Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity or IDIQ are terms that are often used when doing business with the federal government through the General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program. IDIQ may might just sound like any other random government contracting acronym to you, but it is an important term to remember.

There are a lot of terms, processes, and requirements to remember when it comes to GSA Schedule acquisition, but in this blog, we're going to focus on pricing, specifically determining what is "fair and reasonable." When establishing a GSA Schedule contract, the first thing to note is that the federal government intends to obtain equal or better pricing. Why do they need to do this? Well, GSA has determined the prices under the GSA Schedule to be "fair and reasonable." During GSA Schedule negotiations, if the proposed prices are not deemed “fair and reasonable,” the offer can be either denied or negotiated further to meet the standards of the GSA. So, who determines "fair and reasonable" pricing and how do you ensure you are proposing the right numbers? Let’s discuss the highlights so that your offer can be successful during the contract review process.

Many government contractors make the mistake of not taking the time to conduct market research. Instead, they spend their time monitoring upcoming opportunities and chasing agencies, which is much more useful if paired with the proper market analysis to determine the right strategy and the most relevant opportunities to pursue. While it's important to get your company's name out there and respond to government solicitations, it can be a waste of time if the opportunity isn't the right fit, or there are components to it you just can't realistically meet.

In the world of government contracting, one of the most confusing elements to navigate is all the acronyms. From government agencies to GSA Schedule terms, it seems as if there's an acronym for everything--and they aren't always spelled out. As a current or prospective GSA contractor, it's important you begin to learn government jargon because these terms will come up when you submit your GSA Schedule proposal, during GSA Schedule maintenance, and when you are communicating with government buyers.

While GSA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) provide contractors with ample opportunities to provide products and services to an array of government buyers, there can also be times a contractor may not able to solely satisfy a buyer’s needs with their offerings. Thankfully, there’s an answer for GSA contractors who want to combine their expertise to create one total solution. In these situations, contractors can enter a GSA Schedule Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA).

GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts have many compliance requirements to ensure that contractors provide products and services that align with federal procurement regulations. One aspect of compliance that many contractors are hesitant about is the Trade Agreements Act (TAA). Under TAA, contractors must agree each "final product" they sell will have been “substantially transformed” in the U.S. or another approved country. GSA contractors often have a lot of questions about “substantial transformation” and what this means. In this blog, we’ll explain the TAA, what “substantial transformation” means, and how Advisory Ruling requests can help you navigate this requirement and remain in compliance.