Three Vendors, One Click: GSA Rules for Buying Commercial Products

Summary

‍Federal buyers can purchase commercial items faster using GSA Advantage under the new FAR overhaul. Learn how to meet competition requirements by reviewing three vendors, avoid unnecessary paperwork, and leverage simplified acquisition procedures.

The FAR Has Changed – Here’s Why That Matters

If you’re a federal buyer looking to purchase an oven, refrigerator, or any other commercial item above the micro-purchase threshold ($10k) and below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT) ($250k), the new FAR Overhaul makes your job easier. Updated FAR Part 8 (Required Sources) and FAR Part 12 (Commercial Products and Services) are designed to reduce administrative burden and speed up the buying process.

✅ Step 1: Follow FAR Part 8 – Required Sources

Before going to the open market, agencies must check mandatory sources (Agency inventory,

Excess from other agencies, Federal Prison Industries (FPI), AbilityOne nonprofit agencies). If none of these meet the requirement, go to existing government-wide contracts. Under the new guidance, Best-in-Class vehicles and GSA MAS are strongly encouraged, and likely a “required use,” before creating new contracts.

Did You Know?

Price Reasonableness is Already Determined.

Under FAR 8.404(d), GSA has already established that GSA contract pricing is fair and reasonable.

1. No separate pricing analysis required at the order level.
2. You can still request additional discounts for better value.

✅ Step 2: Use Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) under FAR Part 13

For commercial products/services:

1. FAR 13.5 allows streamlined buys up to $7.5M (or $15M for contingency/emergency).
2. SAT = $250,000, so most equipment purchases qualify for SAP.
3. Competition: Promote to the maximum extent practicable—three quotes is usually enough.
4. Solicitation: Email, GSA eBuy, look at 3 vendors on GSA Advantage, or even oral quotes (as long as documented).
   

Fast Buying Option

GSA MAS (FAR 8.405)

1. Use GSA Advantage, eBuy, or direct order from a GSA Schedule holder like Aldevra.
2. No synopsis on SAM.gov required.
3. For orders under SAT: No RFQ posting if you survey at least three vendors on GSA Advantage.
4. ✔ Yes—you can look at three listings, document your review, and place the order
   

Stop Asking for Extra Paperwork

For these buys, you do NOT need to:

1. Collect proof of SAM registration
2. Ask for tax compliance records
3. Request Section 889 telecom certifications (already handled in GSA MAS contracts)
4. Require past performance submissions
5. Ask for a technical volume

Why?

Because these checks are already built into GSA MAS and other government-wide contracts.

Checklist for Contracting Officers

1. Confirm it’s a commercial item (FAR 2.101).
2. Check mandatory sources (Part 8).
3. If not available, use Best-in-Class contracts or GSA MAS.
4. Document review of three vendors (GSA Advantage search counts).
5. Determine price reasonableness (GSA pricing is pre-negotiated).
6. Issue the order with FAR 52.212-4 (Terms & Conditions for commercial items).
7. Pay.

Bottom Line

The FAR Overhaul simplifies commercial buying.

✔ Check mandatory sources → ✔ Use GSA MAS → ✔ Place your order in minutes, not months.

Aldevra makes it even easier as a GSA MAS contract holder, SDVOSB, and 8(a) small business with pre-negotiated pricing and nationwide delivery.

📧 sales@aldevra.com | ☎ (269) 350-1337 | Visit our GSA Advantage store

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