Category Management: A New Model for U.S. Federal Contracting

For the better part of a decade, the General Services Administration (GSA) has been working hard to answer one key question:

“How can we improve how the federal government buys goods and services?”

The answer: “Become more strategic!”

The current acquisition environment is fraught with redundant acquisition programs and duplicative efforts for commonly purchased goods and services.  When you consider that there are more than 500 different departments, and agencies are collectively spending half a trillion annually on their requirements, it becomes clear that such redundancies can lead to wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.

Continue reading ➝

Schedule 84 refresh Introduces New SINs for 2016 

Beginning January 2016, an update to Schedule 84 solicitation will introduce significant changes in the Special Item Number (SIN) structure. This restructuring by GSA is expected to provide customers with a better way to identify Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201 compliant and Certified System Engineer ICAM PACS (CSEIP) certified physical and logical access control systems (PACS and LACS) products and services.

Two new SINs, 246 35 7 for products, and 246 60 5 for services that are FIPS 201 compliant, will be added to the schedule. Additionally, there will be a consolidation of SINs for Schedule 84 in an effort to simplify the SIN structure and reduce confusion.

Continue reading ➝

What to Expect During GSA's Credit & Financial Reviews

During the GSA proposal process, your submitted contract may be subject to a review by a special branch of GSA, the Credit & Finance bureau. This third party is a separate entity from GSA and plays a unique role in the contracting process. Their main function is to conduct a pre-approval survey and analysis of a prospective contractor to ensure that they are financially viable, solvent and able to fulfill requirements under if a GSA contract is awarded.

Continue reading ➝

Three Functions to Avoid TAA Non-Compliance 

One of the most challenging aspects of being a GSA contract holder with a Multiple Award Schedule (GSA MAS) is maintaining compliance under the Trade Agreements Act. On the surface, the agreement seems simple: the GSA must only acquire U.S.-made and TAA-compliant products under the MAS program.

However, non-compliance can occur because the TAA has implemented several grants through trade treaties to signatory countries, which have been given the ability to supply non-discriminated commercial products to the U.S. The TAA has also developed grants to discriminate and prohibit the supply of products from non-signatory countries. Needless to say, this agreement has often left MAS contract holders confused on its true meaning.