Even though your business is not 2-years old, the GSA Startup Springboard program lets newer companies enter the GSA program. Even if they are not technology-based.
If you are familiar with the General Services Administration (GSA), you probably already know that they don’t allow businesses that have been operating for less than two years. The good news is that there is still a way around this ruling.
In this digital age, the demand for IT tools and solutions is bound to accelerate. This acceleration makes it imperative for GSA to make certain exceptions and accept as many GSA contractors as they can. This process streamlines the awarding of contracts allowing them to supply federal agencies’ IT services as soon as possible.
Overall, the Startup Springboard program aims to change the way the GSA gathers contractors. It considers all the opportunities that both small businesses and tech startups can benefit from just by being under the GSA Schedule. Regardless of its industry experience, they should provide innovative tech products and solutions across public sectors. The program aims to accommodate the growing needs of the federal government.
Table of Contents
GSA Startup Springboard
Startup Springboard is a program designed to assist new businesses in submitting proposals to the government’s Multiple Awards Schedule program. This program is intended to reduce barriers and provide access to innovative products and services for small businesses. The program is intended to enable new businesses to offer innovative goods and services to the government, while still adhering to the contract’s terms and conditions.
Key Facts:
- The Startup Springboard program aims to make it easier for businesses less than two years old to submit an offer to the Multiple Awards Schedule program.
- The program allows exceptions to the two-year corporate experience and financial statement requirements, enabling new companies to provide the government with innovative products and services.
- The program is designed for startups that do not meet solicitation requirements such as two years of corporate experience or financial statements.
- Alternative experience may be substituted for two years of corporate experience under this program.
- The program permits the substitution of key personnel projects for relevant project experience.
- Financial documentation can be submitted in lieu of two years of financial statements to demonstrate a company’s fiscal responsibility.
- Initially introduced for the IT schedule, the program has since been expanded to the MAS program.
- The program enables small businesses to provide innovative products and services to the government market.
- The program is exclusive to companies with less than two years of business experience.
Startup Springboard Compliance
Contractors awarded under Startup Springboard are still required to adhere to the contract’s terms and conditions, including minimum sales requirements, TAA compliance, reporting, and performance requirements enforcement.
Contractors awarded under Startup Springboard are still required to adhere to the contract’s terms and conditions, including minimum sales requirements, TAA compliance, reporting, and performance requirements enforcement. The program permits new companies to provide innovative products and services while still adhering to the contract’s terms and conditions.
Startup Springboard Purpose
The Startup Springboard program is intended to provide small businesses with access to innovative products and services and to reduce their barriers to entry. This program is designed to encourage new businesses to offer the government innovative products and services. Contractors awarded under Startup Springboard are still required to adhere to the contract’s terms and conditions, including minimum sales requirements, TAA compliance, reporting, and performance requirements enforcement.
The program enables startups to offer innovative goods and services to the government without needing two years of experience or financial statements. This program is intended to reduce barriers and provide access to innovative products and services for small businesses.
Alternative experience may be substituted for two years of corporate experience under this program. Additionally, key personnel projects can be substituted for relevant project experience. Financial documentation can be submitted in lieu of two years of financial statements to demonstrate a company’s fiscal responsibility.
The Startup Springboard program was initially implemented for the IT schedule but has since been expanded to the MAS schedule. This program enables small businesses to provide innovative products and services to the government market. The program is exclusive to companies with less than two years of business experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Startup Springboard program is intended to enable new companies to offer innovative products and services to the government without meeting the requirements of two years of corporate experience or financial statements. The program is intended to reduce barriers and provide access to innovative products and services for small businesses. Contractors awarded under Startup Springboard are still required to adhere to the contract’s terms and conditions, including minimum sales requirements, TAA compliance, reporting, and performance requirements enforcement.
Eligibility for Startup Springboard
There are certain qualifying factors that businesses still need to consider when applying for the GSA Startup Springboard program. The program established policies for when the startup tech companies fall short on specific requirements.
Here is the substitute to some eligibility requirements that applies to young companies:
- Tech companies can qualify if their executives and key employees have two years worth of professional experience.
- The past performance evaluation can get replaced by relevant project experiences facilitated by the company’s key players.
- The financial credentials over two years can get replaced by documentation of your company’s responsibility.
After substituting some eligibility requirements, the application for IT Schedule 70 continues as it usually would. The company should still craft a promising proposal that expresses its pricing and marketing initiatives to grow in the industry. Young businesses can seek help from the support team provided by the GSA Startup Springboard program. They can also participate in its forums to reach out to other tech startup companies and share one another’s experiences. It is one way for the up and coming businesses to unite and take advantage of the program’s resources.
GSA Startup Springboard: Purpose
Instead of adhering to one of GSA’s most crucial requirements, the Startup Springboard program gives younger businesses a fighting chance. The program eliminates the need for businesses to provide proof of operations over two fiscal years. It is important to note that this program is exclusively for startup companies that fall under IT Schedule 70. Taking away this eligibility requirement can open tech startups opportunities to benefit from the GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule.
The GSA Startup Springboard program includes the Making it Easier (MIE) initiative. The main goal of this initiative is to provide access to GSA to a broader demographic. One of the initiative’s most significant steps involves alleviating the strict eligibility requirements that hold most small businesses back. GSA recognizes the issues in obtaining GSA Schedule in terms of difficulty. This program is their way to extend opportunities to more companies that truly deserve it. Considering that IT solutions and tools are needed more than ever, both parties will surely benefit from the program.
Ultimately, the Startup Springboard program plans to expedite state-of-the-art technologies and IT solutions across public sectors. With a plethora of tech companies accepted at a given time, it is easier to face specific problems and foster growth within the federal government.
Here are some of the objectives of the GSA Startup Springboard program:
- Prospective GSA contractors under IT Schedule 70 can substitute their key personnel and executives to establish two years of operations experience.
- If the tech startup cannot provide a complete past performance evaluation, they can use their key personnel and executives’ relevant project experience.
- Instead of submitting two years’ worth of financial statements, companies can create a comprehensive plan that displays their financial responsibility in the next few years.
It is important to note that the industry partners are responsible for forwarding the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements. They are bound by the federal, state, local, and tribal government sectors’ technical needs. Upon approval, tech startup companies can gain over $15 billion worth of federal, local, and state opportunities within the IT industry.Startup
Startup Springboard Document Requirements
Businesses can participate in the GSA Startup Springboard program if they comply with the documentation requirements. It is integral to submit accurate and complete information describing their company, experience, and commercial products and services. They don’t need to print this document because everything is fulfilled and submitted through the eOffer system. All of these documents get included with your proposal and offer.
Here are the steps you need to take to qualify for a GSA contract:
- Compile all the company information along with the proposal.
- Ensure that your proposal adheres to the specific category requirements and the pricing is considered fair and reasonable.
- Attend the training programs required by the GSA.
- Submit all of the documents needed through the GSA eOffer/eMod system.
- Upon evaluation of your offer, expect contact from a contracting officer in case of certain clarifications.
It is also important to note that the program is only available for businesses with SINs under the MAS Information Technology Large Category. The GSA won’t accept offers made under the Startup Springboard program from different Large Categories.
Although GSA established specific measures to streamline the evaluation process, awarding GSA contracts can take up to 12 months. To prevent certain complications that can prolong a contract’s award, make sure to submit the requirements thoroughly. Proposals with concise offerings and competitive pricing can receive results much faster. Following the evaluation, companies negotiate the terms of the GSA contract until both parties agree.
