Establishment of Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)

BPAs under the GSA Schedules Program are established using GSA Schedule ordering procedures; i.e., the Ordering Procedures for Supplies, and Services Not Requiring a Statement of Work (SOW) (Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-1) or the Ordering Procedures for Services Requiring a Statement of Work (SOW) (FAR 8.405-2). An ordering activity shall request a price reduction based on the total estimated volume of the BPA, regardless of the size of individual orders.   

Ordering activities may consider socioeconomic status when identifying contractors for consideration or competition for award of an order or BPA. At a minimum, ordering activities should consider, if available, at least one small business, veteran-owned small business, service disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, women-owned small business, or small disadvantaged business Schedule contractor (FAR 8.405-5). GSA Advantage!® and GSA eLibrary (formerly Schedules e-Library) contain information on small business representations of Schedule contractors.

Single or Multiple BPAs


BPAs may be established with one or more Schedule contractors. The number of BPAs to be established is within the discretion of the ordering activity establishing the BPAs and should be based on a strategy that is expected to maximize the effectiveness of the BPAs (FAR 8.405-3). In determining how many BPAs to establish, consider—

  • The scope and complexity of the requirements;
  • The need to periodically compare multiple technical approaches or prices;
  • The administrative costs of BPAs; and
  • The technical qualifications of the Schedule contractors.

BPAs shall address the frequency of ordering, invoicing, discounts, requirements (e.g., estimated quantities, work to be performed), delivery locations, and time. When establishing multiple BPAs, the ordering activity shall also specify the procedures for placing orders under the BPAs.

Duration of BPAs


A GSA Schedule BPA should not exceed five years in length, but may do so to meet program requirements (FAR 8.405-3(c)). A Schedule contractor may be awarded a BPA that extends beyond the current term of its GSA Schedule contract, so long as there are option periods in the GSA Schedule contract that, if exercised, will cover the BPA's period of performance. An ordering activity that establishes a BPA shall conduct an annual review to determine whether—

  • The underlying Schedule contract is still in effect;
  • The BPA still represents the best value; and
  • Estimated quantities/amounts have been exceeded and additional price reductions can be obtained.

The ordering activity shall document the results of its review (FAR 8.405-3(d)(2)).

Last Reviewed 5/5/2009