If you are a GSA Schedule holder and are not familiar with the term OLM ‘Order Level Materials’ – you need to be!

GSA, as part of their efforts to deliver best value commercial solutions to government agencies through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program enacted the OLM rule earlier this year. It’s one of many initiatives that GSA is undertaking to bring flexibility to government buyers, streamline the procurement process, expand business opportunities for schedule holders and promote innovation.

What are OLMs?

• Supplies or services acquired in direct support of task or delivery order placed against a Schedule contract or Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) (no more than 33.33% of the order, excluding travel costs).
• The type and quantity of supplies or services are not known at the time of Schedule contract or BPA award.
• Prices of OLMs are not established at the Schedule contract or BPA level.

OLMs are a game changer for all! There are numerous benefits to both the Schedule contract holders (Industry Partners) and the customer ordering agencies.

Benefits to Contract Holders and Customer Agencies

GSA has created flexibility for Schedule Contract holders by allowing the sale of supplies and or services not approved on the contract. This opens doors to compete for more orders and removes entry barriers to the marketplace, particularly for small businesses. Now you can offer a comprehensive listing of products and services without having to go through a formal ‘add’ modification process to your contract.

For customer agencies, OLMs reduce administrative and transaction costs relative to contract duplication and the need for additional contracts for ancillary work respectively. Ordering agencies still have to make a fair and reasonable price determination for all OLMs but its accomplished through a more effective and streamlined approval process.

In adding this capability to the schedule contracts, OLMs not only improve the ability to position the Schedules as the commercial, best value contract vehicle; it also has a great impact across the entire MAS program to deliver best value to the American people. For schedule holders and customer agencies alike, this is a win-win proposition.

Implementing OLMs – Get Up to Speed

As you prepare for 2019, now is the time to get up to speed on the mechanisms that will benefit your bottom line and save time and money. OLMs are one such step forward for GSA and Industry Partners. There are guidelines associated with OLM participation with which you should be familiar. Please take the time to attend a GSA offered webinar or visit their website for more information.

GSA is offering a webinar on December 20, 2018 from 10:00pm-12:00pm EST titled, “GSA/FAS Order Level Materials (OLM) Briefing for Industry Partners”. This session will provide training on the new Order Level Materials GSAR rule. For webinar details click here.

In addition, you can visit GSA’s Order-Level Materials home page at www.gsa.gov/olm  for ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ and the most up-to-date information on this initiative.

Still have questions?  We’re here to help. Please contact us at denise@clearcoastusa.com.