the risk for the government buyers. The prices are pre-negotiable. Therefore, the step of doing fair pricing can also be skipped.
In order to get the above benefits, any company can apply for GSA contract, eligibility for that:
Need to be in business for at least 2 Years in Business (exception for IT Schedule 70)
Sound Financial part
Offerings should be matched with the scope of a GSA Schedule category
Past Performance if any then produce the project support documents
To get a GSA Schedule Contract is a big concern. It requires lots of research & planning to get it sure that it will win your company federal business
GSA Magazine 