Understanding GSA Schedule 2020 Application Process

As the economy continues to endure a slow recovery, many companies are making up for lost revenue by filing a GSA schedule 2020 application - a document that allows them to sell to federal customers. General Service Administration (GSA) contracts are agreements between the federal government and independent companies that allow the latter to supply the former with products or services for a mutually agreeable price. The contracts benefit the government by supplying products and services on a continuous basis for a fair price. They benefit companies by establishing a reliable stream of revenue, and opening the door for additional federal sales opportunities. If your company is considering submitting a proposal for a GSA contract, below is a brief overview of the GSA schedule application process.

Research

The proposal of GSA Schedule 2020 contains in-depth information about the applicant and its products or services. Information listed in the proposal includes the performance ratings of the company, the ratings of its products or services, and how the products or services meet the needs of the agency in question. To shorten the research process and ensure the right information is presented, many companies have a GSA consultant perform the research.

Proposal writing

Writing the proposal is a detailed process that requires strict adherence to GSA Schedule 2020 formatting standards, and the inclusion of specific information that helps the contract officer evaluate the proposal. Failing to create a perfect proposal based on GSA Schedule 2020 guidelines might result in the document being rejected. Considering the time and financial investment that go into preparing the proposal, many companies choose to have a consultant prepare the GSA schedule application to increase its chances of acceptance.

First proposal review

The first proposal review is the part of the GSA schedule 2020 application process that tests the quality of the proposal. The proposal is reviewed by a contract offer, who may ask for additional information and clarification on some of the information presented in the proposal.

Negotiation

After the proposal passes the first review, the company or its consultant negotiates the terms of the contract with the contract officer. After a pricing system benefitting both parties is established, the contract officer sets the terms of the contract for final approval.

Second proposal review

After the negotiation is complete, the applicant submits a Final Proposal Review (FPR), a document containing the first review of the proposal, and a copy of the pricing agreement. If the FPR is accepted as per the regulations outlined in the GSA Schedule 2020, the company receives a GSA contract within one week, and can begin selling to federal customers immediately after receiving it.

Conclusion

The GSA schedule 2020 application process has five parts: research, proposal writing, initial proposal review, negotiation, and final proposal review. Each phase requires the applicant to proceed according to strict GSA guidelines. For this reason, many companies hire a consultant to get everything prepared in a streamlined manner.