Appendix B – Sample Blanket Purchase Agreement Format

Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Streamlines the Acquisition Process

BPAs help consolidate agency needs in many ways. Two examples are:

• A BPA can be set up for field offices across the nation, thus allowing them to participate in an agency-wide BPA and place orders directly with GSA Schedule contractors. In doing so, the entire agency reaps the benefits of additional discounts negotiated into the BPA.
• A multi-agency BPA can be established if the BPA identifies the participating Agencies and their estimated requirements at the time the BPA is established.

BPAs enable an ordering activity to prepare for anticipated purchases and become more proactive in its purchasing approach. Because an ordering activity is not buying products or services when it establishes the BPA, the ordering activity does not need to have the funding available when the BPA is established unless a minimum dollar value is guaranteed in the BPA (note this is not a requirement). When the funding becomes available, and the need becomes immediate, the ordering activity can make the purchase by placing a delivery or task order.

Schedule BPAs simplify the acquisition process for the ordering activity. An ordering activity does not need to synopsize requirements for purchase against a BPA. The only exception is for American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-funded purchases, which do require a plain-language synopsis of the acquisition need.