Contracting Resources Group is first and foremost a resource for companies looking to do business with federal agencies. We would like to provide your company with as much information as possible in order to target the best federal business opportunities. As you require additional information about GSA, please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
The United States Federal Government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world. The vast majority of the Government’s buying is facilitated through General Services Administration (GSA) contracting vehicles, called Schedules. A GSA Schedule is a five-year contract listing the prices the federal government has agreed to pay for a vendor's commercial products and/or services. The contract may be renewed for three five-year periods, with the resulting potential of a 20-year agreement if all renewals are executed. A GSA schedule contract is an official federal contract. Funding under the contract occurs when an order is signed by a federal agency.
There are 40 GSA Schedules that companies may apply for a GSA contract under, and thousands of different Special Item Numbers (SINs) from which to choose. Schedules cover everything from furniture, vehicles, computers and office products, to most categories of professional related services, while the SINs determine the best fit for a company’s unique product and service offerings. For a complete list of GSA Schedules, please visit the GSA eLibrary.
To be an approved supplier under a GSA schedule, prospective vendors must complete an extensive application and review process. Negotiating fair and reasonable prices for the products or services to be delivered is the most important aspect of the proposal process. If a contract is successfully negotiated, the vendor is placed on a list of approved suppliers for a particular schedule. Buyers for federal agencies can order using GSA Advantage!, the online marketplace for GSA schedule products and services. To view products/services listings for approved GSA Schedule vendors, please visit GSA Advantage!.
An order under a schedule is a request for products and/or services. Approved vendors under a GSA schedule use the pre-negotiated rates in their GSA schedule contract to perform orders received from federal agencies. Competition for an individual GSA order is reduced significantly because the prices contained in a schedule are pre-determined at the time of contract award. A GSA Schedule contract award is not a guarantee of government business, and direct sales efforts are typically required to generate revenue. GSA vendors should not expect sales under the contract without focused, agency-based sales and marketing efforts. With that in mind, the use of the GSA schedule system as a quick, efficient buying mechanism continues to steadily increase.
What is a GSA Schedule?
A GSA Schedule is a contract that a company has with the United States General Services Administration (GSA). The contract contains negotiated pricing that enables a company to sell their products or services to any government agency.
Is my company eligible to get on a GSA Schedule?
All of your company’s products and services must originate from a country that is part of the U.S. Trade Agreement Act. Your company must have done over 25,000 in commercial sales over each of the last 2 fiscal years, and may not currently employ any W2 government employees.
What is the process to get on a GSA Schedule?
The first step in getting on a GSA Schedule is to determine which schedule is appropriate for your company based on the products or services your company offers. Then, the solicitation is downloaded and the proposal process begins. Your company will need to complete the solicitation, forms, and certifications required by GSA. The proposal is then submitted to GSA, reviewed, negotiated, and awarded.
How long does it take to get a GSA Schedule?
To complete the entire process from development to award, it typically takes over 200 labor hours of a company’s resources. Contracting Resources Group’s team of GSA Schedule experts cuts down on that time dramatically. After CRG has all of the content it needs from your company, we will have the final version of the proposal completed in as little as 1-2 weeks. After the proposal is submitted to GSA, it can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months for GSA’s contracting officers to review the proposal.
Is there any way to expedite this process?
Using a consultant with years of GSA Schedule consulting experience is the fastest way to expedite the proposal process. It takes CRG one week to complete the GSA Schedule proposal once all content is received. In order to expedite the review process once the proposal has been submitted to GSA, your company can have a Letter to Expedite written on your company’s behalf by an interested buyer in a government agency. This Letter to Expedite will increase the visibility of your proposal over other offers, typically reducing GSA’s review time to less than 6 months.
Do we need to hire a consultant to obtain a GSA Schedule contract?
While it is possible to obtain a GSA Schedule contract without the expertise of the experienced consultants at CRG, companies choose to hire us for a variety of reasons.
Does my company need a GSA Schedule?
If your company wants to sell products and services to the federal government, then having a contracting vehicle is extremely useful. The GSA Schedule is the most widely used contracting vehicle for the purchase of goods and services by federal agencies.
What role does CRG play once you have gotten your contract awarded?
Contracting Resources Group prides itself on being a valuable resource for your company beyond the award of your GSA Schedule contract. In this regard, CRG offers your company a variety of post award services which include contract modifications, market analysis, strategic planning, federal marketing, and GSA contract maintenance training.
We will be glad to answer all of your questions and help you to make an informed decision. Please contact us: