Last December, the Florida attorney general filed a complaint against a GSA consulting firm for violations of the Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The complaint alleges that the company “enrolls customers without diligent review of their circumstances, adequate disclosure of requirements….or regard for the customer’s meaningful probability of being awarded a GSA contract.” The Florida-based company conducts business through more than 60 business names and more than 50 web sites.
Don’t be fooled by companies ‘guaranteeing’ you a GSA contract, before they know anything about your company and the products or services you offer. GSA contracts are actually an ‘approved vendor’ program, and have NO guarantee of sales.
While there are MANY advantages to obtaining a GSA contract, and many companies have been successful….you MUST do some market research to see if your company would benefit, before you decide to go ahead. Many agencies use GSA contracts extensively, but others prefer their own in-house procurement vehicles. Find out if you can be competitive; understand how the program works, your obligations, compliance and contract maintenance.