Existing GSA schedule contracts are being modified to reflect recovery purchasing authority. The modification is voluntary, meaning that GSA Schedule contractors have the option of deciding whether they will accept orders under Section 833 (Recovery Purchasing), placed by state and local government buyers.

Unlike the existing cooperative purchasing authority on the IT Schedule, this authority is limited. It can only be used by state and local governments to aid in recovering from a disaster as defined above. This does include advance purchasing and pre-positioning in preparation for a disaster.

State and local government entities means: the states of the United States, counties, municipalities, cities, towns, townships, tribal governments, public authorities (including public or Indian housing agencies under the United States Housing Act of 1937), school districts, colleges and other institutions of higher education, council of governments (Incorporated or not), regional or interstate government entities, or any other agency or instrumentality of the preceding entities (including any local educational agency or institution of higher education), and including legislative and judicial departments.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Recovery Purchasing (Section 833)?
   
   Section 833 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, authorizes the Administrator of the General Services Administration to provide for the use by state or local governments of Federal Supply Schedules for goods or services that are to be used to facilitate recovery from a major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, or to facilitate recovery from terrorism or nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack.
   
   
2. What is a "major disaster"?
   
   A "major disaster" is defined by the Act to mean a natural catastrophe in any part of the United States, including its territories, which in the determination of the President causes sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance to supplement the efforts and available resources of state and local governments. For more information on the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, go to www.fema.gov/about/stafact.shtm

This is a major step for the GSA program. The new authority could result is considerable business for GSA schedule contractors in situations like Katrina. And the authorization may be a precursor to the opening up of all schedules for state and local agencies. Conversely, state and local use of all schedules may take a while since it requires congressional legislation.