Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is GSA's role in governing the federal-wide Standard and Optional forms program?

2. How do I create, change, or cancel a Standard or Optional form?

3. What is the procedure to introduce a new GSA Form or request changes to an existing GSA Form?

4. How do I find and use the electronic forms I need?

a. Occasionally when I attempt to open pdf forms in Adobe Reader, I get a blank page. What is causing this and how do I recover?

5. When it isn't possible to use an electronic version of a form, how do I order a supply of paper forms?

6. What is www.forms.gov and how can it help the public citizenry and small businesses find the forms needed to do business with the federal government?

7. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about how to find subject matter forms, including GSA and other federal agencies' forms. While GSA is not responsible for other agencies' information, we offer these links only as an assist.  Further questions should be addressed to the sponsoring agencies.

a.   What forms do I fill out be become a GSA Vendor?

b.   Where can I find Department of Defense (DD) forms?

c.   Where can I find a copy of a military specification?

d.   Where can I find lodging tax exempt forms for travel?

e.   I am a former federal employee and I need to get a copy of my SF50 Notification of Personnel Action form.  What is the fastest way to obtain it?

f.   Where can I find forms for Medicare and Medicaid?

g.   Where can I obtain information on federal grants and loans?

h.   Where can I obtain the forms to obtain or update my passport?
 

 1. What is GSA's role in governing the federalwide Standard and Optional Forms program?

GSA’s role was assigned by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is contained in 41 CFR 102-194, Standard and Optional Forms Management Program. The program was established to achieve government-wide economies and efficiencies through the development, maintenance, and common use of conventional forms.  Furthermore, the program achieves federal goals to replace paper forms with electronic versions to enable electronic completion and transmittal of form data and to reduce the information collection burden to the public to the maximum extent possible. 

 2. How do I create, change, or cancel a Standard or Optional form?

Standard and Optional Forms promote economies and efficiencies through the development, maintenance and use of common forms. 

Establish the need for an SF or OF by reviewing the list of current SF forms and list of current OF forms.  Verify that an existing form or automated business process/system doesn't already meet your needs.

• Cite a prescribing directive or regulation that justifies the SF form's creation, change, or cancellation. (No directive or regulation is required for OF.)
• Collaborate with other agencies who may use the form and with potential users to determine their requirements.  Follow the procedures of the Privacy Act, Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), and other regulatory requirements if and as appropriate, such as establishing a system of records notice and obtaining an OMB Control Number, etc.
• Complete Standard Form 152, obtain your agency’s authorization, and submit the request to forms@gsa.gov ; Phone: 202-208-2786, Fax: (202) 501-6269.

Requests for Standard Forms Services Processed in FY 2008/2009

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 3. What is the procedure to introduce a new GSA Form or request changes to an existing GSA Form?

The process for a GSA Form is similar to that of Standard and Optional Forms as outlined in FAQ 2 above regarding the establishment of need; assurance an existing form/automated business process doesn’t already suffice; citing prescribing directive(s) as applicable; complying with Privacy Act, PRA, and other regulatory requirements; and collaborating with content customers and stakeholders as appropriate.  For a GSA form, complete and obtain needed authorizations on a  GSA Form 2192 to request forms management services.

Submit your request(s) via a completed GSA Form 2192 to forms@gsa.gov; phone (202) 208-2786. Fax: (202) 501-6269.

Requests for GSA Forms Services Processed in FY2008/2009.

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 4. How do I find and use the electronic forms I need it?

The GSA Forms Library includes listings of current and obsolete standard forms, optional forms, GSA forms, a few other agencies’ forms that are frequently used by our visitors, and this list of FAQs to help you find forms.  Electronic forms are available in Adobe portable document format (pdf).  GSA’s Forms Policy and Management team is available via email at Forms@gsa.gov or by phone at (202) 208-2786 for forms creation, modification, and discontinuation or (770) 390-9696 for help finding and using forms on this website.

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 a. Occasionally when I attempt to open pdf forms in Adobe Reader, I get a blank page.  What is causing this and how do I recover?

 

This could be caused by an incompatibility between an older version of Adobe Reader and Internet Explorer.  You can correct this by downloading the latest Reader version from Adobe’s website.

You can also try right-clicking on the form icon and using SAVE TARGET AS… on the menu to save the form to your desktop.  Opening the form using Adobe Reader directly rather than through Internet Explorer should correct the problem.

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 5.  When it isn't possible to use an electronic version of a form, how do I order a supply of paper forms?

 

Paper copies of Standard (SF) and Optional (OF) forms can be ordered by calling GSA’s Global Supply customer assistance at (800) 525-8027 and selecting option 3 on the phone menu. 

Paper copies of GSA forms can be ordered from the Federal Citizen Information Center's distribution facility in Pueblo, CO.
Email:  Send requests to pueblo@gpo.gov
Fax: Send requests to (719) 948-9724
Telephone:  Call (719) 295-2675
Please include form number, title, and quantity needed when ordering.

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   6. What is www.forms.gov and how can it help the public citizenry and small businesses find the forms needed to do business with the federal government?

The E-Forms Catalog at www.forms.gov provides citizens and businesses with a common access point to over 6,000 federal agency forms. It provides citizens and businesses with the ability to search for federal forms needed to interact with the Federal Government. The E-Forms catalog reduces the burden on citizens and businesses associated with locating Federal forms for both voluntary and regulatory interaction with the Federal Government.  There are several ways to search forms at the E-Forms catalog; e.g., by agency, form number, alphabetically by form name, or by keyword.

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7. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about how to find subject matter forms, including GSA and other federal agencies’ forms.  While GSA is not responsible for other agencies’ information, we offer these links only as an assist.  Further questions should be addressed to the sponsoring agencies.

  a.      What forms do I fill out to become a GSA vendor?

Contact information:  MAS Helpdesk (National Customer Service)
Phone (800) 488-3111
Fax (816) 926-6952
mashelpdesk@gsa.gov
Website: http://www.gsa.gov/gettingonschedule

  b.     Where can I find Department of Defense (DD) forms?

Department of Defense (DD) forms are available on the  DOD forms website.

  c.      Where can I find a copy of a military specification?

Military specifications can be found at the Defense Standardization Program website.

  d.       Where can I find lodging tax exempt forms for travel?

They can be found in GSA’s Tax Exempt Forms Library

  e.      I am a former federal employee and I need to get a copy of my SF50 Notification of Personnel Action form. What is the fastest way to obtain it?

According to the Office of Personnel Management website, former federal employees may request a copy of their final Standard Form 50, Notification of Personnel Action (SF 50), a complete copy of their official Personnel Folder (OPF), or certain other forms by writing to:

National Personnel Records Center
111 Winnebago Street
St. Louis, MO 63118-4126

The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a) and OPM requires a signed and dated written request for information from Federal records. Only written requests for records may be made. No calls, emails or faxes regarding these requests will be accepted.

For more information, visit the  National Personnel Records Center website.

  f.       Where can I find forms for Medicare and Medicaid?

Medicare and Medicaid forms may be downloaded from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website.

  g.     Where can I obtain information on federal grants and loans?

Information on federal grants and loans may be obtained at www.grants.gov.

  h.     Where can I obtain the forms to obtain or update my passport?

Passports are issues by the U.S. Department of State. Information and forms may be downloaded from the  U.S. Department of State website.

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