North American Classification System (NAICS) codes are an important classifying system established by the Office of Management and Budget. Now that the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Consolidation has aligned NAICS codes to Special Item Numbers (SINs), it’s even more important to know the significance of NAICS codes – what they are, how they impact your business and business size, and what is their effect on your GSA contract. Recognizing which NAICS codes are applicable to the scope of your business can lead to better business opportunities in the public sector. Read our break down on NAICS code to set yourself up for a successful 2021!
Pricing compliance is an essential part of having and maintaining a GSA Schedule contract. Join us at this Lunch & Learn for an overview of Commercial Sales Practices and Transactional Data Reporting, as well as the pros and cons of each.
Understand the difference between Quarterly Sales Reporting and Transactional Data Reporting (TDR)
Define Commercial Sales Practices
Analyze the requirements under the Price Reduction Clause
Weigh the Pros and Cons of Disclosing your CSP information and opting into TDR
Current and prospective industry partners, here’s your opportunity to Join GSA for MAS Office Hours! Engage with MAS Experts and Policy Makers as they cover new and potential offeror topics. Join here.
Want to learn more about Requests for Information (RFIs) and how they can be a useful tool for your business? Join the Market Research as a Service (MRAS) team for tips and tricks on how to respond to GSA’s RFIs. The experts will guide you on how to fill out these important surveys and provide details on why GSA collects industry responses and how data collected shapes future purchases. Register now and stay informed!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Couldn't make it to last month's GSA 101 webinar? Watch it here on demand. Learn the basics or refresh your knowledge about GSA Schedules so you can determine if it's right for you.
GSA Points of Contact - Who to Contact When You Need Help
Trying to figure out who to contact for questions about your GSA Schedule can be quite a challenge. We will cover the varying roles and responsibilities of GSA officials and how to contact them about your GSA Schedule:
Procurement Contracting Officer (PCO) – The PCO is the usual main point of contact for most GSA Schedules. The PCO negotiated and awarded your GSA Schedule and is responsible for completing subsequent modifications. You can find your PCO and their contact information by searching your contract number on GSA eLibrary.
Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO) – The ACO has specific delegated responsibilities, including administering any Mass Modifications, processing claims, and administering your subcontracting plan if you’re a large business. In order to find who your ACO point of contact you can go to the Vendor Support Center ACO/IOA locator.
Industrial Operations Analyst (IOA) – The IOA oversees your contract compliance through Contractor Assessments. They also submit reports to the ACO and PCO to consider recommendations for corrective actions when needed, monitor receipts of sales reports and IFF payments, and process sales adjustments. To find your IOA point of contact you can go to the VSC ACO/IOA locator.
Vendor Support Center (VSC) Help Desk – The VSC Help Desk assists contractors to resolve technical issues with their contract. These issues can be from SIP, eBuy, the PO Portal, Sales Reporting Portal, etc. It can also help you recover your passwords or reset them. The VSC Help Desk is a useful resource that can be used to keep your contract running smoothly. You can contact the VSC toll-free at 877-495-4849 or at vedor.support@gsa.gov.
QUICK TIP OF THE MONTH
How GSA Contractors Can Prepare for the Biden-Harris Administration
On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden was sworn in as President of the United States. This change in the White House will bring a whole new administration with different policies, personnel, and spending habits.
The most important thing for GSA contractors to do is to research policies the new administration is planning on implementing. Biden has a list of policies he plans on acting on right away including COVID-19 and climate change, but he also has long term plans for the next 4 years. Priorities will inevitably change, so you’ll want to stay on top of what agencies are looking for and make sure your company presents itself as a valuable solutions provider.
Here are a few ways you can effectively market your company in the federal marketplace:
Modify your Capabilities Statement so it reflects what the new administration is looking for
Keep your GSA Advantage! catalog updated
Monitor contracting opportunities on beta.SAM.gov and GSA eBuy
Check forecasted opportunities on platforms like the Acquisition Gateway so you can be prepared to respond to relevant government solicitations
If you want to learn more about the Biden-Harris Administration, check out our recent blog on upcoming trends contractors should watch.
EMERGING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Mobile Systems Operation and Maintenance
The Department of the Air Force has issued a pre-solicitation for an IDIQ contract providing services for the operation, maintenance, program management, and sustainment of two radar systems. This opportunity is listed under primary NAICS Code 541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. Responses are due by March 5, 2021 at 12 p.m. EST. More information can be found under Notice ID: FA702221R0002.
Adaptive Warfighting Architectures
The Department of Defense has issued a pre-solicitation for the research and development of adaptive warfighting architectures that combine emerging new technologies with new warfighting constructs. This opportunity is listed under primary NAICS code 541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Responses are due by April 14, 2021 at 1 p.m. EDT. More information can be found under Notice ID: HR001120S0043.
Power Systems Installation Services
The Department of Transportation has released a pre-solicitation for the design and installation of power systems and power system ancillary equipment. This opportunity is a partial Small Business Set Aside. Responses are due no later than April 23, 2021 at 2 p.m. MDT. More information can be found under Notice ID: 6973GH-20-R-00044.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How can I be sure I am maintaining Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance on my GSA Schedule contract?
A: The TAA is an act of legislation that determines whether foreign products can be sold through the federal marketplace. If a product on your GSA Schedule is manufactured or substantially transformed in a designated country, it is deemed compliant with the TAA. To maintain compliance, be sure you pick manufacturers in TAA compliant countries for the products you plan to sell on your Schedule, and properly document Country of Origin for all your products. You should maintain an up-to-date Letter of Supply for each manufacturer/dealer/distributor whose products you sell through GSA. If the country of origin for any of your products changes, you must modify your GSA Schedule with the new country of origin. If the country of origin for a product changes to a non-designated country, you should delete it with a modification.
Q: What countries are considered TAA compliant?
Designated countries under TAA consist of: World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement Countries, Free Trade Agreement Countries, Least Developed Countries, and Caribbean Basin Countries. A list of designated countries can be found here. Be aware that this list of countries can change depending on shifts in international affairs. Non-compliant countries include, but are not limited to, Russia, India, China, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Sri Lanka, and Brazil. It is important to keep this list of designated countries handy when deciding whether or not you can sell a product through your GSA Schedule contract in order to avoid compliance issues.
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