Frequently, vendors contact the hotline to ask: "How do I get on a GSA Schedule?" One of GSA's main divisions is the Federal Supply Service (FSS) Schedules, which administer the award and oversight of schedule contracts; including the Information Technology (IT) Schedules. Basically there are two types of schedules; the single award schedule (SAS) and the multiple award schedule (MAS). However, like everything else in today's government, schedules are changing. There are only a handful of single award schedules left for such things as federal employees air travel, small package delivery, envelopes, tab cards, and solvent recycling. The trend today is for Multiple Award Schedules. A multiple award schedule is an Indefinite Quantify, Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) contract for use by all federal agencies. Once award is made federal customers buy direct from the schedule vendor.

A vendor can only become a schedule contractor in response to a specific solicitation. Vendors, therefore, need to familiarize themselves with FAR 8.4 and the procedures required. This varies depending on the size of the company seeking to be on a schedule and the product or services being offered. See: http://www.fss.gsa.gov/schedules/, and, specifically, http://pub.fss.gsa.gov/sched/do_biz.cfm.

From time to time there are contracting opportunities with the Federal Technology Service (FTS) under its business lines: Network Services and Information Technology Solutions. The procedure is basically the same: Your inquiry and/or proposal needs to be timely and in response to a specific solicitation. When a federal agency has a need (requirement) it seeks to satisfy that need through the procurement process. A Request For Proposals (RFP) is issued and announced in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD). Interested and qualified vendors submit their proposals in response to the RFP and once an award is made the vendor is contacted directly to provide goods or services.

It should also be noted that by public law large federal contracts require the contractor to employ certain percentages of small, small disadvantaged, and women-owned businesses. This requirement is generally an opportunity for small businesses to contact the large companies that are known contenders for the substantial federal contracts during the solicitation phase to learn of any subcontracting opportunities. Some of the Government's future requirements will be met under existing schedule contracts and some through new solicitations. Vendors can learn of the Government's new requirements through the online publication of the Commerce Business Daily: http://cbdnet.access.gpo.gov/index.html.