Open Market

Open Market:  Items for sale which are not available for purchase from a government contract vehicle, including FSS, BPA, CTA, GWAC, etc.  Open market items are also known as incidental items, noncontract items, non-Schedule items, and items not on a GSA Schedule contract.

For administrative convenience, FAR 8.402(f) allows ordering activities to add open market line items to a VA FSS task/delivery order or BPA if

1. All applicable acquisition regulations pertaining to the purchase of items not on the Schedule contract have been followed, including
   • FAR 5, Publicizing Contract Actions
   • FAR 6, Competition Requirements
   • FAR 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items
   • FAR 13, 14, 15 Ordering Procedures
   • FAR 19, Small Business Requirements
2. The ordering activity has made a fair and reasonable pricing determination
3. The items are clearly labeled on the order as open market items
4. All clauses applicable to open market items are included in the order

VA ordering activities are required to submit an Open Market Waiver Request for open market items.  Check out the Open Market Waiver Request Process page for requirements and instructions.