In the context of the Buy-Quiet Process Roadmap, a GSA Schedule purchase may be made when a product for which product-specific noise emission data meets the baseline noise emission criterion is available on the GSA Schedule. The Requestor works with the Contracting Officer, who will place the order. GSA purchases are similar to micropurchases in the context of the Roadmap (e.g., no specification is prepared and neither shop nor field verification may be required) and provide a simplified process for equipment purchases that exceed the micropurchase level.
The applicable GSA Schedule purchase process is cited in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
From FAR 8.405-1 Ordering procedures for supplies, and services not requiring a statement of work
- (a) Ordering activities shall use the procedures of this subsection when ordering supplies and services that are listed in the schedules contracts at a fixed price for the performance of a specific task, where a statement of work is not required (e.g., installation, maintenance, and repair).
- (b) Orders at or below the micro-purchase threshold. Ordering activities may place orders at, or below, the micro-purchase threshold with any Federal Supply Schedule contractor that can meet the agency’s needs. Although not required to solicit from a specific number of schedule contractors, ordering activities should attempt to distribute orders among contractors.
- (c) Orders exceeding the micro-purchase threshold but not exceeding the maximum order threshold.
- (1) Ordering activities shall place orders with the schedule contractor that can provide the supply or service that represents the best value. Before placing an order, an ordering activity shall consider reasonably available information about the supply or service offered under MAS contracts by surveying at least three schedule contractors through the GSA Advantage! on-line shopping service, or by reviewing the catalogs or pricelists of at least three schedule contractors (see 8.405-5
).
- (2) When an order contains brand name specifications, the contracting officer shall post the Request for Quote (RFQ) along with the justification or documentation as required by 8.405-6
- (3) In addition to price, when determining best value, the ordering activity may consider, among other factors, the following:
- (i) Past performance.
- (ii) Special features of the supply or service required for effective program performance.
- (iii) Trade-in considerations.
- (iv) Probable life of the item selected as compared with that of a comparable item.
- (v) Warranty considerations.
- (vi) Maintenance availability.
- (vii) Environmental and energy efficiency considerations.
- (viii) Delivery terms.
- (d) Orders exceeding the maximum order threshold. Each schedule contract has a maximum order threshold established on a SIN-by-SIN basis. Although a price reduction may be sought at any time, this threshold represents the point where, given the dollar value of the potential order, the ordering activity shall seek a price reduction. In addition to following the procedures in paragraph (c) of this section and before placing an order that exceeds the maximum order threshold or establishing a BPA (see 8.405-3
- (1) Review (except see (c)(2) of this subsection) the pricelists of additional schedule contractors (the GSA Advantage! on-line shopping service can be used to facilitate this review);
- (2) Based upon the initial evaluation, seek price reductions from the schedule contractor(s) considered to offer the best value (see 8.404(d)
- (3) After seeking price reductions (see 8.405-4
- (e) Minimum documentation. The ordering activity shall document—
- (1) The schedule contracts considered, noting the contractor from which the supply or service was purchased;
- (2) A description of the supply or service purchased; and
- (3) The amount paid.