GSA can provide assistance for "turnkey" projects on large purchases for any type of furniture. GSA's National Furniture Center has specialized experience in procuring, coordinating and administering projects for furniture systems, collateral furniture, floor coverings and related furnishings.

The GSA Federal Supply Service, the Public Buildings Service, and the Information Technology Service have established procedures for coordination of projects with a single point of contact for customers. GSA has also worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on several projects for construction and furnishings.

Established fees for services are 5% on furniture systems projects. Fees have a range for other commodity open market, definite quantity purchases. For purchases up to $2500 the fee is 50%, between $2500.01 and $50,000 the fee is 25%, and for purchases between $50,000.01 and $100,000 the fee is 15%. These fees are negotiable in the case of very large consolidated procurements.

Installation of furniture would be coordinated and scheduled to coincide with the completion of construction at the installation site. Installation would be phased according to specific agency requirements. Coordination would be through GSA with the concurrence of the requisitioning agency.

GSA will identify the specific design requirements of the federal agency requiring furniture design. In furniture systems projects, the successful vendor is responsible for converting the generic space plans and prototypicals of the requesting agency to their specific contract product. The number of hours required to perform this service vary depending on the accuracy of the agency-provided space plans; however, the process used to procure the furniture puts services on a competitive basis maintaining very reasonable costs far below the normal cost.

In the case of furniture systems or "turnkey" projects, the successful vendor is responsible for receipt and inspection of product as it is received and installed. Acceptance by the Federal customer does not take place until the installation is complete and to the satisfaction of the customer agency project manager. Specific customer requirements and agendas can be accommodated as required.

When necessary, GSA meets with UNICOR at the customer's request in order to resolve problems which arise during the waiver process; however, the customer agency is basically responsible for obtaining waivers from UNICOR.

Extensive Product Availability: Most general categories of furniture products are on GSA contract and can be procured through existing contracts. Open market products can also be procured through various types of open market procurement methods, depending on the size of the procurement. Budgetary Convenience: GSA can and does accept money obligated through requisition forms DD 1348-6 (Milstrip) and SF-344 (Fedstrip) placed with the GSA General Supply Fund for specific furniture projects. Funding is considered obligated at the time of requisition receipt by GSA and can be used for the purchase of furniture and related services on specific projects beyond Fiscal Year lines. Design: GSA can be flexible on design and procurement methods. The procurement documents can be developed to include complete space planning services or transfers from space plans as necessary, based on generic prototypicals and/or preliminary space plans. GSA can also facilitate the refurbishing of existing furniture, if that becomes necessary. Project Management: GSA can provide a single point of contact for oversight of whole projects. "Cradle-to-grave" type procurement for furniture can specify "turn-key" acceptance to include installation of all products through a primary vendor, or installation can be by individual contract vendors with GSA oversight. In systems furniture projects, the successful vendor is responsible for the receipt and inspection of product as it is received and installed. Acceptance by the Federal agency would not take place until the installation is complete and to the satisfaction of the customer agency project manager. The solicitation can specify services as required by the procuring activity for a specific project.