What GSA Schedule is Best for Your Company?
The General Services Administration (GSA)
GSA Schedules (also referred to as Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) and Federal Supply Schedules) are long-term government-wide contracts with commercial firms providing federal, state, and local government buyers. The General Services Administration (GSA) offers GSA schedules.
The GSA Multiple Award Schedule Program, also referred to as the schedules, is the premier contract vehicle for the federal government. Many federal agencies use GSA contract vehicles to procure goods and services. The Schedule Program is a long term government-wide contract between commercial suppliers and the federal government.
Federal agencies spend approximately 21 percent of overall federal procurement Schedule purchases represent approximately 21 percent of overall federal procurement spending–approximately $42 Billion per year. Holding a Schedule contract can open doors for businesses. GSA schedules are great channels for vendors interested in selling to Government agencies. Getting a GSA schedule acquisition can be a cumbersome and time consuming process, that can also result in rejections If not executed properly. This is a one time activity and the best option for small and medium businesses is to outsource the GSA schedule acquisition services.
First Step
GSA Schedule
Getting a GSA Contract is a big step, and research should go into making sure it is the right step for your company. First step in acquiring a GSA contract is research. Understand which agencies needs your business, money obligated, procurement value, budgets and other parameters. Research the federal procurement marketplace to identify what federal agencies and departments have historically purchased your product and/or service. This helps you develop a targeted approach. Dedicated manpower to pursue federal bids, research opportunities and maintain your GSA schedule Contract is very important to succeed.
Without the dedicated manpower in-house to pursue federal bids and maintain the GSA Contract, you will most likely fail.
The first step in getting a GSA Contract is to isolate which GSA Schedule your company’s products or services belong in. GSA schedule pull together industry-related offerings and sub-categorize the offerings into Special Item Numbers (SIN’s). GSA Schedules cover almost every industry sector you can imagine; like Information technology, construction, professional services, house keeping services, office supplies etc.,
It is very important that you target the correct GSA Schedule initially, because this will govern which document package is used. The initial Solicitation documents are the backbone of an offer, however most documents must be gathered or drafted.
