**Instructions to Offerors---Submission of Offers**

**Under the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Express Program**

The Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) made a
commitment to industry that GSA would award Multiple Award Schedule
(MAS) contracts significantly faster, with a long-term goal of awarding
within 30 calendar days. In order to comply with the Administrator\'s
directive, GSA has implemented the \"Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)
Express Program.\" The primary goal of the MAS Express Program is to
simplify and streamline the process for new Offerors to obtain MAS
contracts.

Under the MAS Program, GSA establishes long-term Governmentwide
indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts with
responsible commercial firms to provide customers with access to a wide
variety of supplies (products) and services.

Participation in the MAS Express Program is open to all business
concerns, regardless of size. At the present time, offers accepted under
the MAS Express Program are **limited to a total of 500 products/line
items under** **the following Multiple Award Schedule Special Item
Numbers (SINs)**:

+--------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
| **Schedule Number and    | **Special Item Numbers (SINs)**           |
| Title**                  |                                           |
+--------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
|                          |                                           |
+--------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
| **70** General Purpose   | **132-8** Purchase of Equipment (IT and   |
| Commercial\              | Telecommunications\                       |
| Information Technology   | Hardware)                                 |
| Equipment,\              |                                           |
| Software, and Services   | **132-12** Maintenance of Equipment,      |
|                          | Repair Service, and Repair\               |
|                          | Parts/Spare Parts                         |
|                          |                                           |
|                          | *Note:* Vendors offering for Purchase of  |
|                          | Equipment (SIN 132-8) are required to     |
|                          | provide maintenance service and/or repair |
|                          | service and repair parts (SIN 132-12), in |
|                          | accordance with normal industry           |
|                          | practices, for the type of equipment      |
|                          | offered.                                  |
+--------------------------+-------------------------------------------+

Through the use of a centralized Schedule Program Express Evaluation
Desk (SPEED Desk), GSA intends to standardize and expedite the initial
review and qualification of offers. Upon completion of its initial
review and qualification of an offer, the SPEED Desk will immediately
notify the Offeror as to whether the offer meets the minimum criteria
for consideration under the MAS Express Program and, if not, the options
available to the Offeror. By expediting this turnaround time for the
initial review and qualification of an offer, as well as providing the
Offeror with rapid feedback, the overall time required to review,
evaluate, negotiate, and award an MAS contract should be greatly
reduced.

Offerors are advised that meeting the minimum criteria for the MAS
Express Program does [not]{.underline} guarantee the award of an MAS
contract. Although the criteria identified in these Instructions to
Offerors supersede any *corresponding* requirements in individual
solicitations, offers that qualify for the MAS Express Program must
still meet all *additional* criteria identified in the applicable
Schedule solicitation.

***IMPORTANT:*** Offerors **[must]{.underline}** submit an original and
one copy of their entire offers, as well as two copies of the completed
**Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Express Program Vendor Checklist\
(Attachment 1)**. The Checklist should clearly---

-   Indicate \"Yes,\" \"No,\" or \"N/A\" (not applicable) responses for
    all items and, where requested, the location of an item in the
    offer;

-   Identify all offered SINs;

-   Affirm that the Offeror takes no exceptions to the terms and
    conditions of the solicitation; and

-   Indicate that the Offeror has addressed all of the applicable
    evaluation criteria in the Vendor Checklist in the affirmative, with
    the exception of the current ratio and the approved subcontracting
    plan, which require no response.

The Vendor Checklist will be used by the SPEED Desk to complete its
initial review and qualification of all offers submitted under the MAS
Express Program.

**Basic Requirement---Excluded Parties List System (EPLS)**

The [Excluded Parties List System (EPLS)](http://www.epls.gov/) is a
central registry that contains information regarding entities debarred,
suspended, proposed for debarment, excluded, or otherwise declared
ineligible from receiving Federal contracts. Access to the EPLS is
available at [http://www.epls.gov](http://www.epls.gov/). An Offeror
that appears in EPLS is **[not]{.underline}** eligible for award of an
MAS contract.

**Core Criteria**

The \"Core Criteria\" for the Express Program are identified below:

-   The Offeror has been in business: minimum two years.

-   The Offeror has cumulative sales (primarily or entirely commercial)
    during the last two years: minimum of \$100,000 total.

> [*Submission with Offer*:]{.underline} The Offeror should submit
> sufficient documentation to support an affirmative response that it
> has a minimum of \$100,000 in cumulative sales (primarily or entirely
> commercial) during the last two years. Such documentation may include,
> but is not limited to, financial statements and invoices.

-   The Offeror has minimum current ratio of 1.5, based upon the
    Offeror\'s most current year\'s financial statement (income and
    balance sheets).

> The current ratio is calculated by dividing the Offeror\'s current
> assets by its current liabilities.

-   The Offeror has positive and/or neutral ratings on [all]{.underline}
    elements on its Open Ratings Past Performance Evaluation Report.

> Under an Open Ratings Past Performance Evaluation, Open Ratings, a Dun
> & Bradstreet (D&B) Company, conducts an independent audit of customer
> references and calculates a rating based upon a statistical analysis
> of various performance data and survey responses. While some
> solicitations do contain the form to request an Open Ratings Past
> Performance Evaluation, the Offeror may request the evaluation
> directly from Open Ratings by placing an order online at
> [www.ppereports.com](http://www.ppereports.com/).
>
> *[Submission with Offer:]{.underline}* The Offeror must submit two
> copies of its application for an Open Ratings Past Performance
> Evaluation, along with two *color* copies of the Open Ratings Past
> Performance Evaluation Report. Open Ratings requests that customers
> provide 20 references in order to ensure that sufficient responses are
> received to successfully generate a report. Under the MAS Express
> Program, the Offer must submit a sufficient number of references in
> its application *to ensure that Open Ratings receives responses from
> at least six references.* The Open Ratings Past Performance Evaluation
> Report is valid for one year from the date of issuance.

In order to be considered for the MAS Express Program, the Offeror must
meet **[all]{.underline}** core criteria. If one or more of the core
criteria are not met, the offer will [not]{.underline} meet the minimum
criteria for the MAS Express Program. The SPEED Desk will then reject
the offer and return it to the Offeror, with an explanation as to the
deficient core criteria. Such action does not preclude the Offeror from
submitting its offer to the applicable Acquisition Center/Office for
s*tandard offer processing*. In order to facilitate any subsequent
submission for *standard offer processing*, the SPEED Desk will also
identify any deficiencies noted in the secondary criteria, so that the
Offeror can address those deficiencies prior to submission to the
appropriate Acquisition Center/Office.

**Secondary Criteria**

The \"Secondary Criteria\" for the Express Program are identified below:

-   The Offeror has registered in the [Central Contractor Registration
    (CCR)](http://www.ccr.gov/) database, and the CCR registration is
    up-to-date. The CCR collects, validates, stores, and disseminates
    data in support of agency acquisition missions. The Offeror must be
    registered in the CCR prior to the award of a Schedule contract.
    Access to the CCR is available at
    [http://www.ccr.gov](http://www.ccr.gov/).

> *Note:* In order to register in the CCR database, the Offeror must
> have a [Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
> Number](http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform). The DUNS Number is a unique
> nine character identification number provided by Dun & Bradstreet. The
> DUNS website at <http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform> contains information
> for the Offeror to obtain a DUNS Number by telephone or via the
> Internet.

-   The Offeror has completed its [Online Representations and
    Certifications Application (ORCA)](https://orca.bpn.gov/). ORCA was
    developed as an Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE)
    E-Government initiative designed to reduce the administrative burden
    on Offerors to submit the same paper-based representations and
    certifications repeatedly for various solicitations. As of January
    1, 2005, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 4.12 requires
    prospective contractors to complete electronic annual
    representations and certifications via the ORCA website at
    [https://orca.bpn.gov](https://orca.bpn.gov/), and to update the
    representations and certifications as necessary, but at least
    annually to ensure they are kept current, accurate, and complete.

-   The Offeror has **only** offered Special Item Numbers (SINs) that
    have been approved for the MAS Express Program---see preceding
    table---and the offered SINs are identified in the Vendor Checklist.

-   The Offeror has completed the \"Pathway to Success\" education
    seminar, by attending either a \"live\" presentation or completing
    the web based presentation posted on the [Vendor Support Center
    (VSC)](http://vsc.gsa.gov/) under the \"Vendor Training\" tab.
    Access to the VSC is available at
    [http://vsc.gsa.gov](http://vsc.gsa.gov/). Pathway to Success is
    designed to assist prospective MAS contractors in making an informed
    decision as to whether obtaining an MAS contract is right for them.
    The presentation provides background information on the MAS Program,
    as well as GSA\'s expectations for an Offeror to become a successful
    MAS contractor, and information regarding how to compete and succeed
    in the Federal marketplace. Other topics of discussion include how
    to develop an MAS-specific business plan, and how to submit a
    quality offer.

> *[Submission with Offer:]{.underline}* At the completion of the
> Pathway to Success education seminar, the Offeror will receive a
> certificate. Two copies of the certificate [must]{.underline} be
> submitted with the offer. The Pathway to Success Certificate is valid
> for one year from completion of the education seminar; i.e., the
> Offeror must submit its offer within the one-year period during which
> the certificate is valid. If the offer is not submitted during this
> one-year period, the Offeror must complete a new Pathway to Success
> education seminar in order to be eligible to participate under the MAS
> Express Program. The employee who completed Pathway to Success must
> still be employed by the Offeror at the time of offer submission.

-   The Offeror has submitted two copies of a signed, completed Standard
    Form (SF) 1449, Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items,
    under the most recent solicitation refresh.

-   The Offeror has completed all fill-in clauses/provisions.

> Fill-in clauses/provisions include, but are not limited to---

-   Scope of Contract;

-   Ordering Information;

-   Contact for Contract Administration;

-   Contractor\'s Remittance (Payment) Address;

-   Authorized Negotiators; and

-   Place of Performance.

    -   The Offeror has submitted two copies of its current commercial
        pricelist/catalog (dated and printed in hard copy) and/or
        established pricing accompanied by invoices or other
        documentation to substantiate proposed pricing.

    -   The Offeror has submitted two copies of its completed Commercial
        Sales Practices Format (CSP).

> The instructions for submission of the Commercial Sales Practices
> Format, along with the actual document, are included in the
> solicitation. *The Offeror is strongly advised to thoroughly review
> the Commercial Sales Practices Format and corresponding instructions
> in the applicable solicitation, in order to fully respond to all
> solicitation requirements*. Further information regarding the
> submission of discounts, concessions, and pricing policies is
> contained in General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation
> (GSAR) clause [552.212-70, Preparation of Offer (Multiple Award
> Schedule)](http://acquisition.gov/gsam/current/html/Part552_Sub2A.html#wp1925515).

-   The Offeror has proposed items that are within the scope of the
    identified Schedule Special Item Numbers (SINs).

> *Note:* For an item to be \"within the scope\" means that the proposed
> item falls within the generic description of the Special Item Number
> identified in the Schedule solicitation. The Offeror is advised that a
> final determination as to whether the items offered are within the
> scope of the Schedule solicitation SINs will be made, at a subsequent
> date, by the appropriate Acquisition Center/Office.

-   The Offeror has submitted two *color* copies of the report from Open
    Ratings indicating the results of its Past Performance Evaluation.

-   The Offeror has submitted two copies of at least one year of its
    **most current** financial statement (income and balance sheets).

-   The Offeror has proposed 500 or fewer products/line items *and has
    numbered its products/line items in order to facilitate the SPEED
    Desk review of this criteria.*

-   The Offeror, if other than the manufacturer, has submitted two
    copies of the manufacturers\' pricelists.

-   The Offeror, if other than the manufacturer, has submitted two
    copies of Letters of Supply---**using the required template**
    (Attachment 2)---for each manufacturer whose products are offered.
    The required template must constitute the *first page* of the Letter
    of Supply and is, in itself, sufficient to meet the criteria.
    Suppliers may, at their discretion, include additional language in
    their Letters of Supply, *provided that* such language does
    [not]{.underline} contradict any statement in the template.

-   The Offeror has proposed equal to or better than most favored
    customer pricing.

-   The Offeror has taken **no exceptions** to the terms and conditions
    of the solicitation.

> In addition to checking the appropriate box, the Offeror is required
> to insert the company name\
> and initial the affirmative statement at the bottom of the second page
> of the Vendor Checklist\
> (Attachment 1).

-   The Offeror, if a large business concern, has submitted a complete
    subcontracting plan.

> In accordance with [Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)
> 19.702(a)(1)](http://acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart 19_7.html#wp1088749)
> and [General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM)
> 519.705-2(a)](http://acquisition.gov/gsam/current/html/Part519.html#wp1858200),
> a small business subcontracting plan is required from a large business
> concern whose estimated dollar value of the proposed Schedule
> contract, *including options*, is expected to exceed \$550,000. The
> specific [requirements of a subcontracting
> plan](http://acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart 19_7.html#wp1088766)
> are identified in FAR 19.704.
>
> Attachment 3, GSA Subcontracting Goals (How to do the math
> calculations), is provided to assist the Offeror in computing the
> dollars and percentages to be subcontracted to each category of
> business concern.

-   The Offeror has inserted the company name and initialed the
    statement confirming that the Offeror has addressed all of the
    applicable evaluation criteria indicated on the Vendor Checklist in
    the affirmative, with the exception of a successful financial review
    and approval of a subcontracting plan.

> As noted above, if [all]{.underline} of the core criteria are met, the
> Offeror qualifies for the MAS Express Program. If, however, one or
> more of the secondary criteria are deficient, the SPEED Desk will
> reject the offer and return it to the Offeror, with an explanation as
> to the deficient secondary criteria. This rejection does
> **[not]{.underline}** preclude the Offeror from resubmitting the offer
> for consideration under the MAS Express Program, once all identified
> deficiencies have been addressed.

***IMPORTANT:*** Offerors qualifying for the MAS Express Program are
advised that their offers will undergo further evaluation in the
appropriate Acquisition Center/Office. GSA may, at any time, request
additional information in order ensure that all solicitation
requirements have been addressed. Such requested information may include
additional pricing/discount information in order for GSA to make a price
reasonableness determination. Offerors are also advised that their
proposals may still be subject to negotiation, and may be rejected and
returned at any time during the evaluation process.

**SUBMISSION OF OFFERS:** Offers submitted under the MAS Express Program
should be sent to the following address:

> U.S. General Services Administration
>
> Attention: \"SPEED\"
>
> 230 S. Dearborn Street, Room 3486
>
> Chicago, IL 60604

For questions regarding a particular Schedule solicitation, Offerors are
advised to contact the points of contact listed for the specific
solicitation in FedBizOpps or in the actual solicitation document. For
questions specifically related to the MAS Express Program, Offerors are
advised to contact the SPEED Desk on (312) 886-8897.

**Attachment 1: Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Express Program Vendor
Checklist**

**Please check [only]{.underline} one:** Large Business Small Business

**Please check one or both** (as applicable)**:** Manufacturer Dealer

**Disqualification Location In Offer**

(Page Number and/or

Attachment Number)

[Offeror:]{.underline}

Does Not Appear on the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) (If the
Offeror [does not]{.underline} appear, this Yes No

should be answered as "Yes")

**Core Criteria**

[Offeror:]{.underline}

Has Been in Business for at Least Two Years Yes No

Has a Minimum of \$100,000 in Cumulative Sales (Primarily or Entirely
Commercial) Over the Last Two Years Yes No

Has a Minimum Current Ratio of 1.5 Based on Most Current Year's
Financial Statement \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

Has Positive and/or Neutral Ratings on [ALL]{.underline} Open Ratings
Past Performance Evaluation Report Elements Yes No

**Secondary Criteria**

[Offeror:]{.underline}

Has Registered [and]{.underline} Registration is Up-to-Date in the
Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Yes No

Has Completed Online Representations and Certifications Application
(ORCA) Yes No

Has Offered Approved SINs Yes No

Please Identify Offered SINs

**Secondary Criteria** (continued) **Location In Offer**

(Page Number and/or

Attachment Number)

Has Completed the \"Pathway to Success\" and Included Certificate Yes
No

Has Submitted a Signed SF1449 Under the Most Recent Solicitation Refresh
Yes No

Has Completed All Required Fill-In Clauses Yes No

Has a Current Commercial Pricelist/Catalog (dated and printed in hard
copy) and/or Established

Pricing Accompanied by Invoices or Other Documentation to Substantiate
Proposed Pricing Yes No

Has Submitted a Complete Commercial Sales Practices Format (CSP) Yes
No

Has Offered Items that are Within the Scope of the Proposed
Schedule/SINs Yes No

Has Submitted Open Ratings Past Performance Evaluation Report Results
Yes No

Has Submitted at Least One Year of [Most Current]{.underline} Financial
Statement (Income and Balance Sheets) Yes No

Has Proposed 500 or Fewer Products/Line Items Yes No

Has Submitted Manufacturers' Pricelists (if applicable) Yes No N/A

Has Submitted Letters of Supply Using Required Template Yes No N/A

Has Offered Equal To or Better Than Most Favored Customer Pricing Yes
No

Has Taken No Exceptions to the Terms and Conditions of the Solicitation
Yes No

Has Submitted a Complete Subcontracting Plan (if Offeror is a large
business) Yes No N/A

Has Approved Subcontracting Plan (if Offeror is a large business)
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

\[Offeror Name\] takes no exceptions to the Terms and Conditions of this
solicitation. \[Initial\]

\[Offeror Name\] has addressed all of the applicable evaluation criteria
in the affirmative. \[Initial\]

Please note that the current ratio and approved subcontracting plan
require no response.

**Attachment 2: Letter of Supply Template**

\[*Submitted on Supplier Letterhead*\]

\[Supplier Name\]

\[Supplier Point of Contact (POC)\]

\[Address\]

Re: Letter of Supply

Dear \[Offeror POC\],

This Letter of Supply is in reference to the offer that \[Offeror Name\]
submitted in response to the General Services Administration's
Solicitation \[Solicitation Number\].

In the event that \[Offeror Name\] is awarded a Multiple Award Schedule
(MAS) contract under the aforementioned solicitation number, \[Supplier
Name\] can guarantee an uninterrupted source of supply, with sufficient
quantities of product, for the duration of the base contract period.

\[Supplier Name\] understands that all products and services that are
offered on MAS contracts must be compliant with the Trade Agreements Act
(TAA) (19 U.S.C. 2501, *et seq*.) As such, all products supplied by
\[Supplier Name\] to \[Offeror Name\] will be TAA compliant. You will be
notified immediately upon discovery of any changes in the Country of
Origin of supplied products.

The person whose signature appears below is authorized to make the
commitments noted above.

Sincerely,

\[*Signed by a company official authorized to make the commitment*\]

*\*The above is a mandatory template and will constitute the first page
of the Letter of Supply. Although the content of the template is
sufficient, Suppliers may attach additional verbiage in subsequent pages
as long as the verbiage does not contradict the statements made above.*

*\*Please note that \"Supplier\" name is synonymous with
\"Manufacturer\" and/or \"Distributor.\"*

**Attachment 3: GSA SUBCONTRACTING GOALS**\
(How to do the math calculations)

-   Goals must be stated in both [dollars (\$)]{.underline} and
    [percentages (%)]{.underline}.

-   The contractor must state the estimated total subcontracting dollars
    planned to be subcontracted to all types of business concerns, then
    state [separately]{.underline} the total dollars that will be
    subcontracted to each category (large business, small business,
    HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business (SDB),
    women-owned small business (WOSB), veteran-owned small business
    (VOSB), and service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB)
    concerns).

-   The Small business dollar amount must include all subgroup category
    amounts; i.e., HUBZone, SDB, WOSB, VOSB, SDVOSB (plus any \"other
    small\" businesses that do not fall within one of these specified
    subgroups).

-   The dollar amounts planned for subcontracting to Small, HUBZone,
    SDB, WOSB, VOSB, and SDVOSB concerns must be expressed in the
    subcontracting plan as percentages of the total subcontracting
    dollars to all concerns. \*Only the large plus all small should
    equal the total.

*The Dollars shown below are only examples; however, the percentages
shown are the actual GSA goals for FY 2006 and 2007.* (*To review prime
or subcontract goals online, visit the SBA website at
[www.sba.gov/GC/goals](http://www.sba.gov/GC/goals) and select the
appropriate fiscal year link.*)

**[Dollars]{.underline}** **[Percentage]{.underline}**

**Total dollars to be subcontracted** \$100,000 **100%**\
(to both Large and Small Businesses)

\*To **Large** Businesses \$ 63,000\* \*63%

\*To **all** **Small** Businesses \$ 37,000\* \*37%\
(includes HUBZone Small, Small Disadvantaged,\
Women-Owned Small, Veteran-Owned Small,\
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small, and\
**Other Small** Business Concerns)

To HUBZone Small Businesses \$ 3,000 3%

To Small Disadvantaged Businesses \$ 6,000 6%

To Women-Owned Small Businesses \$ 5,000 5%

To Veteran-Owned Small Businesses \$ 5,000 5%\
(includes SDVOSB below in this total)

To Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses \$ 3,000 3%

*NOTE:* The total \$37,000 to all Small businesses already includes each
*[subgroup]{.underline}* (HUBZone, SDB, WOSB, VOSB, and SDVOSB), plus
*[other small]{.underline}* businesses that are only small and do not
fall into a specified category. Do not add together subgroups to reach
the total Small figure, as the same dollars can be double and triple
counted for each group as applicable to the company receiving the order.