The first step in obtaining a GSA Schedule is the same as for any Government contract. You need to find that solicitation. Just like all federal opportunities over $25,000, it is announced in the Commerce Business Daily and at the FedBizOps (that is, the Federal Business Opportunity site, or www.EPS.gov). The difference with the FSS Schedule solicitation is two fold. First, it remains open for an extended period, usually one year. At that time, it may be extended for another year (and so on). Some Schedule solicitations actually say, "This solicitation will remain in effect unless replaced by an updated solicitation." Any time during the period that the solicitation is open, you may submit a proposal in response to the solicitation. GSA will have its own schedule for review in some cases, in others they simply review the proposals as received. The later system tends to take longer, for it is generally used when there is a big backlog of proposals to be evaluated. Expect a three to five month wait on your evaluation by GSA if no specific timeframe is given.

The second difference in the Schedule solicitation is that you are not competing against other contractors for an award. Once received, your proposal is evaluated against set criteria. The difference here is that you will be awarded a contract if you evaluate successfully against the criteria. You are not competing against other bidders. The result is the award of multiple contracts for a single Schedule. FSS Schedule 36IV – Document Management Products and Services, for example, has approximately forty contractors available on Schedule.

Each Schedule is divided into various Special Item Number (SIN) codes. Each SIN provides for a specific type of product or service. The proposer has the privilege (which sometimes looks remarkably like a curse) of specifying line items under the SIN. Thus the proposer can tailor the line items to fit the products or services the firm has to offer. The proposer can limit the geographic area to which deliveries will be made.

A new wrinkle is the ‘just introduced’ Corporate Contract. The Corporate Contract allows a firm (large or small) to place its entire produce and service line under a single Multiple Award Schedule (the same basic vehicle as the regular schedule) without looking for a particular (or multiple) Schedule that describes the service. There is currently a solicitation open for this new contract that the Government envisions bringing new products and services to the Schedule process with lower administrative costs.

If the Contracting Officer finds deficiencies in your proposal (and there is usually something), you may be asked to make clarifications or changes to your proposal. The Contracting Officer will give a time and date for your submittal, and this timeframe is strict: meet it or you are out. Should you miss the submittal deadline, you may resubmit and start the process over from step one. Just be sure you make the changes identified as necessary by the Contracting Officer.

Once you have received that coveted Schedule, it will generally be in effect for a period of five years (though a specific solicitation may have other terms, as always, read the solicitation to be sure!) A recent change allows certain schedules, called "Evergreen Contracts" to remain in effect for twenty years!

One requirement you should know before ordering your solicitation. All GSA Schedule contractors are required to accept the government purchase card for purchases up to the micro-purchase threshold. Contractors are encouraged to accept the purchase card as payment for orders up to the customer agency's limit. Without the capability to accept these credit cards, you will be rejected.

While having a Schedule has obvious advantages, one extra benefit that the Government is throwing in is the increasing number of competitive solicitations limited to contractors with a Schedule. The competitive solicitation may be for a project that combines products or services existing on Schedules or perhaps made up of a combination of those on the Schedule and those not included by all Schedule contractors. MOBIS is an excellent example of where a project may be perfect for the Schedule contractor but exceed the descriptions provided by the available line items. The solution is the restricted procurement.

Another excellent use of schedules is for meeting the small and small, disadvantaged business goals of the large business’s subcontracting plan. The use of a Schedule for office supplies held by an 8(a) contractor can contribute significantly towards the designated goals. That’s right, often a contractor doing Federal work can obtain approval to use the GSA Schedules for supplies or services needed in the performance of the Federal contract.

Want more information? GSA gives you more than you may ever need at http://www.fss.gsa.gov/. Or call me!

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