The federal marketplace can be a daunting place for General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule contractors, but if they know what tools to use and where to find them, they can be more confident in the success of their contract. GSA provides a range of procurement tools to assist contractors in conducting market research, competitor analysis, and identifying contracting opportunities. These resources are available for free, and they play a crucial role in a contractor's growth.

The General Services Administration (GSA) plays a crucial role in facilitating a significant portion of government spending. It acts as a mediator between government agencies and suppliers to provide products and services ranging from office supplies used at the Department of State, to Information Technology (IT) services at the Department of Labor. This simplifies the acquisition process for government agencies and saves them a lot of administrative work. However, you may be surprised to know GSA does not rely on your tax dollars to stay operational.

We’re all aware that the federal government is one of the largest buyers in the U.S. Contractors looking to tap into the federal market through GSA Schedules are first going to need to conduct market research to see where they fit in, and will need to continue to research even after they are awarded a contract. But how can we track where all the massive spending is going? Which contracts are obtaining the most cash flows? How much money does each state spend in taxpayer dollars?

We live in a world where it may be as simple as picking up the phone and asking a prospective client if they’d like to purchase what you have to offer. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like this when selling to the federal government. You need to abide by certain rules and regulations, and go through a formal process to sell your products and services. So, how do commercial companies sell to the government?

Throughout the life of your GSA Schedule contract, it’s expected that your business will experience changes, especially since you can hold your contract for up to 20 years. These factors all tie into how you provide discounts to your commercial and federal customers. As a contractor, you have the ability to make changes to your GSA Schedule through an update known as the Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) modification.