# Presentation: 448926

## Slide 1

## e-Buy

- A Component of

**Notes:**
Note to the Presenter:

## What is e-Buy?

**e-Buy is an online Request for Quotes (RFQ) tool which allows Federal buyers to obtain quotes and issue orders for products and services offered by sellers on the GSA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) program. **

**Notes:**
Targeted at Federal buyers procuring services and/or large quantities of products under the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)  program, e-Buy will increase competition, innovation, and transparency in the Federal marketplace.  e-Buy is an online Request for Quotes (RFQ) tool which allows Federal buyers to obtain quotes and issue orders for products and services offered through the GSA MAS program.   

A new version of e-Buy was launched on June 15, 2002.  The new version includes many enhancements including:
Simpler design and process (both buyer and vendor)
Utilizes SIN categorizations (similar to e-Library)
All vendors will be automatically registered under their awarded SINs
Vendors will only be able to quote on RFQs placed under their awarded SINs
RFQs can be posted by government users not having a credit card (i.e. similar to a browsing user who can park a cart for someone else to buy)
Award information is available to all vendors who have quoted on a particular RFQ
Allows buyer to make partial awards (under certain circumstances)
On-line tutorials
Allows for attachment of large documents 

## e-Buy May Be Used For...

**Services**
**Large quantity or high dollar purchases where you are seeking a discount from contract pricing**
**Purchases with complex requirements**
**Determining sources of supply**
**Receiving quotes on Blanket Purchase Agreements**

**Notes:**
Services continues to be an area of growth in the Federal marketplace.  With the capability to include a statement of work and other information with the RFQ, purchasing services just became easier.  

A buyer may issue an RFQ for sources sought, but must specify that this is not an RFQ and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an RFQ or ultimately award a task/delivery order. 

A buyer may issue an RFQ for a Blanket Purchase Agreement.   Blanket purchase agreements must be awarded offline through the agency’s internal acquisition systems. 

When the buyer does not need to obtain a quote, they can go to Advantage to research an item or place their order on-line.  Advantage is available for procuring products, FEDSTRIP orders, National Stock Number items, or when using an Account Activity Code or DOD Account Activity Code.  

## Buyer Options

**Buyer**

**e-Library**

** ****Research Vendors**

**GSA *****Advantage!***

** ****Research Vendors**
** ****Research Pricing**
** ****Place Orders**

**e-Buy****	**

** ****Issue RFQ**
** ****Obtain Quotes**

**Notes:**
Market research can be performed within the MAS program by going to GSA’s Schedules e-Library to research the list of vendors available for the service or product being procured.  The buyer may go to GSA Advantage to compare prices, research vendors or place an order.  

##    Who May Submit A    Quote Through e-Buy?

**Vendors who received e-mail notification from the buyer**
**All vendors who have contracts with the SIN (no e-mail notification required)**

**Notes:**
Vendor who were not notified via email, may quote on an RFQ by visiting the VSC and logging into e-Buy. All RFQs, issued under the vendor’s SIN categories, will be visible.

## Send RFQs directly to multiple sellers 
RFQs are transparent to all vendors in SIN through GSA’s Vendor Support Center  (VSC) website
All vendors in SIN may submit a quote

**RFQs are transparent to all vendors in SIN through GSA’s Vendor Support Center  (VSC) website**
**All vendors in SIN may submit a quote**

**e-Buy Facilitates Increased Competition**

**Notes:**
Buyers have the option of sending an e-mail notice to some or all vendors informing them that an RFQ has been posted and a quote is requested.  All vendors who are listed in GSA Advantage!TM  are eligible to view and submit quotes through e-Buy.  The combination of posting all RFQs on a website for review along with the ability to send e-mail notices balances competition, transparency and efficiency.

Proposed Section 803 of the 2002 Defense authorization bill is intended to spur competition for IT services ordered under the MAS program.    e-Buy will make it easy for DoD buyers to maximize competition.  

## Section 803

**MAS orders for services over $100,000**
**Either**
**Issue the notice to as many schedule holders as practicable, consistent with market research appropriate to the circumstances, to reasonably ensure that proposals will be received from at least three (3) sources that offer the required work**
**                      ****- or-**
**Contact all schedule holders that offer the required work by informing them of the opportunity for award**
**   ****(Use of e-Buy meets this requirement)**

**Notes:**
DoD has recently instituted the new Section 803 requirement to increase competition in the awarding of task orders for services using multiple award schedules. 

The new requirements state DoD contracting officers must now receive three (3) quotes for services task orders over $100,000, not just solicit three (3) offers.

If less than 3 proposals are received, the CO must document why reasonable efforts would not result in more offers. COs have discretion, but it is linked to good market research. Market research is key.  COs must understand which schedule contractors can do the work.

The only exceptions are the four (4) specified under FASA.

e-Buy is mentioned in 803 as a tool which can be used to help the CO meet the new requirements.

Section 803 requirements do not apply to civilian agencies.

Questions on 803 can be directed to Melissa Rider – melissa.rider@osd.mil

## e-Buy Marketplace 

**$12.7B was spent on services in the schedules program in FY02 (Source:  Vendor Reported 72A Sales)**
**$13.7B was spent on 60,672 transactions greater than $25,000 in the schedules program in FY01 (Source:  FPDS**)

**Notes:**
e-Buy is targeted at Federal buyers procuring services and/or large quantities of products under the MAS program.  According to the Federal Procurement Data System, 60,672 transactions exceeding $25,000 were awarded for products and services and accounted for $13.7B in MAS spending in FY01.  FSS reported $9.5B in spending on services under the MAS program in FY01 

## Who Is Requesting Quotes?

**Top Ten Agencies July ‘02 – April ‘03 (5744 Total RFQs)**

**Notes:**
Air Force	1179
Army	1067
VA	399
Navy	391
GSA	244
Interior 	183
Agriculture	149
Treasury	133
Transportation	123
Justice	116

## What Are They Buying?

**5744 RFQs by FSS Schedule July ‘02 – April ‘03**

**Notes:**
70	1321
539	1296
36	472
66 II N	386
65 II A	271
5l V	260
71 I	219
CORP	211
58 I	140
71 III	121

## e-Buy Outreach Efforts

**Buyer training sessions**
**Vendor training sessions**
**FCS e-Tools website for training information**
**Web-enabled sessions (Future)**
**User Groups**
**Expos, Conferences, Shows**
**Classroom training at gsa.gov under GSA Events**

**Notes:**
FSS has on ongoing effort to inform and educate both customers and contractors about the e-Buy system. Here are a few examples of the initiatives we are planning in the coming months.

## Contact Information

**e-Buy Help Desk Hotline – ****(877) 472 - 3777**
**e-Buy e-mail – ****gsa.advantage@gsa.gov**
**e-Tools website – ****www.gsa.gov/powerup**
**	**

**Notes:**
Customers with additional questions can contact us at the following.