GSA Schedule Preperation/SBA Certification Assistance

Navigating the Federal procurement process can seem daunting at times, and having the right tools in your company’s tool belt can be a crucial part of finding success in finding and winning contract awards.  Obtaining valuable contract vehicles and certifications can play an enormous role in helping to get your company properly positioned to win in such a highly competitive marketplace.  Whether you’ve been in business for years or are just getting started in the world of Federal procurement, consideration should be given to obtaining both General Service Administration (GSA) Schedule Contracts and Small Business Administration (SBA) certifications.  They can often end up being the difference between obtaining a contract or a failed attempt at requirement capture.

General Service Administration (GSA) Schedule Contracts:

A GSA Schedule Contract is a Government wide contract vehicle for commercial products, services, and solutions.  GSA Schedule Contracts, also known as Federal Supply Schedules, are indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ), long-term contracts under the General Services Administration’s Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program. The contracts include an initial award period of 5 years, with 3 potential option periods to extend the contract, with a potential total of 20 contract years.  GSA Schedule Contracts are the most widely used government contract vehicle annually, and many government buyers prefer to purchase products and services through the GSA Schedule because it streamlines the procurement process through a host of benefits, such as:

• Orders placed under the Schedules program can count towards an agency’s socioeconomic goals and accomplishments
• Flexible Pricing: Customers are free to request price reductions beyond discounted Schedule prices
• Skill Pool: Contractor Team Arrangements (CTAs) allow agencies to customize solutions from a vast skill pool to obtain “total solutions”
• Control of procurement process: Ordering activity maintains a direct relationship with the contract service provider; GSA is not involved in the process except to initially establish the Schedules Contract
• Easy payment options: GSA SmartPay®, is accepted for all Schedule orders under $3,000
• No order limitations: Customers can place an order for any dollar amount
• Expedited Delivery: Available in many cases and items can frequently be delivered overnight or within two days
• Environmental Compliance: Orders placed under the GSA Schedules provide compliance with environmental requirements for application services and products

Contractors also receive some unique benefits in the form of Contractor Teaming Arrangements (CTAs), Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), and access to GSA’s proprietary opportunity portal, GSA eBuy.

CTAs allow GSA Schedule Contract holders to offer “total solutions” by teaming with other schedule holders to combine product and service offerings, subsequently reducing the level of viable competition and increasing the scope and capability of a contractors’ ability to perform on any requirement.

BPAs permit the consolidation of agency and multi-agency requirements, while Eliminating the need for immediate funding requirements.  This creates an opportunity to for the government to further negotiate improved discounts, while subsequently satisfying recurring agency requirements while significantly increasing the turn-around time on orders.

GSA eBuy is an online portal of federal opportunities, similar in design to FedBizOpps.gov, however the requirements posted to GSA’s eBuy are only visible to GSA Schedule Contract holders.  What does that mean?  Without a GSA Schedule Contract, there are hundreds of Federal procurement opportunities that are being posted that, without a GSA Schedule Contract, your firm not only cannot view, but doesn’t even know exist.  Opportunities within eBuy range from simple “best offer” quotes, to full-blown proposal efforts, and everything in between.  Whether you realize it or not, without a GSA Schedule Contract, your firm is missing out on millions of dollars in opportunities that you simply don’t even know are there.

Whether you are ready to take on the process of obtaining your company’s GSA Schedule contract, need assistance with a current contract you have in place, or just want to gain a better understanding of the GSA and its requirements, we’re here to help.  With more than a decade of hands-on experience assisting firms in all things GSA, our experts are ready to answer your questions and get you on the road to GSA Schedule contract award.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Certifications:

The SBA offers a number of certifications to help companies compete and succeed in the Federal marketplace.  Many government agencies require that a certain percentage of all contracting and procurement spending be set aside for small businesses, and further incentivize companies that are able to obtain certain specific SBA certifications that are monitored and administered by the SBA.  These certifications are similar to professional certifications in that they document a special capability or status of a certified firm, and can often give the edge in competition for government procurement, as well as make your company more attractive as a teaming partner to the larger prime contractors, who also are held to small business subcontracting goals in the performance of their contracts.  While some of the certifications require self-certification via your company’s System for Award Management (SAM) entity registration, there are other, often more valuable certifications that require a formal application to the SBA to be considered for program entry.  Among the certifications requiring such an application effort are the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development and HUBZone Programs.

Becoming certified in the SBA’s 8(a) BD program allows firms to can take advantage of specialized business training, counseling, marketing assistance and high-level executive development provided by the SBA and their resource partners. Additionally, firms can receive sole-source contracts (up to a ceiling of $4 million for goods and services and $6.5 million for manufacturing). Finally, 8(a) certified businesses can form joint ventures and teams to bid on contracts. This enhances their ability to successfully compete for and perform larger prime contracts. 8(a) certification also allows firms to participate in the coveted 8(a) BD Mentor-Protégé Program which allows companies to learn the ropes from other more experienced businesses.

Getting certified as a SBA HUBZone company comes with its own special privileges that include set-aside and sole source contracting as well.  In addition, all HUBZone certified firms receive a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions, as well as subcontracting opportunities.  HUBZone companies also get to enjoy the “Rule of Two” in which opportunities must become HUBZone set-aside if, during source and procurement research, the government receives at least two responses from qualified HUBZone companies, which allows for a significant competitive advantage when responding the Request for Information and Sources Sought postings.

Whether you are ready to take on the process of applying for an SBA certification, need assistance with a current certification you have in place, or just want to gain a better understanding of the SBA’s certification and their requirements, we’re here to help.  With more than a decade of hands-on experience assisting firms in all things SBA, our experts are ready to answer your questions and get you on the road to SBA program certification.