GSA Schedules



 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

 

Available Schedules

Question: On which GSA schedules does Vanguard Research have current contracts?

 

Answer: Vanguard Research has been awarded two GSA contracts. Under the Information Technology Services schedule Vanguard Research has contract GS-35F-5617H and under the Professional Engineering Services Schedule contract GS-23F-0210K. The hyperlinks will take you to more detailed description of each contract.

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Acceptability of GSA Schedules

Question: Are the GSA Schedules an acceptable procurement mechanism for Defense Agencies requiring Professional Services?

 

Answer: Yes, the Director for Defense Procurement in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, in a letter dated March 6, 1997, urged all of the Department of Defense "to take full advantage of GSA Schedule contracts if you need supplies or services that are covered under them. Use of these contracts meets DOD goals to simplify the acquisition process while at the same time increasing the contracting officer's authority and ability to make sound business judgments."
Advantages of using the GSA schedules include:

  • Work can begin in very short periods of time - weeks, or even days after the delivery order is placed.
  • The flexibility of the GSA Schedule program assures that the ordering agency can easily procure the latest technology and highest levels of skill under a Delivery Order.
  • Various types of Professional Services can now be procured via GSA Schedules.
  • GSA Schedule awards are rarely protested.
  • Order size limits via the GSA Schedules program have been eliminated.
  • As a GSA Schedule vendor, Vanguard Research has been prequalified as a proven and reliable supplier.

 

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Who Can Buy?

Question: Who can buy Vanguard Research’s services under the GSA Schedules Program?

Answer: All federal agencies and activities in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches; government contractors authorized in writing by a federal agency pursuant to 48 CFR 51.1; mixed ownership government corporations (as defined in the Government Corporation Contract Act); the government of the District of Columbia; and other activities and organizations authorized by statute or regulation to use GSA as a source of supply.

 

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Order Forms

Question: Is a special form used for ordering services from Vanguard Research under the GSA Schedule contract?

Answer: No. GSA Schedule contracts are ordinary indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicles. The procurement officer of the ordering agency places a Delivery Order with Vanguard Research using the same form as its own IDIQ contracts, for example, Optional Form 347, or DD 1155, or another form that it normally uses. The end-user requisitions the services from the procurement officer using the same forms as used for any other IDIQ Delivery Order.

 

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Order Limitations

Question: Are there any order limitations, and what is the upper limit for a Delivery Order on GSA contracts?

Answer: Each contract has specified minimum and maximum order limits. The maximum order limits do not restrict the size of an order but establish thresholds at which the ordering agency will seek price reductions from the rates established in the applicable contract.

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Time Limits

Question: Are there time limits to the tasks under a GSA Schedule contract?

Answer: The base period of our GSA IT Schedule contract expires on May 3, 2003. The Professional Engineering Services contract expires on April 24, 2005. All GSA Schedule contracts have the option to be extended for an additional five years.

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Items Other Than Labor

Question: If a task requires other direct costs (ODCs) such as travel, small equipment, incidental hardware or software, etc., can the ODCs be purchased under the same Delivery Order?

Answer: Yes. When support services are ordered ODC items can be identified and separately priced on the same Delivery Order.

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Competition

Question: What competition is required prior to awarding a GSA Schedule Delivery Order?

Answer: Orders placed against these contracts are considered to be issued pursuant to full and open competition under the FAR procedures. Ordering officials need not seek further competition, synopsize the requirement or make a separate determination of fair and reasonable pricing. The ordering agency is required to make a best-value determination by considering reasonably available information available in the "GSA Advantage!" on-line shopping service or by reviewing catalogs/pricelists of other Schedule contractors. In determining the best value (considering price and other factors), the agency may consider special features offered by Vanguard Research, such as pertinent knowledge and/or experience, special skills and techniques, applicable record of performance in a particular area, access to special capabilities, or special requirements that make us the best-suited vendor to satisfy those requirements.

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Labor Rates

Question: Are the labor rates in Vanguard Research’s GSA Schedule contracts approved?

Answer: By awarding Vanguard Research a contract the GSA has determined that the prices reflected in the contract are fair and reasonable.

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Special Labor Rates

Question: Are there special labor rates available for work performed on government sites or in other geographical locations?

Answer: Yes. The rates published are for work performed in Vanguard Research facilities in the Washington DC area. Discount from these regular GSA Schedule labor rates will be negotiated for work that we perform in government sites facilities when our personnel are engaged full-time for a minimum time period and the government furnishes all facilities and support equipment. We will also negotiate discounts for work performed in lower cost-of-living areas.

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Extra Costs

Question: Is the ordering agency obligated to pay GSA for using GSA Schedule contracts?

Answer: No. The published GSA Schedule rates represent the entire labor cost to the ordering agency.

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Terms and Conditions

Question: Are the specific terms and conditions required by law and the FAR for government contracting satisfied when the ordering agency uses a GSA Schedule contract?

Answer: Yes. Our GSA Schedule contracts includes all terms and conditions required by law for the purchase of Information Technology or Professional Engineering Services.

 

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Blanket Purchase Agreements

Question: Are Blanket Purchase Agreements available under a GSA Schedule contract?

Answer: Yes. If an ordering agency has extensive requirements for our services, then it may be appropriate to execute a Blanket Purchase Agreement to save time and minimize the overall amount of paperwork required.

 

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Security

Question: Can all appropriate security requirements be satisfied by Vanguard Research’s GSA Schedule contract?

Answer: Yes. The ordering agency can state any necessary security clause in the Delivery Order. The administration of security matters is performed by the ordering agency, not GSA.

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