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Services Ordering Solutions - Table of Contents

Submitted by Brad deMers on Monday, November 10, 2014 - 12:28 PM


Now that “Services Ordering Solutions: Avoiding MAS Confusion!” has become the "Professional Services Category", we know that many of you will still be looking for quick access to these same topics.  While we work towards a long-term approach to organizing and sharing SOS content, we hope that this Table of Contents will support you in finding relevant content.

Through our experiences as former DOD contracting officers, and with our constant interaction with ordering agencies, we have developed knowledge and experiences using GSA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) for Professional Services.  Our objective is to  share lessons learned with our customer agencies.  We are always looking for ideas to develop new content.  If you would like to suggest a new topic for us to address, please send us an email with your request to professionalservices@gsa.gov.  

Below, you will find an easy way to navigate through the content in Service Ordering Solutions.

  1. WHERE DO I START AS A NEW CUSTOMER WITH GSA?
  2. WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS ISSUES?
  3. MARKET RESEARCH
  4. TASK ORDER ISSUES
  5. BPA ISSUES
  6. TASK ORDER AWARD AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BPA
  7. PROTEST ISSUES SPECIFIC TO SCHEDULE ORDERS
  8. HOT TOPICS!
  9. PODCASTS & WEBINARS
  10. TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

WHERE DO I START AS A NEW CUSTOMER WITH GSA?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS ISSUES?

  • What are my choices when the primary SIN NAICS code in my order differs from the primary NAICS used to award the PSS contract?  Click Here
  • Does the NMR rule apply to services that include supplies? Click Here
  • Do All Team Members of a CTA Have To Be Small Businesses When Using a Small Business Set Aside? Click Here.
  • Did You Know That The Small Business Administration is Increasing Small Business Size Standards? Click Here. 
  • Can Schedule Orders (and Schedule BPAs) Be Set-Aside For Small Business? Click Here.
  • How Can Ordering Agencies Provide Preference To Small Businesses To Meet Their Socioeconomic Goals? Click Here.
  • Would You Like to Learn More About NAICS Codes, Business Size and Schedule Orders? Click Here.
  • Can a Schedule Contractor Be of One Business Size on the Order and a Different Business Size on the Schedule Contract?  Click Here.
  • Can Ordering Agencies Get 8(a) Socioeconomic Credit For Schedule Orders? Click Here.
  • Is it true, "Once an 8(a), always an 8(a)"? Click Here.
  • Is contract bundling an issue under Schedules? Click Here.
  • Guide to Considering Small Businesses When Using Schedules (by Acquisition Solutions, Inc., August 2009) YOUR COMMENTS? Click Here.

MARKET RESEARCH

TASK ORDER ISSUES

  • Want to know more about recording the right PSC for orders under PSS? Click Here
  • Want to see sample RFQs on eBuy Open? Click Here
  • What's the difference between RFQ and RFP when talking about orders against Schedules (FAR 8.4)? Click Here
  • Would You Like to See A Catalogue of Sample Terminology for RFQs/Awards. Click Here
  • Should I post an RFQ to FEDBIZOPPS? Click Here
  • Want to avoid FAR 15 terminology with regard to "Discussions" in your RFQ? Click Here
  • Want to see a well written paper by a DOD CO on FAR 8.405-2 vs FAR 15 Negotiated? Click Here
  • What happens to the Task Order prices when the FSS contract prices are decreased? Click Here
  • Need language to hedge against potential inconsistencies between the Contract, Order and Quote? Click Here.
  • Would you like to know how to handle a Task/Delivery Order Termination for the Government's Convenience?Click Here.
  • Which Clauses in the Basic Schedules Contract "Flow Down" to the Task Orders Issued Against Those Contracts?  Click Here.
  • Do All Team Members of a CTA Have To Be Small Businesses When Using a Small Business Set Aside?Click Here.
  • What Is The Proper Terminology When Talking About Orders Against Schedules? Click Here.
  • Did You Know That FAR Part 15 Is Not Applicable To The MAS Program? For Additional Information: Click Here.
  • Can An Agency Award a Cost Type Contract and Can They Require That a Contractor Provide “Cost and Pricing Data” When Using The GSA Schedule Program? Click Here.
  • Can Ordering Agencies At The Task Order Level Add Provisions/Clauses To RFQs? Click Here.
  • Would you like to know more about Options on Task Orders? Click Here.
  • Can An Ordering Agency Award An IDIQ Task Order Using The GSAs Multiple Award Schedule Program? Click Here.
  • Can Order Prices Be Escalated By The Task Order?  Click Here.
  • Can An Ordering Agency Add Performance Incentives On Schedule Task Orders? Click Here.
  • Can one GSA Schedule Contractor Buy from Another Schedule Contractor to Provide a Total Solution? Click Here for the answer.
  • Would You Like To See Sample RFQ Terminology For An "All Schedule Solution"? Click Here.
  • Can I issue Technical Direction Letters (AKA Technical Instructions) under a Schedule Task Order? Click Here.
  • How do I add travel costs to a services task order? Click Here.

BPA ISSUES

  • Would You Like To See A List of BPAs Established By GSA For Federal Agency Use? Click Here
  • Is A Schedule BPA A "Contract?" Click Here.
  • Would You Like To See A "BPA Toolkit" We Are Developing? Click Here.
  • Would You Like To See A Comparison/Contrast of FAR Part 8.4 BPAs and IDIQ Contracts? Click Here.
  • Would You Like Sample Terminology for Cancelling a BPA? Click Here.

TASK ORDER AWARD AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BPA

  • What is the Difference between a Brief Explanation vs. Debriefing? Click Here.

PROTEST ISSUES SPECIFIC TO SCHEDULE ORDERS

HOT TOPICS!

  • FAR 12 vs FAR Subpart 8.4. Who wins? Click Here.
  • DOD issues new Deviation to FAR 8.404(d) Pricing Click Here.
  • GAO Decision - Late quotes fair game absent a late quotation provision expressly providing that quotations must be received by that date to be considered. Click Here
  • COFC Decision- FAR 15 Discussions inapplicable to FSS Orders (Unisys/Lockheed September 17, 2009) Click Here
  • GAO Decision - VA Must Follow Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Statutory Prerequisites.Click Here.
  • Were You Aware Of The Interim Rule Published In The Federal Register for Schedule Buys Over $500,000? Click Here.
  • Possible Ways To Reduce Bid Protests (Article from Government Executive) Click Here.
  • GAO Decision - Federal Express Corporation (B-401768.2, 1/26/2010) Click Here.
  •  “Myth-Busting”: Addressing Misconceptions to Improve Communication with Industry during the Acquisition Process Click Here.
  • COFC Decision - It was perfectly appropriate for the Air Force to award a prior 8(a) set aside as an FSS task order. Click Here.
  • GAO Decision - Never underestimate the importance of thoroughly documenting your source selection. Click Here.
  • GAO Decision - How broad is the definition of Commercial Services?  Click Here.  
  • GAO Decision - Once again stressing the importance of thorough analysis and file documentation.  Click Here.
  • Interested in reading about the new proposed rule on Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI)? Click Here.
  • Have you Heard about the new Challenges and Competitions SIN on AIMS?  Click Here.
  • Would You Like to Know More About New Offerings to Support Our Military Returning From Deployment? Click Here.
  • Did You Know Fire Protection Engineering Services Are Now Available On The Professional Engineering Services (PES) Schedule 871. Click Here.
  • GAO Decision - The Concept of an Acceptance Period does not Apply to Quotations.  Click here.
  • GAO Decision - Make sure you consider price during a BPA best value source selection.  Click here.
  • Changes to the MOBIS Schedule.  Click here.

WEBINARS

  • If you would like to attend a Webinar on the Professional Services (PS) Schedule Consolidation and other PS Category topics, Click here.
  • Would you Like to View Webinars on Other Topics Such as GWACs, Buying Green and Global Supply? Click Here.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Would you like to attend one of the, "Using GSA Schedules for Professional Services" Seminars? Please look at the upcoming group events on the right side of this page. If you would like to request training, please contact Brad deMers.

  • Looking For Training Documents Referenced During The "Professional Services" Seminar? Click Here.

 

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Comments

jag51
<p>I&#39;ve read a&nbsp;posting from Dan Briest dated February 2,2011 (10:28p) entitled&quot;Can Order Prices Be Escalated by the Task Order?&quot;&nbsp;</p><p>The question asked &quot;For multiyear task orders, can order prices be escalated&nbsp; even though there is just one column of prices shown on the contractor&#39;s GSA Advantage posted pricelist, as long as the future (but currently not specified) Schedule contract price is never exceeded?</p><p>The answer provided was &quot;Yes. While this certainly not something on Ordering Officer is required to do by the FAR or the Schedule contract terms, there is nothing to prevent an Ordering Officer from adding a task order price adjustment / clause specifying the method, rate and timing of any task order price escalation just as long as the Schedule contract rate is never exceeded.&quot;</p><p>I&#39;m having trouble with the answer povided.&nbsp;The question being asked expressly states &quot;future (but currently not specified)...cntract price&quot; in his/her question.&nbsp; This means that the GSA Schedule only reflects one years worth of rates.&nbsp; The response provided states &quot;Yes...as long as the Schedule contract rate is never exceeded.&quot;&nbsp; This wording&nbsp;is confusing as there is no Schedule contract rate as the question indicates that suc would be addressed in the future under the GSA Schedule.&nbsp;</p><p>Would you following be&nbsp;an accurate rephrase?</p><p>Answer:&nbsp; &quot;No...because the contractor only has a single column / years worth of rates and if you applied escalation to those rates, as-is, such would exceed the agreed upon GSA Schedule rates.&nbsp; You may, however, discount the existing&nbsp;rates and use them in a multiyear&nbsp;task order, then escalate those discounted rates up to&nbsp;the maximum allowed rate(s) reflected in your single column of commercial labor rates shown in the Schedule.&nbsp; So you do no escalate the existing, you&nbsp;first offer a discount to the Government customer under the task order, then you may&nbsp;escalate those discounted rates&nbsp;provided you do not exceed that which is reflected in your single column of GSA Schedule contract rates.&quot;</p><div style="left: -1000px; top: 63.59px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute;">&nbsp;</div>
Posted 09/29/2014 1:51 PM
Brad deMers
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f86c5024-c33a-e489-2886-978f56217b6c"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;">jag51, &nbsp;Thank you for your input! &nbsp;You bring up a valid point of view and a solid perspective on a way to answer the question that drives home this point: &nbsp;Task order level rates cannot exceed the GSA Contract Price List rates. &nbsp;I will also re-post your comment with my response at the </span><a href="https://interact.gsa.gov/wiki/can-order-prices-be-escalated-task-order" style="text-decoration:none;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;">posting of which you speak</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;">. &nbsp;Thanks again for your input. &nbsp;It is greatly appreciated! </span></span></p>
Posted 09/29/2014 5:06 PM
rgomez
<p>&nbsp;</p><p>Is there any guidance you can provide on how should Other Direct Costs be handled in Task Orders for Services which require a SOW?&nbsp; For example, we issue a lot of task orders under the Environmental Schedule, since some of the requirements are for environmental studies or species studies, there might be charges such as equipment, supplies, rental property, etc.&nbsp; What would be the most appropriate way of adding other direct costs to a service task order? And does the GSA markup fee apply to these costs?</p>
Posted 02/22/2013 12:14 PM
Brad Powers
<p>I know this might shock you but the answer is...as usual...it depends.</p><p>The first step is always to define what you mean by ODCs since that makes a huge difference. &nbsp;We like to talk about ODCs in three categories:</p><p>(1) &nbsp;Contract Support Items (on a GSA contract somewhere and GSA has determined the price fair and reasonable)</p><p>(2) &nbsp;Open Market Items (Not on a GSA contract, FAR 8.402(f) applies and you are adding items for administrative convenience to your task order, all normal open market rules apply to those items)</p><p>(3) &nbsp;Travel Costs (handled as a direct reimbursable in accordance with the clauses in the Schedule contract, which basically means the FTR/JFTR rules apply)</p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In your specific example you are talking about items added to an Environmental services task order on Schedule 899. &nbsp;You are either in category 1 or 2. &nbsp;If the contractor has SIN 899-10 (Ancilliary Supplies and Services) and what you need is available from that line item on that contractor&#39;s GSA Schedule contract then you have no issues. &nbsp;Everything you need for your total solution is available on contract. &nbsp;That&#39;s category 1. &nbsp;If what you need is NOT on the contractor&#39;s GSA Schedule contract then you are in category 2 and you&#39;ll need to evaluate those items separately under the open market rules. &nbsp;How difficult that is will be directly related to the dollar value of the open market items. &nbsp;For example, if the value is less than the micropurchase threshold ($3,000) then your documentation would be fairly simple. &nbsp;For more information, I recommend you review the <em><a href="http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100755" target="_blank">MAS Desk Reference</a></em>. &nbsp;Open Market Items are discussed in Section 7 on Page 5.</span></p>
Posted 02/22/2013 2:10 PM
rgomez
<p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Which form would be more appropriate for the use of task orders with SOW? &nbsp;Is there any guidance or preference of when to use one form over the other?</p>
Posted 02/22/2013 11:09 AM
Dan Briest
<p>rgomez,</p><p>GSA does not dictate which form to use when using the GSA schedule program.&nbsp; Dependent on whether your agency dictates a form or not, the answer is to use whatever you are comfortable with.&nbsp; As Brad and I are both old school FAR Part 15 COs, we are comfortable with the SF 1449, and use it for almost everything we do.</p><p>Thanks,</p><p>Dan</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
Posted 02/22/2013 1:25 PM

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