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Contract management

Bye Bye FPT, It’s Been Nice Knowing You

The GSA Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) has decided to discontinue the Formatted Product Tool (FPT), reverting contracts that were awarded through this process to the legacy SIP/CORs process for managing and loading catalog data into GSA Advantage! Offer submissions and modifications will continue through eOffer/eMod, without the formatted templates from FPT. This change requires a refresh to the three types of schedules listed below, and the issuance of a mass modification to remove FPT specific clauses, replacing them with the legacy versions where applicable. This will be taking place over the next several months.

This notice applies only to the following three schedules:

  • Schedule 58 I – Professional Audio/Video Telemetry/Tracking, Recording/Reproducing, and Signal Data Solutions
  • Schedule 72 – Furnishing and Floor Coverings
  • Schedule 66 – Scientific Equipment and Services

FAS saw mixed success from the user experience perspective. “Vendors participating in FPT indicated to us that the current process is cumbersome and in some cases, extremely time-consuming – especially for vendors with large catalogs. Additionally, vendors experienced frustration in the time required to address catalog data validation as a result of the FPT process.”

Vendors should review the Significant Changes Document for any potential changes to their solicitation/contract, including those not related to the FPT rollback.

Please call EZGSA at 301-913-5000 with any questions you may have.

Mass Modification to Incorporate OLMs

Order-Level Materials Now Featured on Schedules

Image result for OLM gsa

The new GSAR incorporating OLMs into the Multiple Award Schedule program should simplify buying and selling procurement solutions through MAS.

Quick Recap: OLMs, or Order-Level Materials are supplies or services. Agencies acquire OLMs in direct support of a task or a delivery order on an existing Schedule contract or BPA. Types, quantities, and prices of OLMs are not known or established when contracts and BPAs are awarded.

What’s New: This authority adds flexibility to existing Schedules programs on other commercial IDIQ vehicles. It also saves time and money, decreases the number of new contracts, and decreases barriers posed by unanticipated needs.

Opting-in: To start providing OLMs, partners need to accept a mass modification which adds the terms and conditions to current contracts and verify subscriptions to the MAS Interact Group. When contractors opt in, they can compete for more orders and reduce additional bid and proposal costs.

The removal of some barriers to entry into the federal marketplace means that small business are better able to compete for orders.

As always, if you have questions, feel free to contact us at 301-913-5000 or admin@ezgsa.com

After-the-Hack Survival Guide

Post Breach Rules Require Password Resets

Remember that huge GSA hack? Remember how they subsequently lost all your usernames and passwords? Now it’s time to deal with the fallout.

Since then, GSA assessed “the underlying vulnerability in all of its information systems and is immediately applying stricter security measures, including more stringent password management and Multi-Factor Authentication”. The measures apply to eBuy, Advantage Spend Analysis Program (ASAP), Schedule Input Program (SIP), Reverse Auctions and 72A Reporting System accounts.

What does this mean for contractors? For 72A reporting, you’ll have to visit https://72a.gsa.gov/ to reset your password. VSC users should have received an email with links and instructions to reset your VSC password. In case it got filtered to your spam, you can find reset instructions here. System features will be inaccessible until you reset your password. GSA advises users having trouble to contact the Vendor Support Center Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT at 877-495-4849 or vendor.support@gsa.gov. Through tomorrow (12 June), VSC offers extended hours of 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. If this is all way too confusing for you, we are here to help at 301-913-5000 or admin@ezgsa.com.

Heard it Through the GSA Grapevine…

A plausible source at GSA has told EZGSA proposal specialists that the minimum yearly sales requirement for GSA Schedules is going to be increasing soon.

While this won’t be a problem for contractors that already more than meet the current sales requirement of $25,000 in the first two years and $25,000 per year subsequently, it could make it even more difficult for those businesses that struggle with selling off their Schedule.

If you need help or have questions about this increase, please contact your EZGSA proposal specialist or call 301-913-5000.

Is eOffer Easier?

eOffer’s New Look

eOffer recently gave the website a makeover for section 508 compliance. Section 508 requires that all federal agencies ensure that persons with disabilities have comparable access to electronic material. This means larger type, more intuitive website mapping, and a more accessible user interface.

Don’t get too excited though: eOffer’s interface still isn’t quite caught up with the times. Only small portions of navigational areas are responsive, headers are cramped, much of the type is still small, and mobile is another beast entirely, although a slightly prettier one than in the past.

To check out the new “look and feel” for yourself, head over to  https://eoffer.gsa.gov/