Ordering Procedures
Orders placed pursuant to a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) using the procedures in FAR 8.404 are considered to be issued pursuant to full and open competition. Therefore, when placing orders under Federal Supply Schedules, ordering offices need not seek further competition, synopsize the requirement, make a separate determination of fair and reasonable pricing, or consider small business set-asides in accordance with subpart 19.5. GSA has already determined the prices of items under schedule contracts to be fair and reasonable. By placing an order against a schedule using the procedures outlined below, the ordering office has concluded that the order represents the best value and results in the lowest overall cost alternative (considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc.) to meet the Government’s needs.

1. The Federal Acquisition Regulation dictates that for task orders under $2,500, an Ordering Agency can order these services simply by placing an order with the Contractor of the agency’s choice.
   
   
2. Ordering Agencies shall note that the Small Business Administration (SBA) strongly supports the participation of small business concerns in the Federal Supply Schedules Program.
   
   
3. Ordering Agencies will give fair consideration to a minimum of three contractors. Ordering Agencies are encouraged to rotate the contractors from the schedule when selecting firms to whom to send a task order request. For urgent requirements, the Ordering Agency may go directly to the contractor it determines is best qualified to perform the specific work with the exception of any contracts priced as a percentage of sales or asset value (e.g., Transaction Specialist). Ordering Agencies shall disseminate information concerning its requirements equally to the contractors selected from the schedule.
   
   
4. The task order request may be on agency letterhead or electronically transmitted, but must be in writing. The task order request shall include, at a minimum: the performance work statement for a particular requirement or project that clearly specifies all tasks to be performed and products to be delivered under the task order, period of performance, evaluation factors, relative importance of evaluation factors, methodology for award of the task order, conflict of interest statements, and a request for written and/or oral proposals from the contractors.
   
   
5. Within the time frames specified in the task order request, the Contractor(s) shall submit a task order proposal. The task order proposal shall consist of two parts: Technical and Price. Unless otherwise directed in writing, the technical portion shall, at a minimum:
   
   

   -	Demonstrate the Contractor’s understanding of the requirements
   -	Describe its technical and management approach to accomplishing the requirements within the required time frames
   -	Identify the milestones or work break down structures
   -	Describe the skill categories to be utilized
   -	Describe which portions of the effort will be subcontracted, if any
   -	Describe the number of hours/units required to accomplish the work effort for each item, milestone or work break down structure; and
   -	Identify the deliverables.
   -	Identify any insurance requirements