Assemble Your Offer

Assembling your offer for a Schedule contract is a multi-step process that will require work and time. You'll need to gather and fill out documents about your company's finances, experience, products and services offered, and your company's business dealings.

There are two major components to this process:

  • Complete forms we provide
  • Compile information on your own.

You'll complete and upload some documents into eOffer as an attachment, and you'll enter some information directly into text fields in eOffer.

You'll need a digital certificate to access eOffer to view, download, and complete documents.

Complete These Forms

Many parts of your offer involve completing templates. We explain why the forms are required and how to complete them below. The most recent offer templates can be found on our Available Offerings and Requirements page.

To locate full solicitation information, go to eOffer.

Agent Authorization Letter (if applicable)

If you have a third-party agent, such as a consultant helping you prepare or negotiate your Schedule offer, you will need an Agent Authorization Letter. If your authorized agent will also be authorized to sign contracts, you must also upload a valid digital certificate for that agent.


document to fill out Agent Authorization Letter template can be found on the Available Offerings and Requirements under the “Templates to download, complete, and upload in eOffer (if applicable). Complete the document, following the instructions within the template itself, and upload it to eOffer. Agent Authorization Letters must be electronically signed by a corporate officer (e.g. Pres., VP, CEO, etc.).
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Letter Of Supply (if applicable)

If you (the offeror) are not the manufacturer of the product(s) being proposed, you need to provide an acceptable Letter of Supply. Required elements of the Letter of Supply vary based on the type of products you sell. The Letter of Supply Template provided will lay out the required components of the letter.


document to fill out Find the Letter of Supply Template on GSA’s Available Offerings and Requirements page under the solicitation.
help resources For more information, see clause I-FSS-644 [PDF - 7 KB] of the solicitation.
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Pricing

Price Proposal Template

When completing a price proposal you will provide this information on a template based on the type of services and/or products you have selected. Currently MAS has two options related to pricing requirements, in both options your company provides a list of proposed prices for all offered products or services, including any additional descriptive and supporting information. The two options differ in the following ways:

  1. The Commercial Sales Practice or Traditional route. When opting to provide pricing information, you will complete a price proposal template. Also, you will provide the various discounts your company currently provides in the commercial and federal arena, please see the Commercial Sales Practice section below. We’ll use this document to verify that you are offering your best price to the government, i.e., the price you charge your Most Favored Customer (MFC). We must consider your MFC price highly competitive and determine it to be fair and reasonable for us to accept it. To complete your price proposal, use information that corresponds to published commercial price list(s) or market rate sheet(s), such as catalogs, invoices, contracts, etc. This will then be utilized to create a discount ratio that your company will be required to track and maintain throughout the life of the contract.
  2. Participate in the Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) pilot. Your list of proposed pricing will be compared to like or similar items and a pricing variability will be applied for negotiation. With TDR you do not submit your various discounts your company provides nor is your pricing tied to a MFC. Below is a list of participating TDR SINs under the consolidated Schedule.
LARGE CATEGORY SUBCATEGORY SIN(s)
Facilities Facilities Maintenance 561210FAC
Facilities Facilities Services 238320, 541690E, 561730
Facilities Facilities Solutions 541513 and 811310MR
Facilities Facilities Supplies 322291, 326119, 339994, 333318F, and 339113G
Facilities Food Service Equipment 311423, 333241, 335220, 336999, 332215T, and 333415REM
Furniture & Furnishings Flooring 314110SBSA
Furniture & Furnishings Household, Dormitory & Quarters Furniture 3FURNISH
Industrial Products and Services Cleaning Supplies 325611 and 325612
Industrial Products and Services Hardware and Tools 332510, 333112, 532310, 332510C, 332510S, and 333TOOL
Industrial Products and Services Industrial Products 314120, 324110, 324191, 325320, 325998, 325998W, 335220D, and 335220E
Information Technology Telecommunications 517410
Information Technology IT Hardware 33411
Information Technology IT Software 54151 and 511210
Miscellaneous Apparel 315210
Miscellaneous Personal Hair Care Items 335210
Miscellaneous Complimentary Special Item Numbers ANCILLARY* and NEW*
Office Management Audio Visual Products 334310, 334290OS, 334511T, and 541990AV
Office Management Office Supplies 339940, 339940OS4, and 339940OVER
Professional Services Technical and Engineering Services (Non-IT) 541330ENG, 541330EMI, 541713, 541714, 541720, 541420, 541690, 541715, 541715AIR, and 541715APM
Scientific and Management Solutions Testing and Analysis 541380


document to fill out Download the Price Proposal Template form relevant to your offerings and complete. These can be found under the Templates to download, complete, and upload in eOffer (if applicable) section of this page.
help resources

For more on how to complete the Price Proposal Template, read Price Proposal, Section III in SCP-FSS-001. Complete all sections of the template, noting an N/A for sections that do not apply to your offer. [PDF - 205 KB]

Additional applicable instructions for pricing requirements on individual SINs can be located in the large category attachments.

Both options have reporting requirements, for the commercial sales practice/traditional path contractors will report quarterly in summary format by SIN. For TDR participants, contractors will report monthly by transaction. For more information related to reporting please review the solicitation instructions and IFF Clause - [PDF - 205 KB] 552.238-74 Industrial Funding Fee and Sales Reporting (MAY 2014) (ALTERNATE I - JUN 2016). For more information related to TDR please visit the Vendor Support Center, https://vsc.gsa.gov.

hold item for future reference Save the completed Price Proposal Template as well as your supporting documentation. You will upload these documents in eOffer.
document to fill out Sample Labor Category Matrix [PDF - 50 KB] and Sample SCLS Matrix. [PDF - 9 KB] Please review your solicitation attachments for an up to date wage determination index.
help resources For more information about the Labor Category Matrix, SCLS matrix and wage determinations applicable to Schedule please see SCP-FSS-001(j)(3)(xii).
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Compile This Information

You need to have information about your company and the work you have done. After you gather this information, have it ready to upload or input into eOffer. Each element you will need and what each will be used for is described below.

Financial Statements

Gather your company’s financial statements for the previous two-year period (audited, if available). At a minimum, each financial statement must consist of a balance sheet and income statement. We will use this information to ensure that your company is financially stable. Explain any information you disclose that reflects negatively upon your business.


information to provide Gather your company's balance sheets and income statements for the previous two-year period.
help resources For more information please see any important documents within the Solicitation.
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Subcontracting Plan (if applicable)

Your company only needs to provide this subcontracting plan if your business is categorized as 'other than small.' 'Other than small' includes:

  • nonprofit organizations,
  • educational institutions, and
  • 'large' businesses.

Your company size will be determined by the NAICS code that you believe the preponderance of work under your Schedule will fall.

GSA expects "other than small" businesses to provide opportunities to small businesses who can perform successfully as subcontractors.

Fill in and complete the subcontracting plan via eOffer. The sample template provided as part of the solicitation covers the 11 areas detailed in FAR clause 52.219-9(d).


information to provide The Small Business SubContracting Plan is part of the solicitation and is posted on the Available Offerings and Requirements page. Use the plan in the solicitation as a guide to understand what information will be required in eOffer. Complete the Subcontracting Plan in eOffer.
help resources For more information about this plan's requirements, review the Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 52.919. For help with NAICS codes, their definitions, and the size standards, visit the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
hold item for future reference Save this document, and upload into eOffer. You’ll need to sign it, so download it after you complete it, complete the signature block (page 14 of the sample plan), scan, and upload the signed document(s) as an attachment to your offer in eOffer.

Technical Proposal

The technical proposal details information and examples of your company’s experience that prove you can provide the products and services you are proposing to offer.

Your technical proposal must include narratives that you need to draft and submit via eOffer, along with past performance information. Note: The eOffer Past Performance module is being updated to be consistent with the instructions outlined in SCP-FSS-001 Instructions to All Offerors. Depending on your Special Item Number (SIN), you might need to submit more documents in your technical proposal.

For more information required for the technical proposal, please review the category attachments and Available Offerings and Requirements incorporated into the solicitation. A contracting representative may request more documents during the review of your offer.


information to provide
For more instructions related to technical requirements:
  • Review SCP-FSS-001 - Applies to All Schedules
  • Review applicable large category attachments relevant to your offerings
  • Review Available Offerings and Requirements Web Page as applicable
  • Draft the following narratives within eOffer:
    1. Factor One - Corporate experience (10,000 character limit).
    2. Factor Three - Quality control (10,000 character limit).
    3. Factor Four - Relevant Project Experience - this only applies if you are offering services. You will have to submit a narrative describing two relevant projects.
  • Gather the following information:
    1. Factor Two - Past Performance - Open Ratings report and narrative for any negative feedback.
    2. Factor Five - Technical Capability - certain Special Item Numbers (SINs) require more information and/or certifications. See the solicitation for further detail.
help resources For specific instructions, see the following provision in the solicitation: SCP-FSS-001 for all Offerors. Review the Category Attachments and Available Offerings and Requirement page for large category, subcategory, and SIN specific requirements and instructions.
hold item for future reference Input your narratives and upload your Open Ratings report and Technical Capability information in eOffer.

Professional Compensation Plan (if applicable)

You must submit a professional compensation plan for your employees if you are proposing professional services. The plan explains the company policies on salaries and fringe benefits for employees who will work under your contract. Individual compensation disclosure is not required.


information to provide Gather your company’s general compensation practices, often found in an employee handbook.
help resources For more information about this plan’s requirement, review the FAR part 52.222-46. To see if you are required to submit a plan, see the Cover Page of the Solicitation.
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Previous Notification of Determination to Not Exercise an Option Letters (if applicable)

Include with your offer copies of any cancellation or rejection letters received within the last two years for any previously awarded Schedule contracts or submitted Schedule offers.


information to provide Gather letters from prior Schedule contracts.
hold item for future reference Save letters and upload to eOffer.

Commercial Supplier Agreements (CSA) (if applicable)

If applicable, Commercial Supplier Agreements (CSA) must be submitted with offers. This makes it easier for us to review and negotiate each individual set of terms for compliance with federal law.

CSAs must be from the manufacturer. If you are the reseller of a product, any changes to the EULA must have a signature of approval from the manufacturer.

Agreements must be in an editable format (such as Microsoft Word), preferably with the portions of the documents that are federally non-compliant already removed.


help resources To help with this process, GSA has issued new provisions, which can help reduce the legal risk of incorporating CSA terms and conditions that conflict with or are incompatible with federal law into GSA contracts.
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Commercial Sales Practices Format (CSP-1) (if applicable)

Here you describe what you offer to your customers compared to what you are offering the federal government. We use this document to verify that you are offering your BEST price to the government (what we call your “Most Favored Customer” (MFC) pricing).

Our goal is to obtain equal to or better than your MFC under the same or similar terms and conditions. Depending on your Special Item Number/s (SIN/s), we may require you to submit more documents. We’ll ask for them after we’ve assigned a contracting officer to review your offer. Templates are provided in some cases for reference. You’ll enter information into eOffer directly.

CSP-1 information is only required with contracts that are not participating in the Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) Pilot.


document to fill out Use CSP-1 Commercial Sales Practices template [PDF - 97 KB] as a reference. Complete CSP-1 information within eOffer.
help resources For more information about the CSP-1, please see SCP-FSS-001, Section III – Price Proposal, iv.
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Commercial Price List Or Market Rate Sheet

You should have already identified your business’s commercial price list while you were preparing your Price Proposal Template. You need this document to help show the prices you provide to your current customers. If you do not have a commercial price list, please provide a Market Rate Sheet if your firm maintains one.

We use these documents as a starting point to evaluate your company's pricing. This is also different from your Commercial Sales Practice that is listed above.

If you are participating in the Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) pilot, your list of proposed pricing will be compared to like or similar items and a pricing variability will be applied for negotiation. With TDR you do not submit the various discounts your company provides nor is your pricing tied to a Most Favored Customer (MFC).


information to provide Gather your Commercial Price list of Market Rate Sheet
help resources For more information, read Section III – Price Proposal of SCP-FSS-001-N for all offerors.

Is a Commercial Price List right for you?

FAR 2.101(a)(6) defines two types of pricing lists:

  • “Catalog price” means a price included in a catalog, price list, schedule, or other form that is regularly maintained by the manufacturer or vendor, it is either published or otherwise available for inspection by customers, and states prices at which sales are currently, or were last, made to a significant number of buyers constituting the general public; and
  • “Market prices” means current prices that are established in the course of ordinary trade between buyers and sellers free to bargain and that can be substantiated through competition or from sources independent of the offerors.

There are several questions which can help you determine whether or not CPL is the appropriate method of escalation for you.

  • Do you consider your price list proprietary? A CPL is commercially/publically available. Therefore if the answer is yes, you do not have a CPL according to FAR 2.101.
  • Are your prices publicly available(e.g. published on your company’s website or in a published catalog) If not, you do not have a CPL according to FAR 2.101.
  • Are you currently charging the prices published in your CPL? If your prices are based on market conditions rather than a fixed price list, you do not have a CPL according to FAR 2.101.

If the answer to any of these three questions indicate that you do not really have a Commercial Price List as defined above, then you may request to change your method of escalation to Economic Price Adjustments based on Market Pricing under I-FSS-969.

hold item for future reference Save this document; you will refer to it when filling out information in eOffer. You’ll upload your Commercial Price List or Market Rate Sheet to eOffer.

Pricing Support Documentation

You must provide supporting documentation for each product and/or service you are offering and enter it into the Price Proposal Template. We use this to verify the information you are submitting is accurate.

Examples of documentation include published and publicly available catalogs, price lists, copies of invoices, contracts, quote sheets, etc. There must be a clear and relevant relationship between the supporting document and the proposed price it is meant to support. Each supporting document must be clearly labeled with the name of the corresponding proposed product or service.

If your current Commercial Price List (CPL) or Market Rate Sheet (MRS) does not cover the period of past sales reported on the Commercial Sales Practices Format (CSP-1), if providing an offer under the traditional clauses, you must also provide a copy of the CPL or MRS that does cover the majority of that period.


help resources For more information, read Section III, Price Proposal of provisions SCP-FSS-001 for all offerors.
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Price Narrative

Prior to a contract award being made, the GSA contracting officer must determine the proposed prices are fair and reasonable. Fair and reasonable means that the prices are highly competitive with the commercial and federal market.

If you are providing an offer through the Commercial Sales Practice/traditional format you need to demonstrate that this pricing is also the same (or better) than what you offer your Most Favored Customer (MFC). If a price offered to GSA is not equal to or better than the price offered to your designated Most Favored Customer, your narrative must explain the rationale for proposing such a price in a way that the contracting officer can determine that the rate is fair and reasonable. You must explain any deviation from your commercial sales practice, including the specific circumstances and frequency of the deviations.


help resources For more information, read Section III (iv), Price Proposal of provisions SCP-FSS-001 within the Solicitation.
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Last Reviewed: 2020-11-24