GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
GSA’s
Federal Supply Service
IT Acquisition Center’s
How to Prepare a
Quality IT Offer
for
Solicitation
FCIS-JB-980001B
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Agenda
•FSS Overview
•IT Acquisition Center Background
•Preparing your Offer
•After Award
•Contact Information
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
GSA Acquisition Centers
Management Services Center
Office Supplies &
Administrative Services
National
Furniture
Center
IT Acquisition Center
Center for
Facilities Maintenance &
Hardware
General Products
(National Disaster Support)
Automotive Center
Services Acquisition
Center
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Customer Overview
•Federal agencies and DC government
•Cooperative Purchasing/State and local
governments (for Schedule 70 only)
www.gsa.gov/cooperativepurchasing
•See www.gsa.gov/schedules-ordering under
the section “Eligibility to use GSA sources” for
list of eligible users
•Government IT spending is expected to grow
between 6% and 10% each year
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Billions of Dollars
IT Schedule Sales Trend ($ in Billions)
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
13
14.9
16.99
16.88
9.54
02
0
2
03
0
2
04
0
2
05
0
2
06
0
2
Services
Hardware
Software
D
T
Y
Fiscal Year
•The IT Center is one of FSS’s major Acquisition
Centers with over 5,200 contracts.
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
IT Schedule & Small Business
 80%-85% of all GSA contracts
(including IT) are held by small
businesses
 Over 35% of schedule sales are to
small businesses
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
When preparing an offer, GSA
Determines...
•Responsiveness
–Read all documents in entirety
–Filled in completely
–No blanks filled in with “N/A”
•Responsibility
–Viable product/service
–History of satisfactory performance
–Financial resources
•Fair and Reasonable Pricing
–Most favored customer pricing
–Compared against your previously offered prices
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Solicitation Features
• Prepared in accordance with FAR Part 12, “Acquisition
of Commercial Items”
• Variable contract period effective 5 years from date of
award with three optional 5 year periods to extend
• Standing Solicitation (no closing date for receipt of
offers)
• Past Performance Evaluation by Dun & Bradstreet c/o
Open Ratings
• Mandatory Acceptance of Government Purchase Card
• For payments equal to or less than the micro-purchase
threshold, for oral or written delivery orders
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Getting on Schedule
•Where to start
•How to submit an offer
•The make up of an offer
•How to complete an offer
•Preparation for award
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Where to Start
•Obtain Solicitation
Download off Internet into word file document.
Go to www.gsa.gov/schedule70solicitation,
Under the GSA Schedule 70 Solicitation box, click on
the “Information Technology Solicitation” Link
or
Obtain all solicitations at www.fedbizopps.gov
•Identify products & services within the scope of the
Solicitation
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
eOffer / eMod
“eOffer” / “eMod” is the web-based application that
helps companies electronically prepare and submit
Multiple Award Schedule contract proposals and
modification requests to FSS.
For Information : www.eoffer.gsa.gov or
For Technical Assistance with eOffer or Digital
Certificates contact: 1-866-472-9114
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
How to Submit an Offer
•Read the entire solicitation
•Respond to all requirements
•Have a corporate officer sign
all required documents
•Submit two copies of offer to
IT Acquisition Center
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Solicitation
•Standing Solicitation
•Create a cover letter to accompany
your offer
•Complete Standard Form 1449 with
signature from corporate officer
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
The Make Up of an Offer
1. Solicitation (2 MS Word files)
2. Attachment 1: Pricelist with Terms and
Conditions
3. Attachment 2: Past Performance (Dun &
Bradstreet report)
4. Attachment 3: Subcontracting Plan (for
Large Businesses only)
*When submitting your offer, you must send back the full text
of these documents whether or not they apply to your
company.
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Sections of the Solicitation
• A-- NAICS descriptions- Select the codes used to determine
business size (was SIC code)
• B-- Schedule Items- Identify the products/services you are offering.
• C-- Contract Terms and Conditions- Read all of the clauses in
this section. There are various places in this section that require
the offeror (your company) to fill in information
• D-- Contract Terms and Conditions IBR of Executive
Orders etc.- Read all terms and conditions in this section
• E-- Instructions to Offerors- Read all provisions in this section
• F-- Evaluation Factors- Read the evaluation factors that will be
used in evaluating your offer
• G-- Offeror Supplied Information- This section will ask the
offeror to supply a large amount of information
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Attachment 1
Guidelines for creating your
FSS IT pricelist
•Use the guidelines to create a pricelist which
will contain the prices, terms and conditions for
products/services in your offer
•Choose the terms and conditions that apply
only to the SINs (Special Item Numbers) in your
offer
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Attachment 2
Past Performance Evaluation Report
•Follow the instructions listed to
receive an Open Ratings Past
Performance Evaluation Report
•Offeror must pay for report at time
of request (cannot be billed)
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Attachment 3
Guidelines for Creating a Small Business
Subcontracting Plan
(only needed for large businesses)
•Use the guide provided to create a Subcontracting
Plan. Make sure to include this plan if you are
classified as a large business
•A subcontracting plan is needed for large
businesses to demonstrate how they will
subcontract portions of their work to other smaller
companies
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
After Submittal of Offer
•Contracting Officer(CO)/Contracting
Specialist(CS) assigned
•Contacted by assigned CO/CS
–Clarifications/deficient data defined
–Timeframe for response established
•Once negotiations begin, submit
additional data as requested
– Accurate, complete and current
– Be timely with responses
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Preparation for Award
•Final Proposal Revision
–Basis for award clearly identified
–Price reduction clause
–Government discounts
–Delivery time
–Industrial funding fee
–CO gives guide to write FPR
•GSA Contract Number issued
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Contract Administration
•Modifications
–Add & delete products & services
–Price reduction clause
•Report Sales – Vendor Support Center online:
www.gsa.gov/vsc
•Industrial Funding Fee
•Contractor distributes GSA Schedule Pricelist to Federal
customers
•Contractor submits GSA contract data electronically via GSA
Advantage! within 6 months of award
•GSA prints/distributes FSS Schedule
to Federal customers
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Initiatives of the IT Acquisition Center
• Attend IT industry and Government trade shows
• Publications including Marketing Express, The
Steps to Success: How to be a Successful
Contractor, Schedule 70 Brochure, and Customer
Assistance Guide
• Daily assistance for vendors and customers from
the Customer Service department within the IT
Center via phone
•Train customers on usage of the Multiple Award
Schedules program
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
E-Tools
• GSA Advantage! (www.gsaadvantage.gov )
– Your tool to offer your products and services online in an easy to use ecommerce site
– Contact your Contracting Officer to post your products and services to the
site
• Vendor Support Center (www.gsa.gov/vsc)
– The Vendor Support Center is the online source for vendors to get
information, review and report sales, and more
• GSA Schedules E-Library (www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov)
– Schedules e-Library is the online source for GSA and Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) Federal Supply Schedule contract award information
• e-Buy (www.gsa.gov/ebuy)
– An electronic Request for Quote system that will allow customers to submit
their requirements with an opportunity for your company to respond
electronically
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Section 508
•What is “Section 508” ?
Section 508 is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
which requires that electronic and information
technology developed, procured, maintained, or used
by the Federal government be accessible to people
with disabilities
•For more information, please go to:
www.section508.gov
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
IT Solicitation Training Seminars
•CHECK WEB PAGE FOR ANNOUNCEMENT:
www.gsa.gov/itcenter
POINT OF CONTACT:
STEPHANIE TURNER
(703) 605-2765
For Questions?
CUSTOMER SERVICE
(703) 605-2700
or
e-mail to: it.center@gsa.gov
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
Need More Info?
• IT Acquisition Center Customer Service Line: 703-605-2700
• How to Get on Schedule information: www.gsa.gov/schedules
• Solicitation and Related Downloads: www.gsa.gov/schedule70solicitation
• Web address: http://www.gsa.gov/itCenter
• E-mail: it.center@gsa.gov
• Fax: 703-605-9839
• Mailing Address:
IT Acquisition Center
2200 Crystal Drive
Crystal Plaza 4
Arlington, VA 22202
GSA Information Technology Acquisition Center
THANK YOU!