Contracting Resources Group has developed an organic approach to GSA Schedule Proposal Preparation. CRG’s clients are focused on increasing revenue, expanding their customer base, and entering the Federal Marketplace. Obtaining a GSA Schedule is a great way of achieving these goals. Because we understand that our clients can’t always dedicate the time and resources to prepare their own GSA Proposal, CRG strives to relieve our clients of the proposal effort in every way possible.
Each GSA Proposal CRG prepares, submits and negotiates is motivated by the client’s present satisfaction and future opportunities within the public sector. In order to ensure optimal satisfaction, CRG works with clients to develop project plans that fit into their existing schedules and maximize growth potential.
In order to be as flexible as possible, CRG has broken the GSA Schedule Proposal Process into six stages:
To jump-start every proposal effort, CRG prepares a GSA Schedule Welcome Packet for your company. This packet outlines the content required to prepare a complete the GSA Schedule Proposal. You will receive the GSA Schedule Welcome Packet upon contracting with CRG and a request for a GSA Schedule Project Kick-Off Call. During this call, a CRG Senior Consultant walks through the GSA Schedule Welcome Packet and outlines the ideal preparation and submission strategy. This call introduces the team to the proposal process, and presents a proven course of action which will ultimately lead to contract award.
In order to prepare a responsive, complete proposal, CRG must gather information related to your company. CRG manages the client team with weekly status calls which are scheduled at your convenience. During these calls, a CRG Senior Consultant reviews the content received over the past week with the team and addresses outstanding content required. For the remainder of the weekly status call, CRG responds to questions or concerns that your team may have relating to the process as a whole.
Once the your team has provided all required content, CRG will need one to two weeks to prepare the complete GSA Schedule Proposal Package.
Upon your company's approval of the GSA Schedule Proposal Package, CRG submits the GSA Schedule Proposal through GSA’s E-Offer System. The proposal is then randomly assigned to a GSA Contracting Officer or Specialist. GSA is currently experiencing an increase in proposal volume and may take up to 180 days to review and request clarification. During this unpredictable review period, CRG will work judiciously to expedite your company's proposal when there is an opportunity to do so. CRG will maintain contact with the reviewing GSA Contracting Officer throughout the review period, and will keep your team informed of any updates relating to their offer.
Once GSA has reviewed the proposal, we receive a request for clarification or “Deficiency Letter.” Typically, clarifications fall into one of the following categories:
The clarification request will have a response deadline stated at the end of the clarification letter. CRG responds within 48 hours to these requests, despite the deadline. If a client needs additional time to respond to certain requests, CRG will request an extension on behalf of your company. Finally, CRG submits a clarification response on your company's letterhead.
Once all clarifications have been addressed, GSA requests a pricing negotiation call with CRG and your team. As a result of the pricing strategy developed with you in Stage 2 of this process, the team is prepared for a successful price negotiation with GSA. CRG conducts a call with your team prior to the GSA Schedule pricing negotiations to brief the team on what to expect. The CRG Senior Consultant facilitates the GSA Schedule pricing negotiation call on behalf of your company. At the conclusion of the price negotiations, the GSA Contracting officer will issue a Final Proposal Revision (FPR) request, to which CRG responds on behalf of your company within 24 hours. Upon receipt of the signed FPR, the GSA Contracting Officer will process the award.
At GSA Schedule contract award, CRG issues a “Next-Steps” email and begins preparation of the awarded Catalog for upload to GSA eLibrary, the online database of all GSA Contractors. CRG also registers your company with the Vendor Support Center. As soon as the online catalog has been approved by GSA and published online, CRG schedules a Post-Award call to help launch your team into the Federal Marketplace. During the call, a CRG Senior Consultant addresses compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), adherence to the basis of contract award, sales tracking, reporting requirements, contract compliance issues and preparing your company for its first Contractor Assistance Visit (CAV) with GSA.
