Can contractors or grantees of state and local government entities purchase from the Schedule contracts?

No. Neither contractors nor grantees are authorized to purchase from GSA Schedule contracts under the Cooperative Purchasing Program.

Are Cooperative Purchasing orders subject to the Industrial Funding Fee (IFF)?

Yes. Each Schedule contract price includes an industrial funding fee, which is represented in the prices paid by ordering activities and passed on to GSA by Schedule contractors. The IFF reimburses GSA for procurement and administrative costs incurred to operate the GSA Schedules Program.

Under Cooperative Purchasing, can ordering activities include terms and conditions required by state or local statutes, ordinances, regulations, or orders?

Yes. However, the additional terms and conditions must be included as a part of the statement of work or the statement of objectives and must not conflict with the terms and conditions of the GSA Schedule contract.

Are any GSA Schedule contract terms and conditions not incorporated by reference into Cooperative Purchasing orders?

Yes. The following contract terms and conditions are not incorporated by reference into Cooperative Purchasing orders: Disputes Clause; Patent Indemnity Clause; and Commercial Item Contract Terms and Conditions. Portions of the Commercial Item Contract terms and conditions that specify compliance with laws unique to federal government contracts are not applicable to Cooperative Purchasing orders.

Are Prompt Payment provisions incorporated into Cooperative Purchasing orders?

Yes. Clause 552.232-81, Payments by Non-Federal Ordering Activities, allows for the terms and conditions of a state’s prompt payment law to apply to orders placed by eligible non-federal ordering activities. However, if the ordering activity is not otherwise subject to a state prompt payment law, the activity is covered by the federal prompt payment act …

Are Prompt Payment provisions incorporated into Cooperative Purchasing orders? Read More »

Are state and local government preference programs affected by Cooperative Purchasing?

No. Cooperative Purchasing does not impact state and local government preference programs.

May state and local government entities use credit cards to purchase products and services under this program?

Yes. Schedule contractors may accept any state and local government-issued credit cards for orders placed under Cooperative Purchasing. Contractors are required to accept credit cards for orders up to the micro-purchase threshold and contractors may voluntarily accept credit cards for orders exceeding the micro-purchase threshold.

If the contractor does not perform acceptably under a Cooperative Purchasing order issued by a state or local entity, should the ordering activity request the GSA Contracting Officer take corrective measures?

No. Acceptance of an order by the Schedule contractor under Cooperative Purchasing constitutes the formation of a new contract between the non-federal ordering activity and the Schedule contractor. The ordering activity’s Contracting Officer is responsible for all contract administration under the new contract. While the majority of the terms and conditions of the Schedule contract …

If the contractor does not perform acceptably under a Cooperative Purchasing order issued by a state or local entity, should the ordering activity request the GSA Contracting Officer take corrective measures? Read More »

Can state and local governments issue Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) under the Schedule contracts?

Yes. State and local government entities may issue BPAs under the Schedule contracts.

How do I place an order against a Schedule contract?

State and local government entities are encouraged to use GSA’s Schedule Ordering Procedures to ensure the benefit of receiving the best value from GSA Schedule contractors. When it is not feasible to use GSA’s Schedule ordering procedures, state and local entities may follow their own ordering procedures for buying products and services under Cooperative Purchasing.

Question Category: CoOp Purchasing FAQs