The Contract Acquisition Lifecycle Management System (CALM) is live and being used by a portion of the FAS acquisition workforce to award new contracts. With 100% of pilot users reporting that CALM saves time and reduces processing steps and data entry, we're optimistic that CALM will help improve cycle times and responsiveness as our user group expands.
CALM provides the GSA acquisition workforce with a common contract writing tool that will standardize the supplier experience, provide greater visibility into the process, and assist our workforce with automations and data re-use wherever possible.
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CALM is used to:
- Create acquisition workspaces,
- Select clauses and provisions to create all types of solicitations,
- Synopsize and issue solicitations to both Contract Opportunities and eBuy,
- Intake vendor offers,
- Conduct source selection,
- Award contracts and administer them.
CALM dashboard features, including a variety of graphics, help users and managers see work in progress.
With more robust functionality, Phase Two of CALM improvements will include:
- Requirements definition,
- Acquisition planning,
- An updated vendor portal supporting RFQs,
- And integration with GSA's financial system.
The next phase of CALM will also see the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program transition to the system. Receiving user feedback throughout CALM's development and transition process allows for continual updates so that all stakeholders benefit from a modern, efficient, contract writing system that works for them.
Please contact FASCWS@gsa.gov to learn more!
GSA developed the Verified Products Portal (VPP) to collect authoritative product content from manufacturers and their authorized partners, and a new connection with GSA Advantage!® makes this information available to customers for purchasing decisions. Information from the VPP (such as product descriptions, images, and PDFs of user manuals and installation guides) will supplement contractor-submitted catalogs as the information becomes available. The availability of authoritative product content in the federal marketplace improves both the customer and supplier experience.
To learn more, review Q&A on Interact.
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Displaying VPP content provides customers access to product descriptions, pictures, and other salient details when making purchasing decisions, especially when viewing the same products from different sellers.
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Participating manufacturers and wholesalers can ensure their products are accurately represented in the federal marketplace.
GSA has moved forward with developing the new Common Catalog Platform (CCP), a web-based, API-enabled user interface for managing the catalog data associated with products and services offered through GSA's federal marketplace. The CCP will replace antiquated technology, integrate with contracting systems, introduce new functionalities that make it easier to manage catalogs, and improve the quality of catalog data collected.
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The CCP will further improve the quality of data available in GSA Advantage!®
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In FY22, GSA will develop the CCP for Multiple Award Schedule catalogs. The CCP, which will replace the current Schedule Input Program (SIP), will allow suppliers to easily submit and manage their own catalogs. It will integrate with contracting systems and reduce the amount of time suppliers spend managing their catalogs.
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The CCP will allow the GSA workforce to more quickly review and approve catalog uploads and pricing modifications submitted by suppliers. It will integrate with GSA contracting systems, eliminating the previous two-step process required to review and approve catalog files.
When a Request For Quote (RFQ) results in zero responses it can really delay an acquisition. Currently, customers don't have access to meaningful data indicating why an RFQ doesn't receive a response. To encourage supplier feedback for "no quote" RFQs, eBuy is replacing "other" as a choice in its "no quote" response option, allowing users to instead select "I would quote if" and provide the reason why they didn't respond to the RFQ in a text box. This enhancement will be available to all users in Q1 FY22.
Today, suppliers are unable to select an RFQ from a list in eBuy, review it, and go back to their previous place in that list. The system automatically returns users to the top of the list. eBuy will correct this action by making a small enhancement to the system.
Other eBuy enhancements expected in Q1 FY22 will support Second Generation Information Technology (2GIT) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) buys. Email notifications to prospective bidders from eBuy for 2GIT RFQs will soon include key information about the requesting agency, like customer location. Today, suppliers have to log in to eBuy to view this information. Receiving this additional data via email will speed everything up - suppliers can make decisions about quotes more quickly, get responses to customers faster, and ultimately help customers get what they need sooner.
2GIT's Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) certified/authorized suppliers will be identified with a new icon and 2GIT suppliers can use a new RFQ quote template.
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The "I would quote if" option gives suppliers the opportunity to explain to customers why they are not responding to an RFQ with an offer.
Adding the ability for users to return to their previous place in a list of RFQs makes it easier and quicker for suppliers to differentiate between RFQs of interest. This increase in system usability promotes overall supplier usage of eBuy to find opportunities and leads to faster and better suited offers.
Without logging in to eBuy, 2GIT suppliers can find key information about opportunities and make quick, informed decisions on responding to RFQs.
2GIT customers can easily identify SCRM certified/authorized suppliers because of the new icon in eBuy, giving them confidence in purchasing compliant products.