In recent months the General Services Administration (GSA) has placed significance on the importance of having a digital certificate. In fact, some GSA Schedules already require a digital certificate to access the applications GSA’s eOffer/eMod system. With the increased prominence and use of digital certificates it is important to be informed on what they are, why they are important and how to obtain them. A digital certificate is essentially a way of verifying an individual’s identity and securing internet transmissions. It is reassures the parties involved in the transmission, as it creates verifiable digital signatures and enables secure transmissions of data through encryption and decryption. It is for these added security and verification benefits that the GSA desires its contractors to have these digital certificates.
Obtaining a digital certificate is an online process that is completed through a company such as IdenTech, and it can take up to 2 weeks to be issued the certificate after all of the necessary paperwork is completed. If you already have a digital certificate, make sure that it is current and the contact information is accurate. Every two years the digital certificates must be updated, and expired digital certificates will cause delays in contracting.
For more information on digital certificates and how to obtain them, contact Winvale for assistance with this process.