FAQs

1. What is GovWorks?
   
   
2. What is GovPay?
   
   
3. Can GovWorks acquire goods and services for other Federal agencies?
   
   
4. Is there a legal opinion that supports GovWorks retaining project funds in the Interior Franchise Fund until expended or bona fide?
   
   
5. What is the most current information from GAO regarding funds obligated under a bona fide need and the time limits on such funds?
   
   
6. Where do I send my funding documents?
   
   
7. How do we get started? What happens to funds transferred to the Interior Franchise Fund?
   
   
8. Must an agency prepare an Economy Act determination and finding before using a Franchise Fund?
   
   
9. Can GovWorks elaborate on the definition of a bona fide need?
   
   
10. What are the GovWorks' standards when handling acquisitions for DoD?
    
    
11. What is the trading number of GovWorks?
    
    
12. Do I need a MIPR Acceptance Form?
    
    
13. My acceptance has not been received. How long does that take?
    
14. Can you receive direct cite MIPRs?
    
    
15. How long does it take to award a contract?
    
    
16. When is the cutoff date for funding document acceptance and award in FY'04?
    
    
17. What if I have more than one appropriation number on a funding document?
    
    
18. I sent GovWorks my funding document, why hasn't the contract been awarded?
    
    
19. I have sent a funding document to GovWorks, the money has been collected, but still no contract has been awarded. Why?
    
    
20. What can the customer expect to pay?
    
    
21. Why does GovWorks charge a fee for its administrative service?
    
    
22. Does GovWorks return all award credits to the funding agency?
    
    
23. How does GovWorks respond to requirements which are due to a National Emergency?
    
    
24. How do I get a password for my financial summaries?
    
    
25. Can GovWorks give our agency assistance with finding vendors?
    
    
26. I am having trouble printing pages of the website. Who can help?
    
    

1.  What is GovWorks?

GovWorks is a Federal service-for-fee acquisition center under the U.S. Department of the Interior Franchise Fund. We help Federal agencies acquire products and services for their programs, and award cooperative agreements and grants. As we are a full service acquisition center, we will work with you to make sure your deliveries are timely, efficient, and hassle-free.

2.  What is GovPay?

Click Here to find out!

3.  Can GovWorks acquire goods and services for other Federal agencies?

Yes. We use the Federal Franchise Fund authority of Section 403 of the Government Management Reform Act (GMRA) as delegated by the Director, Office of Management and Budget, to provide common administrative services to Federal Agencies. Common administrative services are those non-program services that most agencies need to operate efficiently and effectively, including procurement, cooperative agreement and grant services. Click below for details:

4.  Is there a legal opinion that supports GovWorks retaining project funds in the Interior Franchise Fund until expended or bona fide?

Yes. Under the authority of the Government Management Reform Act (GMRA) and guidance from GAO, GovWorks may retain project funds obligated by the requesting agency under an order to GovWorks for a bona fide need. Project funds are retained until expended.

Please download the attached documents for a complete copy of the legal opinions. Also attached is a comprehensive discussion by GAO of the various operating authorities of intergovernmental revolving funds, including the Interior Franchise Fund.


Legal Opinion March, 2002


Legal Opinion August, 2003

GAO issues report - Franchise Fund Pilot Review, August 2003

5.  What is the most current information from GAO regarding funds obligated under a bona fide need and the time limits on such funds?

Here is an update from GAO on time limits regarding funds obligated under a bona fide need.

6.  Where do I send my funding documents?

Funding documents must be sent to fax number 703.787.1839. Please do not send funding documents to contracting officers or other locations within GovWorks.

7.  How do we get started? What happens to funds transferred to the Interior Franchise Fund?

Give us a call. We'll help you get started. When you have a bona fide need, funds can be transferred to the Franchise Fund, which creates an obligation for your agency. The obligation includes the cost of the acquisition and the GovWorks service charge. GovWorks acts as a prime contractor for acquiring products and services. GovWorks will immediately begin working on your requirement to award a contract for you. Project Funds obligated for a bona fide need will remain available until spent. Click here to link to Agreement Format. (Prior to sending over a funding document, please have the appointed Team Leader or Contracting Officer's name on the document. If you need that assigned, please call (703) 787-1400.)

8.  Must an agency prepare an Economy Act determination and finding before using a Franchise Fund?

No. The Economy Act does not apply when using the Interior Franchise Fund. The GMRA created the specific statutory authority for agencies to obtain common administrative services. The Economy Act is used only when a specific authority does not exist.

This ruling is supported in a memorandum by the General Counsel at the Department of Defense. While the memorandum specifically addresses orders from the CASUs, the principal is true for all Franchise Fund organizations created under the GMRA. For more information on the memorandum and to ask for a copy, please call (703)787-1388.

A memorandum from DoD, dated September 25, 2003 on "Fiscal Principals and Interagency Agreements" is also included here to support the use of organizations that have separate legal authority outside of the Economy Act.


Fiscal Principals and Interagency Agreements

Please note, we request that all funding documents include the following language:
"This order is issued under the express authority of the Government Management Reform Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-356)"

9.  Can GovWorks elaborate on the definition of a bona fide need?

Here is a link to a discussion on bona fide need. With the permission of Acquisition Solutions, we are posting this on our site.

www.acqsolinc.com/docs/adv03-08request.pdf

10.  What are the GovWorks' standards when handling acquisitions for DoD?

We believe in assisting the DoD client by having in place rigorous acquisition standards. In fact, you can Click Here to see exactly what those standards are, and what our level of commitment means to you, the client.

11.   What is the trading number of GovWorks?

If you are an outside agency, our TPN is 14. If you are a DOI Bureau, our TPN is 14C8.

12.  Do I need a MIPR Acceptance Form?

For end of year funding transfer by Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request (MIPR), please include a MIPR Acceptance Form as it will expedite processing. GovWorks cannot accept MIPRs on a Direct Citation (Category II) basis. Please make sure that all MIPRs indicate a Reimbursement (Category I) indicator. The MIPR must include the point of contact's full name, phone and fax number, as well as an email address. GovWorks does not have DSN capability. Once the MIPR is filled out and signed by the requiring activitiy the MIPR is to be faced or scanned/emailed to GovWorks. GovWorks will process the MIPR and then the accepted document will be faxed, scanned/emailed back to the requiring activity point of contact. Be sure to identify your bona fide need.

*MIPR should include the following statement: THIS ORDER IS ISSUED UNDER THE EXPRESS AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT REFORM ACT OF 1994 (P.L. 103-356)

13.  My acceptance has not been received. How long does that take?

After 5 business days, if you have not received an acceptance, please contact us at 703-787-1354.

14.  Can you receive direct cite MIPRs?

No. We can only accept a reimbursable MIPR.

15.  How long does it take to award a contract?

That depends on when you need the product and service, cooperative agreement or grant. We'll meet your award date expectation. Tell us when you want the award, and then we manage the details.

Award times have ranged from days to weeks for most of our customers. We use GSA schedules, GWACs, BPAs and our own IDIQs. We work closely with the SBA to identify the best 8(a) companies for your needs. After receiving funds and a concise task description with an initial government estimate, we can award a full-and-open competitive contract in sixty days. We use oral presentations in lieu of lengthy technical proposals when appropriate. Our customers have been exceptionally pleased with our creative, innovative approaches to contracting. References may be supplied on request.

16.  When is the cutoff date for funding document acceptance and award in FY'04?

GovWorks, in accordance with OMB and Congressional mandate, has a funding document and award cutoff date of September 24th. Last year, GovWorks changed its acceptance date to follow guidelines created to meet the President's Management Objectives.

17.  What if I have more than one appropriation number on a funding document?

If an agency sends in a funding document that lists more than one appropriation number, they will now be required to separate that money on another document. The agency will need to list it as a complete new funding doc or as an amendment to the other. The Federal government financial database (Abacis) cannot support a funding doc that lists two appropriations, so we must list them separately.

18.  I sent GovWorks my funding document, why hasn't the contract been awarded?

GovWorks must collect funds before contract award. We will bill your agency in advance of award.

19.  I have sent a funding document to GovWorks, the money had been collected, but still no contract has been awarded. Why?

A clear description of the product or service is required before we award a contract or agreement. A Statement of Work must be included with your funding document when sent to us. A contracting Officer then works with you throughout the acquisition cycle.

20.  What can the customer expect to pay?

Typically, the GovWorks’ service charge is 4% of the contract or agreement amount. This service charge includes planning, soliciting, negotiating, awarding, contract administrating, closing and paying of all contractor invoices. The fixed service charge is agreed upon up front, and regardless of any unexpected circumstances, the customer pays no more than that amount. Some of the larger and more well-known general administrative service providers charge customers by the hour plus overhead and fees. Getting an accurate estimate for their service is difficult. GovWorks has competitively priced acquisition services at a fixed price. The benefit to the client is simple. The price is negotiated up front. Customers never have to wonder what the final service charge will be.

21.  Why does GovWorks charge a fee for its administrative service?

Congress requires Franchise Fund organizations to pay their own way by charging for their services. No direct appropriation is made available for the Franchise Funds. The service-for-fee arrangement makes GovWorks work harder to satisfy the customer. The service-for-fee arrangement ensures GovWorks' commitment to customer satisfaction. We'll work hard to keep you happy - after all you pay our salary!

22.  Does GovWorks return all award credits to the funding agency?

Yes. Please click here to locate your FIPS 95 Code.

23.  How does GovWorks respond to requirements which are due to a National Emergency?

GovWorks operates under the Department of Interior, and has a policy that addresses procurements under such circumstances. Please read this PDF and clarify your particular need with a Contracting Officer.

24.  How do I get a password for my financial summaries?

Once you have received your funding document acceptance, an account and password will be created for you. You can also e-mail us for your password at financialsummaries@govworks.gov.

25.  Can GovWorks give our agency assistance with finding vendors?

Yes. Also, we encourage you to search our Vendor Registration database. You can search by NAICS codes, GSA Schedules, small business designations and more. Capability statements are also attached.

26.  I am having trouble printing pages of the website. Who can help?

If you are having issues printing pages of the website, please set your left and right page margins to 0.25; this can be found under "page setup" in your browser. You may also contact print@govworks.gov with specifics.