This article explains the basics of GSA Schedules, lists types and categories of Government Schedules while detailing how to obtain GSA Schedule 70 (IT).
What is a GSA Schedule
A GSA Schedule is a contract between the government and a company that permits that company to sell products or services to the government for a negotiated price during the term of the contract, which is typically five years.
GSA Schedules are a “win-win” option for both buyers (federal and local agencies) and sellers (manufacturers and vendors).
Advantages for agencies are:
- Guaranteed quality – The GSA Contract preparation and submission process ensures the shipped product or the provided services match the quality standards of the government. Thus federal agencies don’t have to find the best offer through trial and error.
- Pre-negotiated ceiling prices – During the contract review, a GSA contracting officer negotiates prices and opportunities for discounts, which remain unchanged for the duration of the Schedule.
- Single contracting vehicle for all complex needs – Ordering procedures are streamlined leading to faster purchasing than if done on the open market.
- The master contract is managed by GSA – This means less time spent on administrative tasks and documentation, providing easier and faster resupply and ordering of services by government agencies.
Vendors and manufacturers in turn benefit from the following:
- Access to federal buyers. This market is massive. Overall spending within the Federal Supply Schedules exceeds $42 billion per year, which is about 21 percent of overall federal procurements.
- Long-term contract. Once awarded a Schedule, the business is able to deliver its services or products to the government for 5 years. Additionally, there are options to win a 20-year contract, and agencies may establish Blanket Purchase Agreements which means recurring purchases through your Schedule without any additional actions on your side.
Schedule Types and Categories
Schedules are organized into general categories which are then divided into smaller subcategories called Special Item Numbers or SINs. Certain SINs often have specific requirements related to the offerer’s past experience on the market, examples of accomplished relevant projects, and other additional evaluation factors the offerer must address to earn this solicitation.
General Schedule categories are:
- Facilities and Construction
- Human Capital
- Industrial Products & Services
- Information Technology (IT)
- Medical
- Office Management
- Professional Services
- Security & Protection
- Travel, Transportation, and Logistics
GSA IT Schedule 70 Checklist
IT Schedule 70 is one of the largest federal acquisition vehicles. Federal agencies use this Schedule to purchase software and hardware products and IT services under such SINs as Automated Contact Center Solutions, Electronic Commerce, IT Professional Services or Wireless Mobility Solutions.
What makes GSA Schedule 70 different
Schedule 70 is an IDIQ contract which is used when GSA cannot determine exact quantities of the ordered products or services. IDIQ stands for “Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity”.
Also, GSA Schedule 70 solicitation is currently “always open”, which means GSA constantly accepts new offers, so submitting your offer always makes sense.
In addition, total sales revenue through IT Schedule 70 was over $15 billion in FY 2018, which accounts for approximately 35% of total GSA sales!
Lastly, Schedule 70 is recognized as “Best-In-Class” solution. BIC solution means the Office of Management and Budget designated it as a preferred government-wide solution. In turn, this means that federal, state and local agencies are advised to purchase “Best-In-Class” solutions above everything else.
How to get a GSA IT Schedule 70
Here is a brief checklist of necessary steps to allow your company to obtain the Schedule 70 (Information Technology) Contract:
- Get the IT Schedule 70 solicitation. You will need to closely inspect the entire solicitation package before starting to prepare your offer. Search gsaelibrary.gsa.gov for this solicitation number: FCIS-JB-980001-B. There you can find all GSA Schedule 70 requirements you will need to fulfill.
- Register. You need to get registrations at appropriate organizations to get SAM, NAICS, DUNS, Digital Certificate, and Open Ratings. Read more about registering here.
- Prepare your offer. Assemble all the documents you need for eOffer including price lists, technical proposal, past performance evaluation, and others. You should also consider specific requirements to certain GSA Schedule 70 SINs. Please refer to our step-by-step guide to preparing GSA Contract for more information.
- Submit your offer. Use the electronic paper-free government resource eOffer to submit your offer for IT Schedule 70.
- Review and negotiation. Your submission will be reviewed by an assigned GSA contracting officer. If the officer finds your submission to be complete and accurate with a reasonable proposal and fair prices, then you may be awarded a government contract. Congratulations!
- Keep up the contract. Your work is not done! Now you must maintain your contract and submit necessary GSA schedule modifications using the special eMod system.
Looks like the general categories of the treaty really stipulate all the parties to the cooperation. A well-conceived system.
Fixed prices for five years? Sounds good if you are a federal agency representative. But it does not seem as pleasant if you are a manufacturer.