It is time to start selling your products and services now that you have finally gotten a GSA Schedule contract!
If you presently have or plan to have a GSA Contract, you must be familiar with the GSA Advantage eBuy systems. These tools will point your firm in the direction of fresh opportunities.
GSA Advantage is GSA’s e-commerce site, focusing on products, whereas GSA Advantage eBuy is the RFQ platform, focusing on services. Fair warning, do not forget your GSA Advantage eBuy password once you’ve registered your contract and created it, as you will need it to access your eBuy account and make changes to your GSA Advantage catalog.
Requests for Quotations (RFQs) for specific products and services offered under GSA Schedule and Technology contracts can be prepared and posted using the GSA Advantage eBuy system by federal agencies (buyers).
To use eBuy, state and local sellers and buyers must undertake two steps.
Step 1: As a state government customer, sign up for GSA Advantage.
Here are some of the eligibility criteria and requirements that you must meet to sell to GSA:
● Your company is properly registered: GSA only works with organizations that are fully and officially registered.
● Your business must have been in operation for at least two years: Not only must your company have been in operation for at least 24 months, but it must also have been profitable for the previous, consecutive two years.
● Your business cannot have affiliations with the GSA or other federal agencies: It is illegal to grant a GSA Schedule to a corporation with a relationship with an officer, the GSA, or any other federal agency.
● Your products comply with the Trade Agreements Act: TAA regulations must get followed by every part, detail, and unit of your services or products.
● You have positive testimonials from former clients: The Past Performance Evaluation, which entails gathering references and testimonials from clients asking for a GSA Schedule Contract, is another determining element for eligibility.
Sellers and Buyers needing assistance with the registration process should contact the GSA Advantage Helpdesk on 877-472-3777.
Step 2: Submit your contract to the Vendor Support Center (VSC) for registration.
You will be able to submit your catalog to GSA Advantage as a result of this. And if you have submitted a MAS catalog to GSA Advantage!, you will be able to respond to select RFQs using your Schedule and SIN, as well as post your eBuy quotes. That does not necessitate an explicit GSA eBuy registration.
What is the difference between GSA Advantage and eBuy?
GSA Advantage is similar to Amazon in that it is an online ordering system via which government purchasers can acquire your goods and services. GSA Advantage is open to the public, but only government employees are allowed to make purchases.
You must use the Schedule Input Program (SIP) to upload your products and services to GSA Advantage. You will use the SIP application whenever you need to add products, delete them, or adjust their prices. You can also use this website to keep track of your competition. To gain an advantage, research the prices they offer for similar items and services.
Contract holders can use GSA Advantage eBuy to submit Requests for Quotations (RFQs). It can be both products and services. However, services account for the vast bulk of RFQs. The buyer will issue an RFP and establish a timeframe for vendors to respond. The RFQ includes a statement of work consisting of all specifics about what they want to buy.
Moreover, GSA Advantage eBuy will only show opportunities that match your Schedule and SIN. Thus the more SINs you have, the more options you’ll have. Contractors can receive email notifications when an RFQ is published, ensuring that they continually get informed of new opportunities. Buyers can also use eBuy to do market research by sending out Requests for Information (RFI) and seeking sources.
How do I register for the GSA Schedule?
Registering for a GSA Schedule can be streamlined into four steps:
● Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier: By April 2022, all entities doing business with the federal government registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) shall utilize a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) established in SAM.
● Get a North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) Code: NAICS uses codes to describe your industry and locate prospects through various venues. You have the option of registering for multiple NAICS codes.
● Verify Your Small Business Status on the Small Business Administration (SBA) Website: You may check whether your company qualifies as a small business on the SBA website.
● Register with the System for Award Management (SAM): Before you can earn a contract, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement, you must first register in SAM.
Conclusion
GSA Advantage eBuy essentially simplifies and simplifies online acquisition and procurement. GSA Advantage eBuy has offered a user-friendly platform that optimizes the RFQ and RFP processes for government purchasers and GSA MAS Contract holders, making it one of the most valuable GSA services.
Moreover, GSA Advantage eBuy is one of the most useful GSA programs for facilitating and streamlining government selling and purchasing. GSA Advantage eBuy allows government buyers to find the products and services they require quickly. GSA MAS Contractors also have access to many options through GSA eBuy, which connects them with potential buyers.
It is critical to be familiar with these two platforms and how they operate, whether you are a new or experienced GSA contractor. Using these tools will help you achieve what everyone is looking for: a spike in sales!
