This Service is responsible for establishing, soliciting, awarding, and administering the VA's Federal Supply Schedule Program, which currently consists of 8 active schedules.   These schedules encompass such products as pharmaceuticals; medical equipment and supplies; dental supplies; x-ray equipment and supplies (including medical and dental x-ray film); patient mobility devices (including wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, etc.); antiseptic skin cleansers, detergents and soaps; invitro diagnostics, reagents, test kits and sets; and clinical analyzers, laboratory cost-per-test.   There are a total of over 1,200 contracts in place for the various commodity groups.   Annual sales against these contracts exceed $2 billion.   All Federal Supply Schedule contracts are multiple award, indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity type, and are national in scope.   These contracts are available for use by all Government agencies including but not limited to: VA medical centers, Department of Defense, Bureau of Prisons, Indian Health Services, Public Health Services, some State Veterans Homes, etc.   Performance periods can be established up to five years in length.   Delegated to VA by the General Services Administration over 30 years ago, VA's current schedules are:

VA Federal Supply Schedule contract information may be accessed via the General Services Administration Schedules e-Library (http://www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/elib/eLibrary.jsp).

Pertinent Terms and Conditions for these schedules include:

• no maximum order limitations
• lower prices may be negotiated by individual users
• all federal agencies in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches are authorized users

Advantages for the customers:

• Commercial Items
• Provides choices on products, terms and conditions, delivery and payment options
• Flexibility
• State-of-the Art Technology
• Ability to establish Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)

Under the Federal Supply Schedule Program and within each awarded contract is the provision for Blanket Purchase Agreements or BPAs.   This provision allows any customer at the local, regional, or national level to negotiate and establish a BPA with a FSS contractor for a committed volume (based on quantity level or dollar volume), for a specified period of time (not to exceed performance period of contract), in exchange for additional price consideration, as well as additional value-added programs and services.   Many of the programs are negotiated for specific customer groups under the FSS program depending upon tracking requirements and interest within a customer group.   For a listing of some current negotiated Incentive Programs under the FSS Pharmaceutical contracts, refer to the Incentive Program Listing.

Under the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Program, State Veterans Homes (SVH) with approved and executed sharing agreements now are considered authorized users of the FSS contracts and are entitled to purchase from these contracts, just like any other authorized FSS user.   For more specific information regarding this program, please contact German Arcibal at (708) 786-7663 or June Fitch at (708) 786-5174.   For a listing of those SVH's which have authorization to buy off the FSS for pharmaceuticals; antiseptic skin cleansers, detergents and dispensers; and invitro diagnostics, reagents, test kits and test sets, refer to the State Veteran Home Listing with approved Sharing Agreements.

For further information on how to receive a Federal Supply Schedule contract or questions pertaining to a particular schedule, please contact --

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