If you need something for your office, chances are you’ll hop onto a site like Amazon because it’s easy to search, the prices are reasonable, and it’ll arrive at your door in just a few days. If a government agency wants to purchase something, they can’t just order whatever they want from popular retailers, but they still need a simplified way to order products. So where do they go?
Since government agencies generally have to purchase products that meet certain regulations, they use special procurement platforms to find what they need. One of the sites frequented by government customers is FedMall.
What is FedMall?
Federal Mall (FedMall) is an online ordering system for the federal, state, and local government agencies. On the site, authorized agencies can purchase tens of millions of commercial-off-the shelf (COTS) items, National Stock Number (NSN) items, and government reserve products that are already deemed compliant with federal regulations. So, it’s like Amazon, but for the government.
Run by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), FedMall was created to streamline the procurement process. Agencies can easily and quickly purchase products under the Micro-Purchase Threshold (MPT) of $10,000 at the best prices.
Who Can Purchase from FedMall?
Military services, federal, state, and local governments can order from FedMall. That being said, agencies need to meet specific requirements to be a FedMall buyer. Buyers need a valid authentication certificate for their web browser such as a Common Access Card (CAC), Personal Identity Verification (PIV), or a Soft Certificate.
Who Can Sell Products Through FedMall?
If you hold a government contract like the GSA Multiple Award Schedule, you’re eligible to sell your products through FedMall assuming you meet the other requirements listed below. However, you can also sell your products through FedMall without having your own GSA Schedule if you partner with an authorized GSA reseller. In this case, you don’t have to hold a government contract to offer your solutions on the site.
At Winvale, we are an authorized GSA reseller and a FedMall supplier, so we work with our partners in our Channel Distribution Program to sell their products using our prime GSA Schedule. While some of our partners sell their items on FedMall using a GSA Schedule, they do not hold their own Schedule. Partnering with a reseller is a great way for companies to gain access to sites like FedMall without the burden of keeping up with their own contract.
How is FedMall Different from Other Procurement Platforms?
FedMall is strictly for products—you won’t find services, or intangible products like computer software or cloud software on the site. FedMall is also only meant for purchases under the Micro-Purchasing Threshold of $10,000.
Overall, it’s a simpler process than most other procurement platforms. It doesn’t require a competitive quote, and you can purchase an item in essentially one click.
What Are the Benefits of FedMall for GSA Contractors?
FedMall makes it easy for contractors to sell their commercial products to government customers. As a supplier of FedMall, you can increase your company’s exposure to government buyers and fulfill more orders.
FedMall is also a preferred platform among certain buyers. FedMall was modeled after a former procurement site run by the Department of Defense (DoD) called EMall, and since it’s run by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), FedMall has a huge following among DoD buyers.
Unlike most other procurement sites, FedMall can list National Stock Number (NSN) items. NSN is the official label put on items that are frequently used, bought, stocked, or distributed by the DoD. NSNs are an essential part of the DoD supply chain and are another reason government buyers go to FedMall for their purchases.
How Do You Register for FedMall?
Before you begin, you need to make sure you meet the following requirements:
- Hold a government contract like the GSA Schedule
- Have a valid authentication certificate like a CAC, PIV, or soft certificate available for your web browser
- Have a valid CAGE Code
- Have an active SAM.gov registration
- Access to your contract number and any other related contract information
Once you locate the information above, go to the Supplier Portal. In the portal, you’ll select your certificate and enter your PIN if prompted. If this is your first time in the portal, you’ll need to register. To register, you’ll simply enter your CAGE Code, and FedMall will automatically find your information from SAM.gov. If you have any issues, make sure your SAM registration is active and there are no debarments against your company.
After you verify your info from SAM, fill in your contract information under “Registrant Contract Information.” Once you submit your registration, it’ll take about 10 minutes for it to be processed. We know this is a simplified version of the registration, so if you need more information on how to register, visit the FedMall Quick Start Guide.
Do You Want to Learn More About FedMall and Other Ways to Sell to the Government?
Business development is an important aspect of your GSA Schedule but can often be the most difficult. We know how beneficial FedMall can be for a GSA contractor—especially since we are now a supplier on FedMall ourselves.
If you want to learn more about how you can be a FedMall supplier, or how you can utilize other GSA tools and platforms to find customers and sell to the government, one of our consultants will be happy to help you.
