The General Services Administration (GSA) was established to oversee the purchasing and managing of federal government property.
This has grown to include services and travel regulations, but does not include military concerns.
The GSA is self funded through a rebate on purchases made by vendors, which gives it an autonomy from the legislative branch of the government.
The GSA is the cornerstone of federal purchasing, especially as the Department of Defense and the GSA try to consolidate as much purchasing efforts as they can.
The GSA is charged with assuring that government purchases are fairly executed between purchasing agents and vendors, while also assuring the federal government is getting the best value.
The GSA has set-up a number of protocols and systems to make this happen.
Government Purchase Card Being that the federal government must be careful to be fair to all vendors, purchasing has been set-up in tiers.
Purchases under $2,500 are considered micro-purchases and can be completed with a government purchase card (a Visa debit card) without competition.
Purchases above $2,500 must go through the contract process, but once approved can be paid with the government purchase card.
It is a requirement that vendors doing business through the GSA be able to accept the government purchase card, which means that the business be able to accept credit cards.
FedBizOpps.
gov FedBizOpps.
gov is the government's web site which announces contract opportunities valued above $25,000.
All proposed purchases above $25,000 must be submitted through FedBizOpps so all potential vendors may bid.
Details for contracts and deadlines are placed within the solicitation announcement.
GSA Schedules One of the forms of establishing best value are the GSA Schedules.
These are contracts with vendors for products and services that has pricing pre-established.
As the GSA has already negotiated with these vendors for these rates, departmental procurement personnel can purchase freely from these schedules.
Think of GSA schedules as catalogs for government purchasers.
This is just a quick overview of GSA procurement, there is more that they do.
Meaning there are more opportunities to do business with the GSA beyond what has been mentioned, but it is a start.
This has grown to include services and travel regulations, but does not include military concerns.
The GSA is self funded through a rebate on purchases made by vendors, which gives it an autonomy from the legislative branch of the government.
The GSA is the cornerstone of federal purchasing, especially as the Department of Defense and the GSA try to consolidate as much purchasing efforts as they can.
The GSA is charged with assuring that government purchases are fairly executed between purchasing agents and vendors, while also assuring the federal government is getting the best value.
The GSA has set-up a number of protocols and systems to make this happen.
Government Purchase Card Being that the federal government must be careful to be fair to all vendors, purchasing has been set-up in tiers.
Purchases under $2,500 are considered micro-purchases and can be completed with a government purchase card (a Visa debit card) without competition.
Purchases above $2,500 must go through the contract process, but once approved can be paid with the government purchase card.
It is a requirement that vendors doing business through the GSA be able to accept the government purchase card, which means that the business be able to accept credit cards.
FedBizOpps.
gov FedBizOpps.
gov is the government's web site which announces contract opportunities valued above $25,000.
All proposed purchases above $25,000 must be submitted through FedBizOpps so all potential vendors may bid.
Details for contracts and deadlines are placed within the solicitation announcement.
GSA Schedules One of the forms of establishing best value are the GSA Schedules.
These are contracts with vendors for products and services that has pricing pre-established.
As the GSA has already negotiated with these vendors for these rates, departmental procurement personnel can purchase freely from these schedules.
Think of GSA schedules as catalogs for government purchasers.
This is just a quick overview of GSA procurement, there is more that they do.
Meaning there are more opportunities to do business with the GSA beyond what has been mentioned, but it is a start.
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