The majority of ordering offices place Task Orders directly with the best value MOBIS contractor and are responsible for administration of the task order. The contractor submits invoices directly to the ordering office. Contractor payments are issued to the contractor in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act. Agencies can also elect to utilize fee for service contracting support offered by GSA's Federal Technology Service (FTS). FTS can accept funding documents and competitively procure professional services from MOBIS contractors. Services might include preparing a Performance Based Statement of Work, conducting market research, developing/distributing a Request for Quotes (RFQ), evaluating quotes received and issuing/administering the MOBIS task order. For additional information, please contact the Management Services Center at mobis@gsa.gov or (800) 241-7246.
Civilian Agencies distribute a Request for Quote (RFQ) to a minimum of three (3) MOBIS contractors. An RFQ typically includes instructions; evaluation criteria and a performance based Statement of Work (SOW). The SOW communicates what work will be performed, period and place of performance, deliverable schedules, applicable standards, special requirements (security clearances, travel), etc. After the RFQ closes, the ordering office evaluates the quotes received, makes a best value decision and issues a task order. GSA offers a comprehensive training course, titled, "Using GSA Schedules" which covers schedule ordering procedures, developing Statements of Work, Contractor Teaming Arrangements, Blanket Purchase Agreements and other Schedule related topics. For additional information, go to https://umas.gsa.gov/.
The Department of Defense (DOD) has implemented new rules for ordering services over $100,000 under multiple award contracts. The rules are derived from Section 803 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2002. Section 803 requires the DOD to contact many more sources than Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) policy currently states. FSS policy requires that contracting officers (CO) contact at least three schedule holders capable of performing the work. Section 803 requires the CO to contact as many schedule holders as practicable in order to ensure that at least three responses are received. The rule further states that the CO is in compliance with 803 when they contact all schedule holders that offer the required work, thereby informing them of the opportunity for award. If three responses are not received, the CO must determine that no additional qualified contractors could be identified despite reasonable efforts to do so. Good market research is the key to ensuring all practicable offerors have been extended a fair opportunity to participate in the acquisition. However, Section 803 does recognize the following exceptions to fair opportunity: 1.) Unusual urgency 2.) Only one source can respond due to unique or specialized nature of the work 3.) New work is logical follow-on under the same contract 4.) Must be placed to satisfy a minimum guarantee.
For Performance Based Contracting regulations, samples, tutorials and guidance go to www.gsa.gov/acquisitionpolicy, click on the hyperlink for Acquisition Major Initiativies and then on the link for Performance Based Service Contracting (PBC).
Go to http://www.gsaelibrary.gsa.gov/elib/eLibrary.jsp and do a search on MOBIS. Click on 874, read through the Special Item Number (SIN) descriptions and click on the SIN that captures the scope of your requirement.
For example, if you were looking for a contractor to design and implement a telephone survey, then you would click on 874 3. The next screen offers a list of MOBIS contractors awarded under 874 3. This list can be sorted by business type and contractor location. If a particular contractor catches your eye, you should be able to link directly to the contractor's MOBIS price list in GSA Advantage! by clicking on "yes view order".
You may also access e-Buy (our new tool for posting Schedule RFQs, FRIs and Sources Sought notices) at www.ebuy.gsa.gov You'll need to log in, (using your GSAAdvantage! password...if you don't already have one, it's easy to get one..lyou can hyperlink to the form from the e-Buy homepage. After logging in, click on prepare an RFQ and then do a search on 984. After the next page comes up, click on the appropriate MOBIS SIN and you'll find a list of MOBIS contractors. To the far right are "text files". If you double click on any of them, you should be able to view pricing and other information about the contractor.
We also maintain an MS Excel spreadsheet of MOBIS contractors, which is available at: www.gsa.gov/mobis, under the MOBIS References link. It includes service specialties, company/contact information, SINs awarded, socioeconomic business categories and contract numbers.
Go to www.gsaadvantage.gov and conduct a search using key words that describe your requirement. Try the following steps to refine your search results:
1.) Type in key word(s) in the "Search/Browse" box under "5 ways to shop Advantage! now" and Click "GO".
2.) Type in a Zip Code and Hit the Enter key.
3.) On the next page, Type in "MOBIS" or "874" in the "Search Box", Click On "Search Within Results" and Click On "GO".
4.) We recommend that you continue to search within results until you get to a more manageable list of MOBIS contractors.
You can also prepare a Sources Sought or Request for Information (RFI) notice to solicit responses from MOBIS contractors. You can post such a notice on the FedBizOpps website or on e-Buy. The RFI option is especially useful when you require industry comment on a draft Statement of Work.
You can request past performance information in your RFQ (Request For Quotes). Alternatively, this information can be obtained by distributing a Sources Sought or an RFI (Request for Information) to MOBIS Schedule contractors. In addition, Federal agencies (CO's and source selection officials) can access past performance data at http://www.ppirs.gov/ after submitting a membership request that is approved by group owners/managers of the PPIRS data. Keep in mind, however, that this past performance information will not specifically relate to a contractor's performance under the MOBIS contract.
Federal agencies can use e-Buy to prepare and distribute MOBIS RFQs. Once an RFQ closes, the agency will be able to review quotes submitted by schedule contractors. The actual award of a task order must be completed outside of e-buy unless the total dollar value of the task order is less than $2.5K. e-buy is web-based and accessible at: http://www.ebuy.gsa.gov/. An excellent tutorial is available on the e-Buy homepage.
Yes, the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA) of 1994 established the Federal Acquisition Computer Network (FACNET) which realigned the Federal acquisition process from one driven by paperwork into an expedited process based on electronic commerce/electronic data interchange (EC/EDI).
Yes, if these projects are Management, Organizational and Business Improvement initiatives. Please note that Schedule 70, General Purpose Commercial Information Technology Equipment, Software and Services may also meet your needs.
MOBIS is designed to provide agencies with expert advice in all areas of management and management improvement. When tasking under MOBIS, agencies shall not use this vehicle for the acquisition of supplies other than that integral to the task and incidental to its central role of management improvement. Typical examples of services that are not appropriate for purchase under a MOBIS task include, but are not limited to: administrative support unless directly related to a MOBIS requirement, financial audits; engineering services, IT systems integration, network services, volume purchase of IT hardware, software or software development, data base planning, marketing and media services, and human resources services and construction and Architect-Engineering services as set forth in FAR Part 36 (including construction, alteration and repair of buildings, structures or other real property). Training classes offered under SIN 874-4, which are not related to Business Office/Management Improvement Training, as identified under the MOBIS scope will not be accepted. MOBIS is not a "General Training Schedule". The acquisition of IT is not forbidden under MOBIS, however, it must be clear that the software, hardware, or IT services acquired must be incidental to the management improvement effort, and directly linked to the successful performance of the task. There are no specified definitions of incidental. This determination shall be made by the responsible agency Contracting Officer.
Yes, with the caveat that you cannot change the terms and conditions of the MOBIS contract. You may download the MOBIS Solicitation from www.fedbizopps.gov. Click on the "Find Business Opportunities" hyperlink and search for solicitation number TFTP-MC-000874-B7.
Yes, however, please ensure that your task order indicates you will exercise your task order option pending confirmation that GSA has exercised the contractor's MOBIS option period. For example, you've awarded a task order with four one-year option periods and the best value MOBIS contractor's base period expires just prior to the 2nd option period of your task order. This means that you will not be able to exercise your 2nd option period until you confirm that GSA has exercised the MOBIS contractor's 1st option period.
For administrative convenience, non-contract items may be added to the Federal Supply Schedule BPA or the individual task order if the items are clearly labeled as such, applicable acquisition regulations have been followed, and price reasonableness has been determined for the items. The MOBIS solicitation offers specific instruction as relates to transportation and per diem costs billed by the contractor: Costs incurred for transportation and per diem (lodging, meals and incidental expenses) will be billed in accordance with the regulatory implementation of Public Law 99-234, FAR 31.205-46 Travel Costs, and the contractor's cost accounting system. These costs are directly reimbursable by the ordering agency.
(a) The contractor shall notify the ordering agency, in writing, of the requirement for reimbursement of transportation and per diem expenses, prior to acceptance of the order. This notification shall include a "not to exceed" estimate of these proposed costs. Any applicable indirect costs associated with the transportation and per diem expenses will be charged at a rate negotiated prior to the using agency's delivery order. Contractors shall be reimbursed only for incurred costs at or below the "not to exceed." (b) Costs for transportation, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses incurred by contractor personnel on official company business are allowable subject to the limitations contained in FAR 31.205-46, Travel Costs.
(c) Reimbursements for costs that are not specified in this solicitation, or in any contract or task order resulting from this solicitation, are not allowed. It is GSA policy NOT to allow a charge of profit or fee on reimbursable items. No reimbursement will be made for a contractor's local travel (such as mileage to and from a local site).
The MOBIS solicitation specifically authorizes the use of incentives at the task order level. The text of clause I-FSS-60 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES (APRIL 2000) (TAILORED) is provided below: (a) When using a performance-based statement of work, performance incentives may be agreed upon between the Contractor and the ordering office on individual fixed price orders or Blanket Purchase Agreements, for fixed price tasks, under this contract in accordance with this clause. (b) The ordering office must establish a maximum performance incentive price for these services and/or total solutions on individual orders or Blanket Purchase Agreements. (c) To the maximum extent practicable, ordering offices shall consider establishing incentives where performance is critical to the agency's mission and incentives are likely to motivate the contractor. Incentives shall be based on objectively measurable tasks. (d) The above procedures do not apply to labor hour orders.
When the scope and/or anticipated dollar value of your order clearly indicates the potential for obtaining a reduced price. Please refer to clauses 52.216-19 Order Limitations and I-FSS-125 Requirements Exceeding the Maximum Order (SEP 1999)
GSA asserts that labor hour pricing up to this threshold is fair and reasonable. However, when the estimated value of your task order exceeds the maximum order threshold you are encouraged to pursue additional price discounts based on the volume of your order. Please note, this is not a GSA enforced limit on the value of your task order.(See I-FSS-125 Requirements Exceeding the Maximum Order (SEP 1999))
