GSA Schedules — Teledyne Brown Engineering

Ordering Process

Question:
It has been said that the GSA Schedule program is the preferred source for ordering agencies needing to procure Technology Professional Services. Is this statement true and why?
Answer:
This statement is true for a number of reasons. First, Director for Defense Procurement in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, in a letter dated March 6, 1997, urged all of the Department of Defense “to take full advantage of GSA Schedule contracts if you need supplies or services that are covered under them. Use of these contracts meets DOD goals to simplify the acquisition process while at the same time increasing the contracting officer's authority and ability to make sound business judgments.”

Other reasons include:

Work can begin in very short periods of time - weeks, or even days after the delivery order is placed.
Order size limits via the GSA Schedules program have been eliminated.
Various types of Technology Professional Services can now be procured via GSA Schedules.
GSA Schedule awards are rarely protested.
The flexibility of the GSA Schedule program assures that the ordering agency can easily procure the latest technology and highest levels of skill under a Delivery Order.
Teledyne Brown, as a GSA Schedule vendor, has been accepted as a proven and reliable supplier.

Question:
Who can buy Technology Professional Services from Teledyne Brown under the GSA Schedules Program?
Answer:
All federal agencies and activities in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches; government contractors authorized in writing by a federal agency pursuant to 48 CFR 51.1; mixed ownership government corporations (as defined in the Government Corporation Contract Act); the government of the District of Columbia; and other activities and organizations authorized by statute or regulation to use GSA as a source of supply.

Question:
Is a special form used for ordering Technology Professional Services under a Teledyne Brown GSA Schedule contract?
Answer:
No. Our GSA Schedule contracts are ordinary indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. The procurement officer of the ordering agency places a Delivery Order with Teledyne Brown using the same form as its own IDIQ contracts, for example, Optional Form 347, or DD 1155, or another form that it normally uses. The end-user requisitions the services from the procurement officer using the same forms as used for any other IDIQ Delivery Order.

Order Limitations

Question:
Are there any order limitations, and what is the upper limit for a Delivery Order on Teledyne Brown's GSA contracts?
Answer:
There are no order limitations. There is no upper limit for an order. The ordering agency may wish to discuss special terms and conditions with us for Delivery Orders exceeding $500,000.

Time Limits

Question:
Are there time limits to the tasks under a Teledyne Brown GSA Schedule contract?
Answer:
The base period of our GSA IT Schedule contract expires on February 18, 2003.

Open-Market Items

Question:
If a task requires other direct costs (ODCs) such as travel, small equipment, incidental hardware or software, etc., can the ODCs be purchased under the same Delivery Order?
Answer:
Yes. Labor is ordered from a Teledyne Brown GSA Schedule contract by identifying our contract number and labor category. The ODC items are listed and priced separately on the same Delivery Order.

Competition

Question:
What competition is required prior to awarding Teledyne Brown a GSA Schedule Delivery Order?
Answer:
The ordering agency, in making its best-value determination, may consider prices contained in any GSA automated information system, or check at least two other price lists for comparison purposes. In determining the best value, the agency may consider special features offered by Teledyne Brown, such as pertinent knowledge and/or experience, special skills and techniques, applicable record of performance in a particular area, access to special Teledyne Brown Engineering capabilities, or special requirements that make us the best-suited vendor to satisfy those requirements.

Labor Rates

Question:
Are the labor rates in Teledyne Brown's GSA Schedule contracts approved?
Answer:
Yes. The award of a GSA Schedule contract to Teledyne Brown establishes that our labor rates are fair and reasonable.

Special Labor Rates

Question:
Are there special labor rates available for work performed on government sites?
Answer:
Yes. We give a discount from our regular GSA Schedule labor rates for work that we perform on government sites when our personnel are engaged full-time for a minimum time period and the government furnishes all facilities and support equipment.

Security Issues

Question:
Can security requirements be satisfied under a Teledyne Brown GSA Schedule contract?
Answer:
Yes. The ordering agency can state any necessary security clause in the Delivery Order. The administration of security matters is performed by the ordering agency, not GSA.

Extra Costs

Question:
Is the ordering agency ever obligated to pay GSA for the use of a Teledyne Brown GSA Schedule contract?
Answer:
Never. Our GSA Schedule rates represent the entire labor cost to the ordering agency.

Terms and Conditions

Question:
The government is required by law to only contract pursuant to an extensive list of terms and conditions. Are the requirements satisfied when the ordering agency uses a GSA Schedule contract?
Answer:
Yes. Our GSA Schedule contracts includes all terms and conditions required by law for the purchase of Information Technology Professional Services.

Blanket Purchase Agreements

Question:
Are Blanket Purchase Agreements available under a Teledyne Brown GSA Schedule contract?
Answer:
Yes. If an ordering agency has extensive requirements for our Technology Professional Services, then it may be appropriate to execute a Blanket Purchase Agreement to save time and minimize the overall amount of paperwork required.