Features And Efficacy Of GSA Schedule Contract For Small Business Owners

The abbreviation of GSA in association with the schedule contracts stands for General Services Administration. This is a term which is exclusively prevalent in the United States and is a legal organization which gives in for long-term contracts which are essentially government wide by nature. These contracts are addressed to the commercial firms, regarding the wide scaled provision of all kinds of products and services which are relevant and prevalent in the commercial facets of functioning. The outstanding feature of these kinds of contracts is that these are characterized to give out products and services at remarkably reasonable prices that are also attached with discounts as well. Various commercial organizations in the United States have undergone such contracts with the GSA and that they are still up to continuing the same on account of the fact that the services offered by these contracts are really effective in saving funds at large.

GSA Schedule Contract For Small Business Owners

A GSA Schedule Contract is something that is also referred to as the Multiple Award Schedule Contract and that it gives in for one of the most significant vehicles of the government contracts whatsoever and this is on account of the fact that these contracts are high in smoothening the government sales procedures and their execution in the United States.

These contracts, with the help of their pre-determined terms and conditions on pricing, cater the companies sell to the government buyers and in this regard it has to be mentioned that one of the most significant features that can be attached on to the Advance GSA contracts is the GSA which gives in for advanced and organized negotiations that effectively build a bridge between the federal government who is seeking to purchase various goods and services and the manufacturing companies who are up to selling the same to the government. However in this regard it is necessary to point out that GSA services are used at large by the state, federal as well as the local leveled governments, all of which are highly provided with almost every kind of a good or a service required in their functioning.

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The Government Mission For GSA Schedule Contract

The primary mission of gsa consultant is to provide help to small and medium size businesses to grow revenues from sales to the federal and state government. They offer various kinds of services to federal and state government employees. Those are:

• GSA Schedule Preparation: They save time, money and resources for contract holders. They help to secure GSA Contract Award 6-12 months sooner than if the contract holders opted for in house method. And more importantly, they help contract holders to gain an in depth contract knowledge and proficiency across all GSA schedule.



• GSA contract management offers wide range of services related with contract. Most importantly, gsa consultant provide all the adequate knowledge and support related with contract management. They also provide services related with any modification on the contract. Furthermore, they provide other services vary from GSA contract extension to GSA Audit support.



• They also maintain all the compliances and regular updates related with GSA contract. Such as, GSA basics, marketing through GSA Contract, Selling through GSA Contract and GSA Compliance.

Experts opined that gsa schedule is a vehicle for both customers and vendors that helps fast, easy and effective contracting. It establishes long term contracts between companies and government agencies. It provides access to numerous numbers of products and services with a discounted price.

One can order products, services and supplies through gsa schedule. Customers who can offer from the schedule will get various opportunities, such as:

• Savings.
• Flexibility and choice.
• Shorter lead time.
• Transparency.
• Control procurement.
• Lower administrative cost.
• Reduction of inventories.

It also offers lot of opportunities to the vendors. Through this schedule vendors can connect with various government organisations.

The schedule contracts and sales are all comes under the purview of Trade Agreements Act (TAA). TAA states that goods and services which manufactured or altered in USA or any “designated country” only come under the purview of the schedule. However, there are two major federal regulatory bodies that determine the policy for the schedules program – Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM).

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SBA Federal Contract Opportunities To Women Owned Small Business

SBA 8a certification has offered new opportunities to get more federal contracts for women owned small business. As per its final verdict on the program, it has included a new certification, known as edWOSB (Economically Challenged Women Owned Small Business). As per this new program, women business owners get increased chances of getting the government contracts.

Women Owned Small Business SBA Certification Federal Contract

Benefits of edWOSB program

• As per the new program, women business owners can also win set-aside government contracts
• 5% of these federal government set-aside expenditure is for the WOSB or edWOSB program
• Projects that are less than $3 million and $5 million can take advantage of this set-aside
• 5% of the subcontract requirements are fixed to wosb from large major contractors
• Along with other programs like SDVOSB and HUBZone, this new program has equal opportunity
• The new program also has a separate mentor protégé
• The program has no term limit
• Nearly 83 industries that are qualified by NAICS codes are enlisted in the program
• On 45 industries, rule of 2 for wosb is implied
• On nearly 38 industries there is no rule of 2 for edwosb companies

How to get 8A Certification

You can get new 8a small business certification in a number of ways, some of which are –

o Third party certification
o Using existing 8a or 8a BD certification
o Using DOT’s DBE certification
o Self certification

Procedure for Self Certification

The procedure for self certification is as follows:

1. As per the SBA final rule guidelines, you need to determine whether you are eligible for the program
2. Your business needs to have at least 51% women ownership
3. The financial threshold of the women owners should be as follows:
o Gross asset should be less than $6 million
o Net worth of business should be less than $750,000
o The annual income or salary of owners should be less than $350,000
4. You need to review 83 industries under NAICS and see whether you are meeting the standardized size
5. As per your business qualification you need to choose either wosb or edwosb program
6. You need to provide documents for the program, which are as follows:
a. Business profile – type, financial statement, tax returns, and so on
b. Owner’s (s’) profile – financial statement, personal tax return, credit history, and so on
c. Management profile – list of employees with residential details, list of officers with residential details, and so on
d. You need to fill out IRS form 4506-T
e. You need to fill out SBA 413 form
f. You need to fill out SBA guidebook’s appendix C, in case you are applying for edWOSB certification
7. You need to register or update (if already registered) your CCR registration
8. You need to complete or update DSBS database of SBA
9. You need to complete or update ORCA database
10. You need to sign all the documents mentioned above with notary affidavit
11. Then submit all the documents along with the application form to repository database of WOSB or edWOSB
12. Need to maintain a duplicate copy for company record

However, if you want to be free from the hassles of so much paperwork and stringent application procedure, you can take help of a professional consultant and pay more attention to increase your business revenue.

Please Check Video  GSA Schedule Contract & 8A Certification

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Paving The Way For A Good Business Through GSA Schedule Contract

The General Services Administration is an agency chiefly responsible for meeting the requirement of the United States government offices and employees. They arrange for all the resources required for the functioning of the government including vehicles and office buildings. The GSA Schedule Contract helps business organizations supply their product directly to federal agencies on a long term basis. Each contract is drafted in such a way that it remains in effect for quite a few years. This allows business units to enter in to a long term business relationship with federal agencies.

Business Through GSA Schedule Contract

Federal customers can buy from GSA scheduled commercial concerns in order to get products at a discounted price. There are a few advantages of shopping from GSA scheduled commercial organizations. As a result a large number of people are getting more and more inclined towards buying from these companies in order to get quality products at a discounted rate. First, buyers are always able to save a good amount while buying products from gsa schedule contract holders. It is to be kept in mind that the federal government has to buy and avail a large number of products and services everyday and so even a small save on each product and service can result in saving a huge amount annually.

Second, the federal buyers can make a choice from a large number of options. As there are a large number of contractors enlisted under the schedule. This helps buyers get the right product at the right price. Moreover, the companies that are enlisted in the gsa schedule contract are managed by expert professionals and hence are able to offer effective and efficient services and suggestions to clients. As a result the clients can be rest assured that they are going to get the best possible products and services at the best possible price.

Third, procuring goods from a gsa schedule contract holder is not a time consuming affair at all. The contracts are pre-competed and make it possible to procure even the scarcest resources within a very little time. Buyers can connect with the right industry partners and are thus able to make the best and utmost utilization of their time. Most of the procurement is done within a very few days if all the formalities are completed properly.

Fourth, transparency is another important aspect of sourcing goods and services from a gsa schedule contract holding company. The whole process is managed over the internet and so it is possible to maintain a transparent approach in the procurement process. There is no room for malpractices and both the procurer and the supplier benefit from this practice.

There are many commercial units that are currently registered under the gsa schedule contract. Federal buyers can go through the internet in order to know more about the companies so that they can select the right one according to their requirement. While dealing with these companies the buyers can be rest assured that they are going to have the best products and services in the market.

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What Is GSA Schedule Contract?

Are you new to the federal market? You might then be looking for a place to learn the basics about a GSA Schedule Contract. This is the best place to start.

A GSA Contract is a government wide contract. It allows you to sell your goods and services to any government agency--local government, state government, federal government and few other organizations. The best part of it is it allows your company to get orders for services or products without you responding to the government requests, which have confusing federal contract needs and expensive federal proposals. Without this contract, you would require to bid on and negotiate with the different agencies separately. It’s a 5-year contract but you can renew it thrice. So, it’s basically a contract for twenty years with the largest client of the world.

GSA Schedule Contract

A GSA Contract has become the most preferred contracting vehicle for the procurement officers. The benefits that a company enjoys getting a GSA Schedule Contract are that it gets enlisted on GSA eLibrary and it offers the right to use GSA eBuy. A number of firms have tried convincing the technical staffs of government agencies by saying that their products or services  were great; but the only question they were asked is, “Do you have a GSA Schedule?” If their answer was yes, they were in the business; if no, they were not considered.

If you want to procure a GSA Contract, then there are few important questions you need to ask yourself first:

1. Does your firm have the resources to break in the federal marketplace? There is a GSA sales minimum. If you are unable to meet that, you may lose the contract.

2. Does your firm have a paper trail? Collecting the documents to submit for obtaining a GSA  Schedule Consultant becomes very difficult if your firm doesn’t have a sold recording system in place.

3. Why you need a GSA Schedule Contract? You need to use it for gaining profits. The contract must fit into your federal marketing plan. It must not be your plan for federal marketing purpose.

4. How many years of experience does your firm have? A minimum of two years of business experience along with a good base of projects and customers is needed if you want your firm to get a GSA Schedule Contract.

5. What will be the procedure for you to maintain your GSA Schedule Contract? You may need full-time employees devoted to your federal sales and GSA Contract. We also offer GSA maintenance services. So, if you want you can outsource your need to us.

Thanks for your curiosity to know what a GSA Contract is. Hope you can now answer the question, ‘What is a GSA Schedule Contract.’

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Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan 2012 - GSA

Are you aware of General Services Administration’s Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan? The plan outlines the strategies and policies regarding how the agency can endure Obama Admin’s commitment to cutting pollution, waste, and costs in the federal systems. Sustainability is the main concern of General Services Administration This plan reaffirms the obligation to this priority and includes tactics to handle risks arising from the major climatic changes.

Obama’s Executive Order of 2009 on federal leadership in energy, environment and economic performance highlights the persisting violent targets to reduce pollution and waste in the federal operations within 7 years. The Sustainability Plan of 2012 is to be built on three long years of progress under Executive Order and should offer an outline on the ways the agency is saving taxpayer dollars, cutting waste, saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.

 

8a Certified Business

2012 Sustainability Plan of General Services Administration comprises an action plan related to the adaptation to climatic changes, outlining the initiatives for reducing the susceptibility of the agency’s assets, investments and programs to the effects of incremental climatic change like heat waves, rise in sea level, drought, heat waves or climate inconsistency such as extreme or frequent weather events. The plan points out the actions, which address how a changing climatic condition can impact GSA operations and programs, while safeguarding the investments of taxpayer.

The plan, which Obama asked the federal agencies to prepare in the Executive Order is available for sixty days of public comment and is updated as required. The adaptation plan develops on the Admin’s commitment to marketing the climate change resilience and preparedness.

Actions in the plan include extensive efforts to continue making federal buildings more viable and to lessen the environmental effect with the cost-saving wits. General Services Administration has reduced the intensity of energy and received sixteen percent of its electrical energy from the renewable resources. The action has even reduced the greenhouse gas emissions by 20% in comparison to the levels that was noticed in 2008. Reduction in petroleum usage with the internal fleet of GSA have totaled to more than 150,000 gallons in last 7 years. Considering the present prices of the gas, this amounts to annual fuel savings of about USD 500,000.

Waste diversion has led to cutting expenses by 3.6 million dollars. With water saving, which is equal to 523 Olympic-sized pools, the action has avoided the costs of nearly 4 million dollars per year. The plan even includes the educational measures for amplifying the sustainability efforts in acquisitions. The green purchasing training for the purchase cardholders and acquisition teams is available for all to assist further drive action priorities and for a better ‘Go Green’ approach.

Other than this Climate Change Adaptation Plan, there are two more components that are included in the Sustainability Plans-- Bio-based Purchasing Strategies and Fleet Management Plans. The federal agencies keep posting the Sustainability Plans annually, giving priority to the activities, which help to meet water, energy and waste reduction objectives based on positive ROI for American taxpayer.

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Is Your Business Small Enough To Obtain 8a Certification?

You may own a business, which you consider it to be small. But what is most important is that whether the Small Business Administration considers your business to be small. The SBA will only consider your company to be small if it finds out that you adhere to the size standards set by them. This means only if your company meets the SBA size standards, it will be considered to be a small business by the Small Business Administration. Unless your firm is small, it won’t be able to get the 8a certification.

Now, the question is what is a small business according to the SBA. The SBA defines it either on the number of employees the firm has or on the basis of the annual receipts over the last three years. A manufacturing and mining company should not be having more than 500 employees if the firm wants it to be considered small by the SBA. A non manufacturing firm on the other hand are judged on the basis of their annual revenue, which is set by the SBA as 7 million dollars. This means a non-manufacturing firm shouldn’t have earned more than the specified amount in a year if it wants its business to get approval from the agency for SBA 8a certification.

The Small Business Administration even defines a small sized business as an enterprise, which:

• Has a business location in United States
• Is established for making profits
• Operates mainly within the United States or contributes largely to the economy of U.S. through paying taxes or using American materials, products or labor
• Is operated and owned independently

8a Small Business Certification

The company can be a partnership, sole proprietorship or corporation. Since all the federal agencies should use the size standards set by the SBA for the contracts, you must choose NAICS codes, which best describe the firm and then see if it meets the size standards for the chosen NAICS codes. If you want, you can even make use of the Size Standards Tool for finding out the size of your business.

After you find out that your business is small, there are few more things which you need to make sure your company meets. Your firm apart from being small need to prove to the SBA that it is economically and socially disadvantaged, majority of the company is owned by a disadvantaged individual, the firm has been in business for a minimum of two years and so on. To find out all these requirements of the SBA 8a certification, get in touch with an 8a certification consultant who can explain you in detail about the requirements.

Our Partner: GSA Schedule Contract

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How To Get In Touch With The Right Person After 8A Certification

If you think that getting the 8A certification is all that you need to do, to get access to the hugely funded federal projects, you are absolutely wrong. An 8A contract is all about pitching the right person the right time.

Often applicants after getting the 8 A Certification get confused where to look for feasible contracting options. If you are keen to initiate your business growths and sales efforts then it is imperative for you to get in touch with the right contracting persons. If you fail to communicate with the right person, it is quite likely that even after being awarded by the federal certification; you will not be able to reap of 8A contracts.

8 A Certification

After being awarded with the SBA 8A certification, your sole objective is to look for federal contractors and try to get access to government contracting. The section managers, program managers or functional area managers often administer such authority. Such qualified professionals take the executive decision where the dollars should be spent to earn maximum income. It is considered one of the most difficult parts of federal contracting. After being awarded, often applicants lack the opportunity to gain access to the government projects. Hence, it is imperative to implement a strategy to overcome this hurdle.

In this regard, one of the most basic things that you can do is you can consult with the contracting officers. By talking with the contracting officers you can locate the feasible project opportunities available. The primary function of the contracting officers is to monitor and control the contracts. It is the duty of the contracting officers to take care of all the legal formalities and paperwork involved to make sure that no complications arise due to lack of proper documentation. The budget of the contract plays a significant role in the federal programs; however, the contracting officers do not have any authority in regard to control of the budget.

It depends on you who will control the budget. For instance, if you are a seller of information technology services, you might want to get in touch with the OCIO- Chief Information Officer’s bureau. It is quite likely that you may have to interact with a number of people at the OCIO and find it difficult to locate the right individual. It depends on you how will you determine the right individual who monitors the appropriate budget for the particular type of service offered by you.

According to SBA professionals and business analysts, one of the best and extremely useful ways to look for the 8A contracts is by focusing on individual sales. By concentrating on individual sales along with business development efforts on particular people, you can ferry the contracts the way you wish to. This is considered one of the less-expensive and most-efficient options to look for the 8A projects.

Preparing for the federal programs and acquiring the certifications successfully is just a small part of the federal projects. The most important part is acquiring the project after being awarded with the 8a certification. Hence, it is recommended to devise effecti8ve business strategy and look for feasible options to reap the advantages off 8A programs.

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Tips To GSA Pricing Negotiation

Negotiation is basically a skill, which may be honed over time until it is perfect. However, developing this skill needs a lot of persistence and practice. The General Service Administration in the United States allows for negotiation. It conducts a price negotiation with the company that wants to apply for the federal contract. The price negotiation is generally conducted after the submission of the GSA application. The main objective of the negotiation is to get the best price for the federal government.

By obtaining a GSA contract, the vendor comes to an agreement to offer the best price to the government for any quantity. But, it’s also true that the General Services Administration will look for more concession. So, before starting the negotiation, it’s important that you do a thorough research.

GSA Schedule Contract

You are in fact highly recommended to seek products that are same as yours and are listed on the General Services Administration. However, there are some complications with regard to this.

• A GSA applicant may always try not to give the extra cost of the products that arise due to quality difference between their products and the one that is listed on the Schedule. Quality differences between the products are determined on the basis of weight, strength, warranty, product lifetime and durability.
• If the company is located in an area where the number of competitors you have is few, modifying the pricing strategy becomes a difficult affair. This is mainly because of the presence of the few regional competitors. Such a situation generally demands higher price to General Services Administration for your firm and less concessions.
• The General Services Administration ensures the Schedule holder to provide the most favored customer pricing. At whatever price you are selling your products to the commercial clients, it’s important to remember that it’s the price that General Services Administration presumes.
• As a GSA applicant, you should monitor the quantity discounts or payment that are proposed by your competitor to the General Services Administration. Proper monitoring will give you an insight on the successful discounts that were made by your competitors previously. By doing this, you can be enlightened about the negotiated agreements, which GSA acknowledged previously.

At Advance GSA, we say to our clients that every kind of price concession will have something in store for the Schedule holder. Therefore, we suggest our clients to try their luck for GSA bulk order discounts rather than the blanket price concessions. Getting faster payment terms need to be requested as an important part of price concession.

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