FAQ's

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, HCI has been prequalified as a proven and reliable supplier.

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Who Can Buy?

Question: Who can buy HCI | integrated solutions 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 HCI | integrated solutions 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 HCI using the same form as its own IDIQ contracts. 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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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 HCI, 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 HCI | integrated solutions GSA Schedule contracts approved?

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

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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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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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