Professional Services Category

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?

• Take a Look At The Multiple Award Schedule Desk Reference. Click Here.
• Are you with a State or Local Government and want to use GSA Advantage!®?   Click Here.
• I'm With the Red Cross.  Can I Use GSA Schedules?  Yes.  Click Here.

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

• Have You Used GSA Advantage!®? Click Here.
• What Is a Request for Information (RFI) Posted to GSA eBuy? Click Here.
• Want to know what year a GSA Schedule Contract was awarded? Click Here.
• Want to see an excellent article written by a DOD Contracting officer? Click Here. 

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

• Are Schedule Orders Protest-Proof? Click Here.

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.