Download the solicitation from www.fedbizopps.gov Fill it out completely, following instructions, and send it to the address provided. A contracting officer will review your offer and negotiate pricing, which will be based on a commercial price list or labor-hour rates. Once your contract is awarded, you will be able to post your company information on the GSA Advantage website and use our schedule identifier on your marketing materials.

Schedule Input Program (SIP V6) Instructions Updated as of June 6, 2004 Go to the Vendor Support Center website: http://vsc.gsa.gov Click on Download SIP 6.X Note: The SIP program will prompt you when updates become available and will download and install automatically after you close the SIP program. To obtain your password at the http://vsc.gsa.gov website, look under: Other Site Features, and click on Register (SIP, EDI, 72A, e-Buy) Then click on SIP/EDI Registrations. This is currently the first selection. At the next screen, enter your contract number without dashes and click Proceed. You will then be asked to fill in applicable data. After completion of the registration, a password will be assigned to you. Please note that a Data Universal and Numbering System (DUNS) is required at registration. If you do not have a DUNS assigned for your company, you may obtain one without charge by contacting Dun & Bradstreet, Inc. at (800) 999-3867 Ext. 7748. All contracts must be registered with the VSC. To register another GSA schedule contract: Open: http://vsc.gsa.gov Click on: Register (SIP, EDI, 72A, e-Buy) Under Other Site Features, click on Register (SIP, EDI, 72A, e-Buy) Click on Need To Register Another Contract Enter: DUNS number and Password" and click Proceed Pages of detailed helpful instructions are at: http://www.gsa.gov/mgmtservices Pick: MSC References (on the left) Then choose: SIP Instructions

No. You may NOT use the GSA Schedules Program to acquire services that are subject to the procedures of FAR Subpart 36.6, Architect-Engineer Services.

Prior to 1939, government employees typically performed A/E work on federal projects. However, a 1939 statue (P.L. 76-43) directed federal agencies to contract with private firms. In doing so, government managers recognized that the expertise and innovation brought by the private sector improved the aesthetic, functional, and safety characteristics of structures while minimizing life-cycle, operations and maintenance costs. Historical analysis revealed that A/E pricing represented only approximately one percent of the total life-cycle cost of the asset. It therefore made good sense to heavily invest in and focus on quality upfront. The Brooks Architect-Engineer Act (P.L. 92-582) enacted in 1972, established federal policy concerning the selection of firms and individuals to perform A/E services in the federal government. The Brooks Act codified into federal law the selection process known as Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) which was subsequently incorporated into FAR Subpart 36.6. The QBS process requires that contracts for design services be negotiated on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualification for the type of professional services required at a fair and reasonable price.

A major characteristic of A/E service acquisitions subject to the Brooks Act and FAR Subpart 36.6 is the unique non-price based approach to competition. Rather than price being an essential factor in evaluation, competition relies almost exclusively on technical factors. However, QBS does not negate price as an eventual factor for contract negotiations with the design professional. Price becomes a factor after the firms are ranked based upon qualifications and a mutually agreed upon scope of work is formally established. Initially, firms are ranked in order of their technical qualification and then negotiations are held with the top-most ranked firm. Only if a satisfactory contract cannot be negotiated will the Contracting Officer negotiate with the next most qualified firm.

Contracting officers should consider the following services to be A/E services and thus subject to the QBS procedures of FAR Subpart 36.6 (see FAR 36.601-4) - Professional services of an architectural or engineering nature, as defined by applicable state law, which the state law requires to be performed or approved by a registered architect or engineer. - Professional services of an architectural or engineering nature associated with design or construction of real property. - Other professional services of an architectural or engineering nature or services incidental thereto (including studies, investigations, surveying and mapping, tests, evaluations, consultations, comprehensive planning, program management, conceptual designs, plans and specifications, value engineering, construction phase services, soils engineering, drawing reviews, preparation of operating and maintenance manuals and other related services) that logically or justifiably require performance by registered architects or engineers or their employees. - Professional surveying and mapping services of an architectural or engineering nature. Surveying is considered to be an architectural and engineering service and shall be procured pursuant to section 36.601 from registered surveyors or architects and engineers. Mapping associated with the research, planning, development, design, construction, or alteration of real property is considered to be an architectural and engineering service and is to be procured pursuant to section 36.601.

The FAR identifies the following exceptions to using the QBS procedures outlined in FAR Subpart 36.6: - When the contract statement of work (SOW) includes both architect-engineer services and other services, the contracting officer shall followi the procedures in FAR Subpart 36.6 if the statement of work, substantially or to a dominant extent, specifies performance or approval by a registered or licensed architect or engineer. If the statement of work does not specify such performance or approval, the contracting officer shall follow the procedures in othere applicable FAR sections. - Other than "incidental services" as specified in the definition of architect-engineer services in 2.101 and in 36.601-4(a)(3), services that do not require performance by a registered or licensed architect or engineer, nothwithstanding the fact that architect-engineers also may perform those services, should be acquired in accordance with other applicable FAR sections. - Mapping services that are not connected to trationally understood or accepted architectural and engineering activities, are not incidental to such architectural and engineering activities or have not in themselves traditionally been considered architectural and engineering services shall be procured pursuant to other applicalbe FAR provisions.

You will benefit from using this schedule by: - All competition requirements have been met - GSA has already negotiated the Volume Purchase discounts for you. - Blanket Purchase Agreements give you flexible purchasing options that save you time and money. - GSA has already issued the synopsis and met the synopsis requirements. - Schedule orders count toward small business goals. - Access to state-of-the-art technology and quality services.

Send your request for quote (which includes your performance-based statement of work) to three or more schedule contractors. Evaluate your responses for best value. Send a task order to your selection.

No. A contracting officer needs to place orders against the schedule. You would contact your contracting department with your requirements which may or may not result in you providing a statement of work (SOW). (Note - the Contracting Officer may actually prepare the SOW based upon your requirements). Once the SOW is prepared, the Contracting Officer will issue the RFQ to the maximum extend practical, conduct the evaluation and make the award which results in a task order.

There is no charge for use of the schedule. This program is supported by Industrial Funding Fees paid by the contractor.

A GSA Schedule, also known as a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), is a listing of contractors that have been awarded a contract by GSA that can be used by all federal agencies.

GSA awards competitive contracts to those companies who give the same or better discounts than their best commercial customers, after it determines the prices to be fair and reasonable. The Schedule Program mirrors commercial buying practices more than any other procurement process in federal government.