GSA Global Supply FAQs
- What is GSA Global Supply?
- How is GSA Global Supply referenced in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)?
- How do customers purchase from GSA Global Supply?
- Can we buy from GSA Global Supply at retail stores?
- How can customers pay for their orders?
- How do I resolve a problem with a GSA Global Supply order?
- How can I find out the status of an order?
- Does GSA Global Supply confirm customer orders?
- What is the difference between GSA Global Supply's website and GSA Advantage?
- How are prices set for GSA Global Supply? Do they change?
- Why are some GSA Global Supply items identified with NSNs and others with part numbers?
- What is the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI) and how does it relate to GSA Global Supply?
- How do I request an Activity Address Code (AAC or DoDAAC)?
- Is there training available for military customers?
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What is GSA Global Supply?
GSA Global Supply is a federal program administered by the General Services Administration. While Global Supply does work with commercial suppliers to develop its product line, it is a governmental program. It is not a mandatory source.
Customer base: GSA Global Supply provides common-use items such as office supplies, tools, computer products, and safety equipment to federal customers, civilian and military, around the world. There are approximately 400,000 products available to federal users through a variety of ordering mechanisms (i.e., phone, fax, online, FEDSTRIP/MILSTRIP).
For a few well-defined purchasing needs, such as wildland firefighting, state and local agencies can order from GSA Global Supply as well.
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- How is GSA Global Supply referenced in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)?
In FAR 8.002, Priorities for Use of Government Supplies, GSA Global Supply is identified as a wholesale supply source (v) and should be referenced as a priority when Federal and Military agencies are purchasing supplies. FAR 8.002 indicates:
"8.002 Priorities for use of Government supply sources.
(a) Except as required by 8.003, or as otherwise provided by law, agencies shall satisfy requirements for supplies and services from or through the sources and publications listed below in descending order of priority--
(1) Supplies.
(i) Agency inventories;
(ii) Excess from other agencies (see Subpart 8.1);
(iii) Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (see Subpart 8.6);
(iv) Supplies that are on the Procurement List maintained by the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (see Subpart 8.7);
(v) Wholesale supply sources such as stock programs of the General Services Administration* (GSA) [see 41 CFR 101-26.3], the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) [see 41 CFR 101-26.6], the Department of Veterans Affairs [see 41 CFR 101-26.704], and military inventory control points; (vi) Mandatory Federal Supply Schedules (see Subpart 8.4);
(vii) Optional use Federal Supply Schedules (see Subpart 8.4);
(viii) Commercial sources (including educational and nonprofit institutions."
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* Under a 1971 Agreement, GSA and DLA agreed to divide responsibilities for a wide range of products in the National Supply System. DLA assumed primary responsibility for items that were deemed "military" in nature and GSA assumed responsibility for "civilian" items like office supplies and hand tools.
Finally, note that FAR Subpart 8.4 "is not applicable to orders placed through the GSA Global Supply System." FAR Subpart 8.4 deals with use of GSA Multiple Award Schedules, not GSA Global Supply.
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- How do customers purchase from GSA Global Supply?
Before offering products to its customers, GSA Global Supply conducts competitive procurements to ensure compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and other relevant mandates. With procurement complete and compliance guaranteed, customers can confidently place simple requisitions with GSA Global Supply for desired items without having to solicit comparison prices from multiple sources.
Ways to Order: There are several options for ordering from GSA Global Supply:
- Use automated systems for submitting MILSTRIP or FEDSTRIP requisitions. MILSTRIP/FEDSTRIP order are routed electronically to GSA via the Defense Automatic Addressing System (DAAS).
- Order online at www.GSAglobalsupply.gsa.gov or www.gsaAdvantage.gsa.gov. Both sites function 24/7, enable users to place orders from anywhere in the world, and offer electronic equivalents of traditional requisition forms DD 1348 or SF 344.
- Phone in orders (800) 525-8027 between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. EST, Monday to Friday.
- Fax orders to (800) 856-7057 at any time. (There are blank fax order forms in all GSA Global Supply catalogs and in most brochures.)
- Email orders to GSAglobalsupply@gsa.gov.
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- Can we buy from GSA Global Supply at retail stores?
GSA Global Supply operates a handful of GSA-owned stores that stock 500–5,000 items for retail sale. The stores are located in San Francisco, Alaska and Hawaii (2).
GSA Global Supply also provides inventory to a variety of retail stores operated by the military, both in the United States and around the world.
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- How can customers pay for their orders?
Purchase card: GSA Global Supply accepts the government purchase card and processes thousands of orders daily.
Activity Address Codes: GSA Global Supply can arrange for direct billing for customers who use an Activity Address Code (AAC) or a military equivalent (DoDAAC, RUC, etc.)
To ensure adequate management control of new DoDAACs, first-time users of a DoDAAC must provide contact information for a supervisor. GSA will email the supervisor to verify the validity of the code and its user. This six-month approval can be renewed for extended use. Holders of a valid DoDAAC and password can order online or via phone, fax, or email.
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- How do I resolve a problem with a GSA Global Supply order?
GSA’s National Customer Service Center (NCSC) is available at (800) 525-8027, option 2,or via NCSCcustomer.service@gsa.gov. NCSC staff can identify a customer order and resolve routine errors of missing or incorrect shipments. Around-the-clock support is now available between 9:00 p.m. Sunday and 9:30 p.m. Friday (Eastern) for callers via (800) 488-3111.
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- How can I find out the status of an order?
NCSC can provide shipping status of a GSA Global Supply order. Customers can also look online at www.GSAglobalsupply.gsa.gov by using the “Requisition Status” link on the right side of the main shopping page. Requisition status is likewise available through GSA Advantage!® by viewing the order history and clicking on the relevant requisition number.
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- Does GSA Global Supply confirm customer orders?
Yes. Online orders at the GSA Global Supply or GSA Advantage!® sites conclude with an “Order Confirmation” screen that customers can print or save for reference. Fax orders are confirmed with a fax reply. Phone orders can ask for email or fax confirmation.
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What is the difference between GSA Global Supply's website and GSA Advantage?
Both sites display more than 400,000 items available from GSA Global Supply, with identical pricing and terms. (They even accept the same user name and password.) GSA Advantage!® also displays more than 20 million products and services available from more than 18,000 Multiple Award Schedule contractors. Comparison shopping is quick and easy on GSA Advantage!®.
For those who know they want to buy from GSA Global Supply, selecting and purchasing desired items is simple and safe. For those who wish to maximize comparison shopping, GSA Advantage!® Is a powerful tool See the table below for more details on the two sites:
Attribute GSA Global Supply GSA Advantage!® URL www.GSAglobalsupply.gsa.gov www.gsaAdvantage.gsa.gov Availability 24 hours/7 days 24 hours/7 days Displays Global Supply items Yes Yes Accepts government purchase card Yes Yes Accepts AAC/DoDAAC billing Yes Yes - for Global Supply items; No - for Schedule items* Displays MAS items No Yes
* 'GSA Global Supply items' refers to products managed and billed by GSA Global Supply. 'Schedule items' refers to products offered by commercial vendors holding a GSA Schedule contract. These vendors generally bill a customer's purchase card and cannot bill a customer via DoDAAC.
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- How are prices set for GSA Global Supply? Do they change?
GSA Global Supply conducts procurements and prices competitively. Typically, the quoted price includes shipping costs.
Latest Prices: In a competitive and volatile marketplace, prices are subject to change. GSA makes every effort to maintain consistency between the two websites and the printed catalogs and brochures. If there is a change, the websites are updated overnight, every night. Customers should use websites for the most up-to-the-minute pricing. Customers pay the price that is in effect on the day that they place the order.
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- Why are some GSA Global Supply items identified with NSNs and others with part numbers?
Products with NSNs: GSA Global Supply offers more than 80,000 items identified with a National Stock Number. This is a 13-digit identifier where the first four digits indicate its Federal Supply Class (e.g. 5110 = tools) and the remaining digits identify the specific item. NSNs are a fundamental part of the National Supply System and facilitate transfer of requisitions among GSA, DoD, the Postal Service, and other federal entities.
Part-numbered Products: To offer greater product breadth and depth to customers, GSA has partnered with leading commercial vendors to offer hundreds of thousands of additional items. Since it would be impractical and costly to assign NSNs to each product -- some of which are short-lived -- GSA attaches a prefix to a commercial part number. For example, for tools this prefix is TL1 and for office supplies it is OS1.
Customer Access: Customers can order NSNs or part-numbered items via phone, fax, or online. MILSTRIP users can order part-numbered items by using the identifier AOB for domestic shipment and AO2 for overseas destinations.
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What is the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative and how does it relate to GSA Global Supply?
Under the Federal Strategic Sourcing Initiative (FSSI) Program, GSA has negotiated Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA’s) to provide extra savings on office supplies. FSSI gives users an an easy way to purchase office supplies while assuring that agencies leverage the government’s buying power on the most commonly purchased items. FSSI customers get complete transaction level data, tiered volume discounts, compliance with the Trade Agreements Act and AbilityOne requirements, and capability to meet socio-econonic and sustainability goals. A point of sale feature allows Purchase Card holders to get BPA pricing at any of the BPA holders retail locations. It’s that easy. Many agencies have polices for mandatory or preferred use of the FSSI Office Supplies BPAs. To learn more about this program visit www.gsa.gov/fssiofficesupplies.
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- How do I request an Activity Address Code (AAC or DoDAAC)?
Designated points of contact at military and civilian agencies work closely with GSA to coordinate the management of Activity Address Codes. To identify your agency coordinator and initiate a request for a new AAC or DoDAAC, see the relevant list of liaisons for DoD [PDF, 32KB] or civilian [PDF, 407KB] agencies.
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- Is there training available for military customers?
GSA Global Supply has worked with its partners in Acquisition Management to prepare an online training course for military users that is available through the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) website. The course provides an overview of GSA Global Supply, but is focused on a military audience. After describing the program, ordering options and available Special Order support, the class gives a quick overview of some initiatives designed specifically to support DoD, including Central Asia sourcing and Foreign Military Sales.
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