A GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract is a federal vehicle, but in some circumstances it can also open doors with states, counties, cities, school districts and other public bodies. Two programs make this possible: cooperative purchasing and disaster purchasing. With hurricane season approaching and many state and local buyers reviewing their own preparedness, it is a good time for schedule holders to understand what these programs allow and decide whether to take part.
Cooperative purchasing
The cooperative purchasing program allows state and local government entities to buy from certain categories of the schedule. It was created by the E-Government Act of 2002 for information technology products and services and later expanded by law to include security and law enforcement offerings. Under the consolidated Multiple Award Schedule, the eligible offerings are identified by special item number, and GSA eLibrary shows which contractors participate.
Eligible buyers generally include states, counties, municipalities, tribal governments, public authorities and other units of local government, though each buyer must also follow its own procurement laws and policies. That point matters: a state or city may or may not allow its offices to use the program, and it may impose its own requirements on top of the schedule’s terms.
Disaster purchasing
A separate program, first authorized by a defense authorization law enacted in 2006 and broadened since, allows state and local governments to purchase from all schedule offerings to facilitate disaster preparedness and response, recovery from major disasters declared under the Stafford Act, and recovery from terrorism or nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological attack. Check GSA’s current guidance for the full scope. For firms that sell generators, supplies, restoration services, communications equipment and similar offerings, this program can matter a great deal in an active storm season.
What participation means for a contractor
- Participation is voluntary. Schedule holders choose whether to accept orders under these programs and generally may decline an individual order.
- Your contract usually needs to reflect participation. Contractors typically opt in through a modification, and eLibrary then shows the participation to buyers.
- Schedule pricing and terms carry over, with adjustments. Orders are placed under your schedule contract, but the ordering entity, not the federal government, is responsible for its orders and payment, and certain terms that apply only to federal buyers do not apply.
- Buyer rules vary. State and local entities may have their own requirements on top of the schedule, and you should confirm them before accepting an order.
Is it worth it?
For some contractors, state and local orders become a steady secondary market, and the schedule saves buyers the time of running their own competitions. For others, the programs see little use in their category. A simple way to find out is to ask your existing state and local customers whether they buy through GSA programs, and to talk with your GSA contracting officer about the modification process.
GSA publishes current information on both programs at gsa.gov, including eligibility rules and the list of participating offerings. Because the details have changed over time and differ by category, read the current guidance before you modify your contract or tell a buyer that an order is permitted.