This week's video kicks off Mark Lee's (FAS' Acquisition Management's Policy Chief) video presentation from the 2012 GSA Expo. This clip addresses Schedules benefits for small business utilization from both the business' and agency's perspective and dives into the first topic, "What is socioeconomics? Click here to watch this video on YouTube.

Federal Acquisition Services (FAS) Senior Procurement Analyst Tommy Benton continues his Schedules vs. Open Markets video series from the 2012 GSA Expo. This video focuses on acquisition planning and tries to answer the question: FAR Subpart 8.4 and FAR Part 15 - how do they compare? Tommy shows side by side comparisons of FAR Subpart 8.4 and FAR Part 15 in key areas: Providing for full and open competition, solicitation methodology, evaluation procedures, and management/administration.   Click here to watch this video on YouTube.

Within the 6th video of the Contractor Team Arrangement series, the question and answer session continues. Mark Lee, Policy Chief for the MAS Program office, answers a number of questions regarding CTA scheduling, awards, proper procedures, task orders and legal teaming arrangements.

To watch this video on YouTube, click here.

GSA asked themselves: “What can we do to provide more flexibility to our customers to use our procurement vehicles?” The answer? Sherri Medeama talks about the FAR 51 Deviation Authority and how it helps meet the needs of GSA customer agencies.

Cynthia Patton gives an overview of the Computers for Learning Program and showcases the new CFL website created to make the transfer of technology between agencies and schools more effective.

Watch and learn more about the Federal Surplus Personal Property Donation Program and how those eligible can obtain ALL commodities at NO cost!

This video offers insight into the Disaster Recovery Purchase and Public Health Emergency Program, a Schedules-based program for State and Local government, and how it relates and differs from the Cooperative Purchasing Program.  Learn more about the procedures and scope of this program and who is eligible.

Cooperative Purchasing allows GSA to provide states and localities access to Information Technology and Law Enforcement products and services on GSA Schedule.
 

This segment exposes common myths about the use of Schedules.  There are three: that one cannot add terms and conditions to the Schedule contract; that one cannot seek price reductions on Schedule pricing; and that if one posts a requirement on eBUY, it will generate hundreds of quotes.  The facts tell a different story.  In fact, agency specific terms and conditions can be added as long as they do not change the relationship between the contractor and GSA; one can seek price reductions; and the average response to an eBUY posting is seven proposals.