Federal Supply Schedules vs BPAs: What’s the Difference?
Two of the most common terms a new federal contractor hears are “schedule” and “BPA” — and they are often mentioned in the same breath, which makes them easy to confuse. A federal supply schedule vs BPA comparison is not really a contest between two alternatives. A Federal Supply Schedule is a contract vehicle, and […]
How to Get a BPA With a Federal Agency
A blanket purchase agreement, or BPA, is one of the quietest ways to build steady federal revenue. It brings no press release, no single large award, and no guaranteed money — but a BPA with an agency that buys what you sell, repeatedly, can turn into a stream of orders that lasts for years. The […]
BPA vs IDIQ: Which Vehicle Fits Your Business
Two of the most common buying tools in federal contracting sound almost identical, and new contractors often confuse them: the blanket purchase agreement (BPA) and the indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. Both let agencies place repeat orders without running a full competition every time. Both reward firms that already hold a place on the vehicle. But […]
How to Get on a GWAC Vehicle
A Government-Wide Acquisition Contract, or GWAC, is one of the most valuable places a federal contractor can hold — and one of the hardest to get onto. GWACs are large, multi-award contracts run by one agency for use by all agencies, and they carry billions of dollars of work in information technology and professional services. […]
GSA Schedule vs Open Market: Which to Pursue
When a new federal contractor asks where to start, the question is usually framed as a choice: should I get on the GSA Schedule, or should I bid on open-market opportunities on SAM.gov? The honest answer is that most successful contractors eventually do both — but the order matters, and the two routes work very […]
GSA eBuy Explained: How Orders Work
Most GSA Schedule orders do not start with a phone call. They start with a request for quotation posted on GSA eBuy, the online system where federal buyers ask schedule holders to bid on what they need. If you hold a schedule and you are not watching eBuy, you are missing the main channel through […]
GSA Industrial Funding Fee (IFF) Explained
If you hold a GSA Schedule contract, a small percentage of every sale you make through it goes back to GSA. That percentage is the GSA Industrial Funding Fee, usually shortened to IFF. It is not a tax, and it is not a penalty. It is the mechanism that pays for the schedule programme itself […]
How to Get on GSA Schedule: Application Steps
Getting on a GSA Schedule puts your company in front of federal buyers who are ready to purchase, without a full competition for every order. But the application is not a simple registration form. Learning how to get on GSA schedule means understanding a structured offer process: you prove your company is responsible, show past […]
GSA MAS SIN Categories: Which One Fits Your Services
Choosing the wrong Special Item Number can delay your GSA Schedule offer by months, or get it rejected outright. That is why understanding GSA MAS SIN categories matters before you write a single page of your offer. A SIN is not just a code on a form. It defines what you are allowed to sell […]
How to Find GSA Contract Opportunities
The General Services Administration plays two roles in federal contracting, and confusing them is the most common mistake newcomers make when looking for GSA contract opportunities. First, GSA is itself a buyer: it buys goods and services for its own operations, from building management for federal facilities to IT systems for its own staff. Second, […]