In our previous installments, we have repeatedly stated that small- to medium- sized businesses must have a GSA Schedule (pre-approved price list) to sell in the federal market. It is critical that your company either get on the GSA Schedule or stay away from the market.

Reasons a GSA Schedule contract is needed:

• They are the preferred source, by regulation, for federal purchases.
  
  
• Contracting officers, federal purchasers and vendors find them very quick and easy to use.
  
  
• A Schedule contract is the only way to close a purchase transaction of more than $25,000 (other than the lengthy and expensive public bid process or participating as a subcontractor to a prime contractor).
  
  
• Vendors are finding that contracting officers are requesting that they obtain a Schedule contract to do business with their office.
  
  
• The use of Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts (which contain pre-approved price lists) is becoming increasingly more popular. As a practical matter, MAS contracts - other than those under the GSA Schedule program - are available only for large businesses. At present, none of the MAS contracts have small-business set asides (with the exception of GSA Schedules).

Note that it can take between 3 - 6 months to get an award of a GSA Schedule contract. We therefore recommend that you start now before you spend too much direct sales money and end up without a way to close your sale.

GSA proposal preparation is a complex, frustrating and expensive undertaking. Fedmarket.com offers inexpensive solutions designed specifically for small businesses.

GSA Schedule eLab - Develop your GSA Proposal in 3 days at our eLab. Fedmarket provides you with a Request for Information (RFI) prior to your arrival at our eLab. You are instructed to bring the requested corporate data with you to the course. Attendees should, with the assistance of our GSA staff, complete their GSA offer prior to the end of the eLab's third day. Participants also take home a working knowledge of the Schedules program and, perhaps more importantly, negotiating strategies to use when dealing with GSA.

Electronic GSA Wizard - GSA Wizard is a proprietary software product, developed by Fedmarket.com, which assists individuals and companies in preparing GSA schedule proposals. The product was designed specifically for companies that decide to prepare proposals on their own. The Wizard customer should be able to prepare an offer without having a working knowledge of GSA Schedules. The GSA Wizard systematically walks the customer through GSA's solicitation and, through detailed instructions, templates, and illustrated examples, assists the customer in responding to the requests for information found in the GSA solicitation.

GSA Proposal Preparation - A cost-sensitive alternative to our full-service option. We prepare the offer for you using corporate data and information you provide to us. We return an electronic copy of the completed proposal for you to submit and negotiate on your own.

Fedmarket.com's Full Service GSA Solutions:

GSA in a Day - We travel to your office and expedite the proposal prepartion process.

Full-service GSA Consulting - We offer professional services to companies interested in obtaining a GSA schedule contract. Fedmarket's specialists prepare everything for you. We handle the entire process - - from GSA proposal preparation through contract negotiation and award. Call 1-888-661-4094 ext.26 for a quote.

If you need help with any other product sales, call or write as follows: (888) 661-4094 Press 8 or sales@fedmarket.com.