Help Getting Started with gsa.gov

Finding Information | Customizing Visits to gsa.gov 
MyGSA | Printing Pages | Sending Feedback

Finding Information

Content can be located in a variety of ways on gsa.gov:

Browsing
The website is organized by topics. The sitemap presents the top levels of these topics. Explore these topics using the navigation buttons and links on the left side of each page. Boxes on the right side of pages display links to relevant material elsewhere on the site and on other sites.

Descriptions of GSA's offerings by topic are available through the blue Tab buttons at the top of each page. A broad range of reference material and information about the agency is contained in "About GSA". Within that section, Using GSA details procurement vehicles and the process of working with GSA.

Information from each of GSA's 11 Regional Offices is presented in the Regions section of "About GSA" and its Services and Staff Offices are described in Organization. Shortcuts to specific, individual sections are available from the "Find an Organization…" pull down in the top area of every page.

Breadcrumbs in the gray bar beneath the blue Tab buttons represent the hierarchical location of a page within the website topics. For example "Home > About GSA > Using GSA > Getting Started > Help Getting Started with gsa.gov" is the location of this page. Each underlined word in the breadcrumb jumps to that topic.

Using QuickLinks
An alphabetical list of key topics of interest is available at the top every page. Each item links to the page or section describing that topic.

Searching
Entering terms in the site search engine form at the top right of every page will return a list of pages on this site that relate to that term.

Contact Information
The Contact Us button at the top of every page goes to the directory of GSA associates. Frequently requested contacts are displayed. Lists of contacts relevant to different topics or services are also available.

Throughout the site, contacts of relevance to each page are presented on the right.

Back to Top

Customizing Visits to gsa.gov

All content is available to all visitors to the site. It is not necessary to customize visits to the site, but content of particular interest can be selected.

Customization includes indicating a preference for geographic location and/or the role a visitor has in relation to GSA. These are: government, business, or citizen. Customization choices can be made on the homepage or by clicking the "Customize this Visit" link at the top right of the page. Clicking "Customize this Visit" and changing the choices will modify current preferences.

Current preferences are shown in the top right of every page. Customization applies only to the current visit and preferences will not be retained by gsa.gov in any way.

Back to Top

MyGSA

Simple site registration is available through "MyGSA". All content is available to all visitors to the site. It is not necessary to register to visit the site, but the advantage of registering for “MyGSA” is that the preferences selected will be retained for use in future visits.

Registered members may compile lists of bookmarks to individual gsa.gov pages simply by clicking the "Add to MyGSA" button at the bottom of the page. Once logged in, registered members may consult or modify these lists by clicking "MyGSA" at the top of the page.

To register, click the "Register Now" button on the homepage or the "MyGSA" button on the top of every page.

MyGSA registration does not transfer to other GSA transactional websites that require registration (like GSA Advantage!). Nor does registration for GSA transactional websites transfer to MyGSA.

NOTE to members of MyGSA who registered before October 1, 2003. As a result of the significant reorganization of gsa.gov on that date, existing registration and bookmark information was rendered obsolete. Previously registered visitors wishing to use MyGSA must complete a new registration.

Back to Top

Printing Pages

Clicking the "Printer-Friendly Version" button at the bottom of a page renders a view of the primary page content without buttons, navigation links, or sidebar cross-references. This view will typically allow computers to print page information appropriately.

The printed version of a webpage may not look the same as it does on the computer screen,. It may or may not print satisfactorily, depending on the settings of the web browser, computer, and printer (which can vary widely).

Back to Top

Sending Feedback

Visitor opinions are important to gsa.gov. Please use the feedback form on the Contact Us page  to submit comments, questions, and suggestions to the website. A response will be sent if requested and an e-mail address is provided. When reporting problems with the site, the URL (web address) of the problem page is most helpful.

A survey form may occasionally interrupt the visit of a small number of random visitors. The short time it takes to provide responses will help improve gsa.gov in the future.

Back to Top

Last Modified 8/13/2004