Doing business with Global Supply

GSA Global Supply acquires a wide spectrum of products for civilian and military customers worldwide. The notes below provide a brief outline of how potential suppliers can work with us to meet the needs of our customers. Note that GSA Global Supply offers both specialized National Stock Number (NSN) items as well as commercial (part-numbered) items that bear a manufacturer’s part number.

How can you do business with us? Our first choice for procurements is to look to holders of current Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts. However, there are times where we must conduct an open market procurement. Here are some helpful hints on what to do:

• Watch the SAM.gov site (Vendors without a current MAS Contract). 
  • Unlike the Multiple Award Schedules, we have definitive open and close dates on our requests that vary due to our customers’ requirements. Check these places periodically to make sure you are kept in the loop. 
  • Respond to Sources Sought (SS) notices or Request for Information (RFIs).
  • Read through the entire Solicitation/Request for Quotes. 
    • Provide all information requested. 
    • Thoroughly read the item product description (IPD) and attached clauses. 
    • Understand the terms and conditions of the solicitation. 
    • Complete your quote package and submit it in accordance with the instructions in the solicitation/Request for Quotes.
  • Be very familiar with GSA eBuy. 
    • GSA eBuy is specifically for Vendors that currently have MAS Contracts.
    • You may or may not receive electronic notifications, so it is best to ensure you are checking eBuy for any active RFQs based on your available SINs.
    • Some requirements are one time purchases, others are for Term Contracts or Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs).
  • Make sure your products are loaded into GSAAdvantage!® and that your information is up-to-date 
    • We use the GSA online tools to conduct market research and perform some of our procurements. It can be more difficult to find you if you aren’t there.
    • Keep your MAS contract pricing up-to-date.
    • Provide accurate product descriptions.
    • Add high resolution pictures when possible.
    • Vendors (with current MAS contracts) who are specifically interested in our non-contract NSN and Part Number opportunities, please see information at this site. If after reviewing you are interested in learning more about the program, please email instaquote@gsa.gov.
    • This is a fast-growing part of GSA Global Supply business.
    • Perfect place to start small. 
      • You have the ability to offer on as many or as few items as you wish.
      • This affords you an opportunity to see the volume of orders, and lets you become familiar with rigorous inspection, marking, packing and packaging requirements defined in the clauses.
      • Vendors can quickly determine if their pricing is competitive based on competition and last price paid provided.
      • We want our relationship to succeed, so provide realistic delivery times and make sure you can deliver on what you propose.

In addition to following the helpful hints above, you will want to avoid some of the most common mistakes. Make sure you do the following: 

• Quote on the correct unit of issue. 
• Avoid mixing Schedule items and open market items in your proposal. Open market items have different procurement processes and require more information. 
  • Provide manufacturer, part number and country of origin information when quoting on an open market item. 
  • Clearly identify any open market items in your quote. 
• Offer a realistic delivery time. 
• Submit your information on time! Late offers may not be accepted.
   

Information regarding the use of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) transactions and Vendor Portal Access can be found on the Business Transaction Processing page.

GSA’s Vendor Support Center has a wealth of information for those who wish to start doing business with GSA, and tools and useful links for those already working with GSA.