Government agencies cannot operate without a way to buy quickly and efficiently in the same way as commercial companies. But competition is still required under public procurement laws. GSA schedule prices are pre-negotiated with the vendor. As result, schedule contracts have been deemed as competitive buying mechanisms under Federal acquisition regulations and are efficient and quick purchasing mechanisms. They are the answer for both government buyers and vendors and it is becoming increasingly difficult to do government business without them. Companies selling to the government need GSA schedules for the following reasons.

• Stimulus funded buys must be made quickly to create jobs and jobs are being created across the country under stimulus contracts.
• Buyers are asking vendors to get GSA schedules so they can continue to do business with them and are passing over vendors who are not GSA Schedule holders.
• Schedules are being opened up to state and local government.
• State and local agencies are using GSA schedule prices to justify purchases.
• GSA pricing is being used as the basis for long term basic ordering agreements.
• GSA schedule contractors are forming teams to meet complex contracting requirements.
• Any qualified company can apply for a GSA schedule contract at any time. This feature of schedules helps the government justify that GSA schedule are competitive purchasing mechanisms.

If you are interested in government revenue there is no time for procrastination. Yes, an application for a schedule is complex and full of red tape, but for most companies the return on investment is significant.

The Logistics: To become a GSA Schedule contractor, a vendor must first submit an offer in response to the applicable GSA Schedule solicitation. The GSA proposal document you must submit for approval is a lengthy and complicated document; you can see for yourself by visiting the GSA.gov site and downloading the schedule that fits your business.