The General Services Administration (GSA) provides assistance to small, minority and large businesses that wish to sell their goods or services to the Federal Government. It provides assistance by first pre-qualifying businesses and then posting company marketing information on their on-line store (GSA Advantage), where thousands of government employees purchase goods and services annually. The actual pre-qualification process is challenging but advantageous to businesses that market effectively to government.
For more information on the GSA go the links listed below or call the New England regional office below.
GSA Homepage
Getting on a Schedule
2008 Forecast for Contracting Opportunities
E-Library
Schedule Sales Query
GSA Schedule Solicitations
General Service Administration Acquisition Regulations (GSAR) (501.0-570.7)
Standard Form 1449 (latest revision 3/2005)
GSA Forms Library
To look up products and services being offered by companies on GSA schedules, click the GSA Advantage link blow.
GSA Advantage
For contract holders wanting to learn how market there products and services to government, please go to the link below:
GSA Steps to Success
New England Office Contact:
Deborah Tarleton
New England Region
General Services Administration
10 Causeway Street
Boston, MA 02222
Phone:(617) 565-8100
E-mail: deborah.tarleton@gsa.gov
Excluded Parties List System - This World Wide Web site is provided as a public service by General Services Administration (GSA) for the purpose of efficiently and conveniently disseminating information on parties that are excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal financial and nonfinancial assistance and benefits, pursuant to the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 6101, note, E.O. 12549, E.O. 12689, 48 CFR 9.404, and each agency's codification of the Common Rule for Nonprocurement suspension and debarment.
http://www.epls.gov/
Wide Area Work Flow - Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF) allows vendors and government users to submit invoices and receiving reports (DD250s) electronically free of charge. Private industry has already seen significant dollar savings by increased cash flow and reduced operating costs. Many leaders in the Defense Industry have recognized the potential and are now using WAWF.
DOD WAWF
http://www.wawftraining.com/
https://wawftraining.eb.mil/
Labor Rates - The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the primary research agency for the field of labor economics and statistics. The statistical data produced by this independent agency is referenced by government and private sector businesses to labor rates by category.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Wage Determination - The Davis-Bacon Act as amended, requires that each contract over $2,000 to which the United States or the District of Columbia is a party for the construction, alteration, or repair of public buildings or public works shall contain a clause setting forth the minimum wages to be paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics employed under the contract. For more information, click here.
Per Diem, Travel & Transportation Allowances - The Per Diem, Travel & Transportation Allowances Committee provides guidelines to ensure that uniform travel and transportation regulations are issued to support United States Code, Title 37 (411 & 1001). The site provides by state allowance information for hotel, meals & transportation.
Hotel & Meals
Air Transportation
Car
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the computer-to-computer exchange of business data in standard formats. In EDI, information is organized according to a specified format set by both parties, allowing a "hands-off" computer transaction that requires no human intervention or re-keying on either end. All information contained in an EDI transaction set is, for the most part, the same as on a conventionally printed document. Organizations have adopted EDI for the same reasons they have embraced much of today's modern technology-enhanced efficiency and increased profits. Benefits of EDI include: reduced cycle time, better inventory management, increased productivity, reduced costs, improved accuracy, improved business relationships, enhanced customer service, increased sales, minimized paper use and storage & increased cash flow.
Industries currently using EDI include retail, insurance, education, entertainment, mortgage banking, and numerous departments of the U.S. Government. Note, however, that this list is far from complete! As more and more businesses turn to EDI, several standards committees - including the Accredited Standards Committee X12 (ASC X12) and EDIFACT - are working to include appropriate transactions in its body of standards.
A Value-Added Network (VAN) is a private network provider (sometimes called a turnkey communications line) that is hired by a company to facilitate electronic data interchange (EDI) or provide other network services. Before the arrival of the World Wide Web, some companies hired value-added networks to move data from their company to other companies. With the arrival of the World Wide Web, many companies found it more cost-efficient to move their data over the Internet instead of paying the minimum monthly fees and per-character charges found in typical VAN contracts. In response, contemporary value-added network providers now focus on offering EDI translation, encryption, secure e-mail, management reporting, and other extra services for their customers.
DOD Northeast Regional Council - The DoD Northeast Regional Council For Small Business Education and Advocacy covers New England and New York. Its members include State PTAPs, Federal Agencies, and Prime Contractors. The Council is the organization responsible for planning the regional matchmaker conferences.
http://www.dodneregional.org/
Defense Commissary Agency - The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCa) is headquartered in Fort Lee, Virginia and has over 280 retail locations worldwide. These locations sell a variety of groceries, services and electronics. On average compared to commercial pricing military personal save 30% by shopping at commissaries.
DeCa Home Page
Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC)
http://www.aptac-us.org/new/