Last year, federal agencies spent more than $385 billion in government contracting dollars.  Businesses are eager to claim their share of those contracting dollars.  However, getting a GSA Schedule involves many steps, and the process can be long and time-consuming. Before applying for a GSA Schedule, you first need to determine your company’s eligibility.

If you are interested in selling to federal agencies, the following 5 questions will help you analyze and assess different aspects of your business to ensure your company will be able to meet the demands of government buyers-- before you start the application process.

Is your company financially stable?– When your GSA application is submitted, one of the first things that will be assessed during the review period is your company’s financial stability. If your company has a solid foundation and there is no risk of going out of business or failing to meet the demands of government buyers, your GSA application is more likely to be accepted.

How long  has your company been in business? Ideally, your company needs to have been in business for at least two years to be considered eligible for a GSA Schedule Contract.  Having this business history will lend itself to greater financial stability as well.

Can you show past performance of the products and services being offered? – Each GSA Schedule Proposal must include a Dun & Bradstreet Open Ratings Past Performance Evaluation. These evaluations are only valid for 12 months, so they need to be submitted within the year or you will be required to purchase another.

Do you have commercial availability? – In order to sell to government buyers, it’s important that your products and/or services are commercially available and that your company has the capacity to fulfill large, repeated orders. You will need documentation to support your ability to continue to provide the goods and services being offered.

Are your products in compliance with the Trade Agreements Act? According to the Trade Agreements Act, all end products must be manufactured or substantially altered within the United States or a ‘designated country.’

If you answered "Yes" to all of the previous questions, then you've met the basic critieria to begin the application process. If you move forward and complete the process, you could be on your way to establishing another revenue stream for your company!