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For Federal Agency Customers - Ordering From Schedules

The GSA Schedules Program serves as the catalyst for billions of dollars in federal spending, helping meet procurement needs for eligible users, including all branches of federal and State and Local government through applicable programs. These long-term Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts assist customers with procuring a vast array of supplies and services directly from quality commercial suppliers.

Schedule categories of supplies and services, along with contract award information, can be viewed on GSA eLibrary. For a more detailed introduction to the Schedules program, visit Welcome to GSA Schedules.

 

The GSA-Customer Relationship

With GSA Schedules, customers have a partner in meeting their procurement needs. GSA has worked hard to award contracts to vendors who provide “fair and reasonable” pricing. GSA also works with customers to respond to the evolving marketplace and to meet the needs for new supplies and services.

Schedules also enable compliance with federal procurement regulations as well as environmental and socioeconomic requirements, providing a simplified process for obtaining commercial supplies and services.

GSA’s excellent customer service makes Schedules an even more powerful and effective tool. Training programs provide education for ordering activity procurement specialists, with web-based and instructor-led courses on contracts, acquisitions, technology, government charge cards, and more. 

The Office of Customer Accounts and Research provides Customer Service Directors (CSDs) who help customers across the country get the most out of the Schedules program, and can guide them through further resources, such as GSA’s suite of e-Tools. Additionally, customers can contact the National Customer Service Center’s Schedules Helpdesk using the contact information on the right.

 

Who Can Order Through GSA Schedules?

GSA Order ADM 4800.2G, Eligibility to Use GSA Sources of Supply and Services [PDF, 2.46MB] provides detailed information regarding the agencies and organizations that are eligible to use GSA Schedule contracts.

These include:

  • All federal agencies and activities in the executive, legislative and judicial branches.
  • Government contractors authorized in writing by a federal agency pursuant to 48 CFR 51.1.
  • Mixed ownership government corporations* (as defined in the Government Corporation Control Act of 1945, as amended).
  • The government of the District of Columbia.
  • Other activities and organizations authorized by statute or regulation to use GSA as a source of supply.

* There are 18 of these quasi-government organizations, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Amtrack.  These organizations typically have fewer regulatory guidelines for purchasing than the federal government, and are authorized by statute to use the Schedules Program.

The GSA Order [PDF, 2.46MB] also provides definitive guidelines concerning eligibility requirements and limitations for a variety of other GSA sources of supply and services. Eligible agencies and organizations are specified in the appendices to the Order. In certain situations, such as Public Health Emergencies and Presidentially-declared disasters, state and local governments are entitled to use Schedules.

 

How to Order From Schedules

Supplies and services available on Schedules can be accessed from one convenient online location. GSA Advantage!® is the electronic online shopping and ordering system linking customers to thousands of contractors and millions of supplies and services.

At GSA Advantage!®, customers can download each contractor's catalog or pricelist, which will offer detailed ordering information, including:

  • Maximum order provisions
  • Geographic coverage (delivery area)
  • Contract prices or discounts
  • Quantity discounts
  • Prompt payment terms
  • Government purchase card terms
  • Environmental attributes and energy efficiency
  • Expedited delivery
  • Ordering address(es)
  • Payment address(es)
  • Warranty provisions
  • Export packing charges
  • Applicable terms and conditions of rental, maintenance, installation, and repair

Another e-Tool, GSA eLibrary, provides multiple methods to search and view active GSA contractors.  Some of these methods include an alphabetical listing of available contractors, listing of contractors by SIN, or searching by key terms. An updated Category Guide helps facilitate searches for specific groups of supplies or services.

 

Ordering Procedures and Guidelines

Procedures and guidelines for the GSA Schedules ordering process can be found on the pages below. Ordering procedures vary based on whether or not a Statement of Work (SOW) is required.

  • Ordering Procedures for Supplies and Services not requiring an SOW – As described in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), these procedures apply to all supplies as well as fixed-price service work
  • Ordering Procedures for Services requiring an SOW – Also described in the FAR, these procedures pertain to services priced at hourly rates
  • Ordering Guidelines include further details that customers should be aware of when utilizing Schedules. These include:
    • Mandatory priority procurement sources such as the Federal Prison Industries (FPI) (i.e. UNICOR) and AbilityOne programs
    • At the discretion of the ordering activity contracting officer, orders under the Schedule programs and BPAs established based on the Schedules may be set aside for the following types of small businesses: small businesses, 8(a) concerns, HUBZone small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, economically disadvantaged women-owned small businesses, and women-owned small businesses made eligible under the Women-Owned Small Business Program. [See FAR 19.000(a)(3).]  Ordering procedures in FAR 8.405-1, -2, and -3 must still be followed
    • Situations when price reductions shall be requested from the contractor, such as an order that exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold
    • Details on how Schedules can be used to meet regulatory requirements, such as the inclusion of environmental attributes
    • Information on particular types of orders, such as leasing and trade-ins

 

Additional Features for Customers

Flexible features of the GSA Schedules program increase convenience and effectiveness for ordering activities. These include Blanket Purchase Agreements, Contractor Team Arrangements, and Socioeconomic Goals.

 

Alternatives to Schedules

Although the GSA Schedules program is the premier vehicle for government procurement, it is not the only option. How to Buy Through GSA offers a high-level overview of federal purchasing programs and the wide variety of supplies and services offered.

The shortcut to this page is www.gsa.gov/eligibilitytouse


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