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GSA Schedule contract

Minimizing Minimum Order Mishaps

To improve customer experience associated with Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ), GSAAdvantage! now notifies agencies when their orders don’t meet MOQ requirements. If an item entered into a shopping cart is below the applicable MOQ, a note appears saying:

“The items from VENDOR fall below the contract Minimum Order of $____.  In order to purchase this item, you have three options:

  1. Increase the quantity of the item.
  2. Shop for additional items under CONTRACT to satisfy the contract minimum. (Contains a hyperlink to show available items from the relevant contract)
  3. Investigate if another vendor offers the item with a lower contract minimum order (Contains a hyperlink to the original product detail page). Note that MOQ is sortable (e.g. lowest to highest MOQ).”

Aside from helping agencies avoid incorrect orders, this will work in favor of contractors — no more having to decline an order that you’re not supposed to decline due to its being ordered from an executive agency.

If you have questions, we can help! Give us a call at 301-913-5000.

New Schedule 70 SIN: wheee!

The relatively new Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) Tools SIN (132-44 on IT Schedule 70) provides agencies with easier access to a government-wide set of information security continuous monitoring (ISCM) tools. This SIN was created to make it easier for agencies to strengthen their networks, be aware of  who is on their network, and what is happening there. Of course, the main goal is to keep their data protected.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) vets all products on the CDM Tools SIN through a two-step process. Products are first added to a DHS CDM approved products list (APL), and then added to the CDM Tools SIN. DHS reviews new products every month, allowing for new and emerging products to become part of the CDM marketplace. Once approved and placed on the APL, vendors can apply to IT Schedule 70 to sell their product from SIN 132-44.

Five subcategories under CDM include the following:

  • managing what is on the network;
  • managing who is on the network;
  • managing network protection;
  • managing events/incidents and what is happening on the network; and
  • emerging tools and technology.

Agencies can order from the GSA eLibrary’s CDM Tools page, and new vendors/products are added monthly.

If you have questions about getting your product listed with GSA’s CDM  SIN, give us a call at 301-913-5000.

Alert! Alert! AI Watching Your GSA Schedule Contract!

There seems to be a shortcoming in the acquisition oversight process. GSA is trying to fix it using artificial intelligence.

For the past 20 years, agencies found it tough to include Section 508 accessibility requirements in their contracts. GSA was unable to guarantee those contract clauses were in the original solicitations, but with AI and machine learning tools, they plan to automate the oversight process. An earlier test showed a 95 percent success rate in alerting agencies missing 508 requirements. GSA plans to move from test to production phase very soon.

Not sure if you are missing 508 requirements in your contract or have questions? Give us a call at 301-913-5000 and we can help you figure it out.

Yes, Virginia, the Government Needs Shipping Containers Too

A new RFI is out regarding the possible addition of a new Special Item Number (SIN) for shipping containers. Companies interested in responding to the RFI need not hold a GSA Schedule 81 I B Contract.

SIN 617-14, Shipping Containers, is set to include many types and sizes of containers. These include intermodal containers, cargo/freight containers, dry freight, ISO containers, general purpose containers, high cube or hi-cube containers, and collapsible/inflatable flat pack shipping containers. The draft SIN does not propose limitations on the circumstances in which the shipping containers can be sold — this means companies can sell shipping containers through the SIN for routine or intermittent use or for emergency disaster shipments.

GSA is also proposing an update to an existing SIN under Schedule 81 IB. A description change from “Maintenance, Repair and Modification of Containers” to “Modification/Repair/Customization of Containers.” This change accounts for various speciality characteristics.

If you have questions about GSA Schedule 81 I B please give us a call at (301) 913-5000.

 

Refresh, Get Your Refreshes Here!

It’s refresh time, or almost. GSA has let us know that a mass modification will be released soon, and with it they will refresh all GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) solicitations. This is to add and update clauses and provision related to the implementation of GSAR Case 2016-G506 (OLM Technical Amendment) and FAR Case 2018-010 (Use of Products and Services of Kaspersky Lab). Contractors have 90 days to accept the mass modification.

If you have questions or need assistance understanding this modification give us a call at (301) 913-5000.