GSA adds Order-Level Materials to seven schedules

Order-Level Materials would be incorporated into selected schedules in the Multiple-Award Schedules program under a new proposed rule issued by the General Services Administration. Order-level materials also are known as Other Direct Costs.

The idea is to give agencies more flexibility to easily acquire order-level materials in a manner that is consistent with established indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts.

Government agencies buying through the schedules “have expressed frustration with the lack of flexibility around how to properly handle order-level materials on orders. This has led to the creation of elaborate workarounds and the inconsistent application of policies,” the GSA said in a statement on its Interact website.

According to GSA, agencies and industry have long advocated for order-level materials to be included in the schedules.

“The proposed rule seeks to provide this buying flexibility, resulting in better value for customer agencies, industry partners and ultimately, for the taxpayer,” GSA said in its Interact statement.  

The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on Sept. 9. Comments from the public are due by Nov. 8.

The proposed rule applies to seven Federal Supply Schedules:

1. Federal Supply Schedule 03 FAC: Facilities Maintenance and Management
2. Federal Supply Schedule 56: Buildings and Building Materials/Industrial Services and Supplies
3. Federal Supply Schedule 70: General Purpose Information Technology Equipment, Software, and Services
4. Federal Supply Schedule 71: Furniture
5. Federal Supply Schedule 84: Total Solutions for Law Enforcement, Security, Facilities Management, Fire, Rescue, Clothing, Marine Craft, and Emergency/Disaster Response
6. Professional Services Schedule 99: All Professional Services
7. Federal Supply Schedule 738X: Human Resources and EEO Services

The proposed rule creates special ordering procedures. The Federal Register notice indicates that the goal of the rule is to create “parity” with commercial IDIQ contracts.

“These special ordering procedures clarify the authority to acquire order-level materials when placing an order or establishing a BPA against an FSS contract,” the Federal Register notice explains,

Currently, most commercial IDIQ contracts “provide the flexibility to easily acquire order-level materials; however the Federal Supply Schedule program does not. This proposed rule aims to create parity between the FSS program and other commercial IDIQs while also ensuring an appropriate set of controls or safeguards are put in place,” the Federal Register notice states.

More Information:
Interact notice: https://goo.gl/jwIao4
Federal Register notice: http://goo.gl/dZgKYA

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