Frequently Asked Questions
2. How is BuyIT.gov different from other Federal acquisition centers?
3. How can BuyIT.gov help my agency fill our IT and telecommunication contract requirements?
6. What types of contract vehicles are available to us?
8. Please provide an overview of the BuyIT.gov acquisition process.
9. How quickly can BuyIT.gov place a contract action to support our requirements?
10. How do I get started using BuyIT.gov acquisition services?
11. When will the customer agency be billed for BuyIT.gov services?
12. How can BuyIT.gov help me meet my small business program goals?
13. What is the scope of the GITSS contracts?
14. How can contractors check on invoice payments due from VA?
1. What is BuyIT.gov?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Austin Automation Center (AAC), in partnership with VA's Office of Acquisitions, has created BuyIT.gov, a Federal acquisition center specializing in the procurement of information technology (IT)-related services and products for the Federal government. BuyIT.gov is authorized under the Government Management Reform Act (GMRA) of 1994 (Public Law No. 103-356, Sec. 403) to provide acquisition services to Federal agencies on a fee-for-service basis. Click here to view a copy of the law in PDF format.
VA's BuyIT.gov acquisition staff, located in Austin, Texas, consists of a dedicated cadre of senior contracting officers who specialize in the complex arena of IT acquisitions. Our mission is to be the IT acquisition service provider of choice for the Federal government. BuyIT.gov acquisition services, including those provided using Global Information Technology Support Services (GITSS) contracts, are offered to each Federal customer through individual interagency agreements.
2. How is BuyIT.gov different from other Federal acquisition centers?
BuyIT.gov contracting officers work in VA's corporate data processing center—the Austin Automation Center (AAC). The BuyIt.gov staff of warranted Contracting Officers have over 85 years cumulative experience in contracting for IT resources. Additionally, BuyIT.gov contracting officers work daily with AAC technical staff to solve the business problems of a large data center. This provides us with a significant pool of experience and knowledge that BuyIT.gov can tap to meet customers' IT requirements. BuyIT.gov offers reliability by providing its customers with performance service level agreements (PSLAs) by which to measure outcomes and success and ensure a satisfactory response to customers' needs. Finally, BuyIT.gov has competitively priced its acquisition services at a fixed fee, which includes planning, solicitation, negotiation, award, contract administration, and closeout. We even have a legal staff on site, so that any matters requiring legal review can be expedited.
3. How can BuyIT.gov help my agency fill our IT and telecommunication contract requirements?
BuyIT.gov is collocated with VA's corporate data center—the Austin Automation Center. We have our own acquisition staff that specializes in acquiring IT supplies and services quickly, efficiently, and at the right price. IT is our business and we do it well. Our contracting officers have unlimited warrants to award contracts, and they have years of experience in acquiring hardware, software, and services to support Federal customers. We will work with you to find the acquisition strategy to best meet your needs and ensure that the resulting procurement will meet or exceed your expectations. After award, our quality service continues through contract administration to ensure contractor performance and delivery. Final contract closeout will mark the end of the acquisition cycle, but we are confident that you will come back for more of our services. We offer a fixed-fee structure as a way of showing you upfront what your costs are going to be.
BuyIT.gov solicits, awards, and administers its own suite of indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts such as GITSS and Computer Associates Software and Services (CASS).
GITSS. BuyIT.gov recently awarded 10 contracts under its GITSS program. The objective was to establish multiple, quick reaction contract vehicles to acquire IT services to support mission needs of any Federal agency. Through GITSS, agency customers can contract for any IT-related service, to be provided anywhere, at anytime, and at the best prices and terms available in government. The GITSS Program is sponsored and managed by BuyIT.gov.
GITSS provides customers access to the resources of the best IT and telecommunication firms in the world. The 149 priced labor categories available through GITSS cover the full spectrum of IT and telecom services needed to support any customer's mission. Click here to view a copy of the basic contract in PDF format.
The GITSS contracts were awarded on a competitive basis to the following firms. Click here for POC information related to each prime contractor.
- The Centech Group#
- Computer Sciences Corporation
- IBM Corporation
- Lockheed Martin Corporation
- MacAulay-Brown Inc.
- NCI Corporation*
- Northrop Grumman Information Technology
- SAIC
- STG Inc.*
- Unisys Corporation
# Small Disadvantaged Business
* Small Business
Each of these GITSS prime contractors has assembled an impressive team of subcontract partners. Like the GITSS prime contract holders, the labor rates of all of their team members have been determined fair and reasonable and are fixed for the full 8-year period of performance.
Together, the 200 firms of the GITSS team are ready to go to work for you!
CASS. BuyIT.gov has an IDIQ contract for Computer Associates Software and Services. In using this contract, BuyIT.gov can meet Federal customers' needs for acquiring new Computer Associates (CA) software licenses, renewing software maintenance, or obtaining professional services (including training) in support of CA software. The terms and conditions in this contract were negotiated to provide the government maximum flexibility in negotiating data rights, and the pricing available for new software products is better than on CA's General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule.
4. What does the term "Franchise Fund" mean and what are the implications to our work being done through BuyIT.gov?
VA is one of six Federal agencies participating in the Franchise Fund Pilot Program authorized under the Government Management Reform Act (GMRA) of 1994 and subsequent legislation. Specifically, the AAC is a fee-for-service enterprise under VA's Franchise Fund. The AAC provides acquisition services as one of four main business lines (the others include processing services, professional services, and common administrative services). As described in the General Accounting Office's (GAO) Franchise Fund Pilot Review, (GAO-03-1069, August 2003), "…[Franchise Fund] pilots are a type of intragovernmental revolving (IR) fund that were established as self-supporting business-like entities providing common administrative services on a fully reimbursable basis." Click here to view a copy. Franchise Fund pilots function as entrepreneurial activities within and between government agencies. They charge for the sale of products or services and use the proceeds to finance spending without requirement for an annual appropriation.
Without the Franchise Fund (GMRA) authority, other activities are required to operate under generally more restrictive authority, the most common of which is the Economy Act. The following excerpt is also taken from GAO's Franchise Fund Pilot Review and explains one of the key differences between GMRA and the Economy Act:
Federal agencies are prohibited by law from transferring funds from one agency to another, unless otherwise authorized by law. The Economy Act of 1932 authorizes a Federal agency to provide goods or services to another Federal agency and generally provides authority for Federal agencies to enter into intragovernmental transactions when no other, more specific, authority applies. However, the Economy Act restricts flexibility by requiring the client agency to de-obligate fiscal year funds at the end of the period of availability to the extent that these funds have not been obligated by the performing agency. In contrast, where an interagency agreement is based on specific statutory authority other than the Economy Act, an agency is not required to deobligate funds at the end of the period of availability. The specific legal authorities creating IR funds [such as VA's] authorize these funds to enter into intragovernmental transactions and provide more flexibility by allowing the client agency's fiscal year funds to remain obligated, even after the end of the fiscal year, to pay the IR fund for the provision of services which meet a legitimate or bona fide need incurred during the period of availability of the customer agency's appropriation.
This is one of the most important differences between the Economy Act and the legal authorities for franchise funds. However, it is important to keep in mind that use of the Franchise Fund does not change the period of availability of the customer agency's appropriation. It is improper for a customer funded by a fiscal year appropriation to place orders in excess of legitimate needs thereby using the Franchise Fund to "extend" the life of the appropriation.
Another important difference is that services performed under Franchise Fund authorities do not require the written Determinations and Findings (D&F) requirements of the Economy Act. Under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 17.503, each Economy Act order is required to be supported by a D&F made by the customer agency. This regulatory step is unnecessary when entering into an interagency agreement for supplies or services with another government agency under the Franchise Fund. This can save a customer significant time and administrative burden.
5. Does use of the Franchise Funds offer government agencies the ability to extend an appropriation's period of availability?
A recent memorandum by the Department of Defense (DoD), dated September 25, 2003, succinctly describes fiscal principals related to interagency contracting. Click here to view a copy of the memorandum in PDF format.
BuyIT.gov is another example of a legitimate franchise fund program providing acquisition services, but its use is not intended to extend an appropriation's period of availability.
BuyIT.gov adopts the same position as DoD. Every order under a BuyIT.gov interagency agreement "must be based upon a legitimate, specific, and adequately documented requirement presenting a bona fide need of the year in which the order is made." See bona fide needs rule, 31 U.S.C. § 1502(a). If this basic condition is met, BuyIT.gov "may retain and promptly obligate the funds in the following fiscal year." As a practical matter, this means that the customer agency must furnish to BuyIT.gov, for example, a complete statement of work upon execution of the interagency agreement. BuyIT.gov will not enter into interagency agreements "in the last days of the fiscal year solely to prevent funds from expiring or to keep them available for a requirement arising in the following fiscal year."
6. What types of contract vehicles are available to us?
BuyIT.gov's keys to success depend on delivering high quality acquisition services and results timed to the customers' expectations. This means initiating acquisitions within days of receipt of an "actionable" procurement request and making awards within days or weeks. In order to accomplish this end, BuyIT.gov will use our own IDIQ contracts such as GITSS or a combination of GSA Federal Supply Service (GSA/FSS) Schedules, government-wide agency contracts (GWAC), or blanket purchase agreements (BPA), as appropriate, to meet your needs. As always, awarding a full-and-open competitive contract remains an alternative if none of the above vehicles are right to meet your needs and if the award can be timed to meet your delivery or performance expectations.
7. What is my agency's role in the planning, placement, and administration of a contract vehicle to support our requirements?
The customer agency is responsible for preparing and submitting an "actionable" procurement package to include, when appropriate: (a) a complete statement of work (SOW), commercial item description, or other appropriate specifications; (b) any required justifications or certifications; (c) an independent government cost estimate; and (d) Information Resources Management (IRM) approval or other internal agency approvals (for VA customers only). Also, the customer agency is responsible for providing adequate funds to cover the obligated amount of the order or award of the contract plus the appropriate acquisition fee. While the customer agency must accept the BuyIT.gov contracting officer's decision regarding the matter of competition, the customer agency will play an active role in the source selection process. The customer agency will evaluate proposals in conjunction with the BuyIT.gov contracting officer and provide input leading to issuing the order or awarding the contract. Upon award, the BuyIT.gov contracting officer will delegate to a customer agency employee the roles and responsibilities of the contracting officer's technical representative (COTR). You must have a COTR who is currently certified assigned to your contract. COTR training requirements are covered in Office of Federal Procurement Policy Letter no. 97-01 (September 12, 1997). Click here to view a copy. For questions concerning COTR requirements, please contact info@BuyIT.gov.
8. Please provide an overview of the BuyIT.gov acquisition process.
The BuyIT.gov acquisition approach is driven by the specific customer requirement. The customer is an active and integral participant throughout the process.
We anticipate using our GITSS contracts for most customers' IT-related needs. This is because GITSS can deliver any IT or telecommunication services, anywhere, at anytime, and at the best prices and terms available in government. However, if, for some reason, GITSS does not represent the best vehicle for a given requirement, we will make full use of GSA Federal Supply Service (GSA/FSS) Schedules, government-wide agency contracts (GWAC), or blanket purchase agreements (BPA), as appropriate, to satisfy your needs. As always, awarding a full-and-open competitive contract remains an alternative if none of the above vehicles are right to meet your needs and if the award can be timed to meet your delivery or performance expectations.
The procedures for selecting contractors for task order awards and issuing task orders under GITSS are described in Special Contract Requirement H-14 and H-15. Click here to view a copy of the basic contract in PDF format.
A brief overview of the steps in the GITSS task order process follows. A detailed description of the process can be found at Section J, Attachment 4, Contract Management Plan for the Basic Contract. Click here to view a copy of the basic contract in PDF format.
Step 1. Customer interface and defining requirements: The task order process starts with a customer's program manager requesting to use GITSS. This requires the execution of a streamlined "customer agreement" also known as a franchise agreement (FA) between BuyIT.gov and the customer. After the agreement is in place, the task order's contracting officer will work closely with the customer's program manager to help define the work requirements and prepare an "actionable" procurement package. An "actionable" procurement request is defined as one where all the required elements (e.g., a complete SOW, justifications, etc.) are received along with funding up to the government estimate.
Step 2. Providing advance notice and a project description summary to the GITSS contractors: We expect to use the BuyIT.gov Web site to post our requirements so as to provide an advance notice to our GITSS contractors of what potential task orders are on the horizon. This will allow them to better position themselves to respond or assist in developing requirements.
Step 3. Acquisition planning/contract file documentation: The task order contracting officer and customer will work together to develop an acquisition strategy and finalize a task order acquisition plan and document the task order file.
Step 4. Fair opportunity to be considered: Task orders may be awarded on a single source basis, if the situation warrants, or they may be competed among any or all the GITSS contractors. Where no clear and reasonable customer rationale exists to limit the number of GITSS contractors for a given requirement, all GITSS contractors will have the opportunity to compete. The task order contracting officer will use prudent business judgment as addressed in Special Contract Requirement H-14 and FAR 16.505 in deciding which and how many firms to solicit on specific task order requirements.
Step 5. Preparing and issuing a task order solicitation: BuyIT.gov expects to issue task order solicitations in letter format via e-mail to the GITSS contractors. Emphasis will be given to keeping proposal requirements as "lean" and simple as possible. A reasonable amount of time will be given to the contractors to respond to the solicitation. The contract rates have been determined to be fair and reasonable to the government based upon adequate price competition during the award of the basic GITSS contracts. These rates are the basis for developing the task order prices for firm fixed-price task orders and ceiling amounts for non-firm fixed-priced task orders. In most cases, however, the task order contracting officer will encourage the potential offerors to discount their proposed rates based upon actual work requirements, place of performance, or other factors that may allow the contractor to offer such discounts.
Step 6. Proposal preparation and receipt: The task order contracting officer will make maximum information available and respond to all questions that the contractors may have as they prepare their proposals. Use of "electronic" documents are encouraged for speed and cost efficiency.
Step 7: Proposal evaluation/developing the government objective: The task order contracting officer will provide a specific request to the customer and direction for the technical evaluation of the contractors' proposals. Proposals must be treated as "proprietary information" and should be marked accordingly. For competitive task orders, the contracting officer will ensure that the proposal evaluation is conducted in accordance with the established plan. The customer agency's technical evaluator(s) will determine if the technical aspects of the contractor's proposal are acceptable. The contracting officer has the overall responsibility of ensuring that customer requirements are met at reasonable prices. In short, it is critical that the government and contractor(s) have a "meeting of the minds" regarding what is expected and what is to be provided.
Step 8: Discussions, fact-finding, developing a government objective, and negotiations: Acquisition teams (the task order contracting officer and customer agency technical evaluator) may engage the participating contractors in questions, clarifications, and fact-finding as deemed necessary by the contracting officer. These activities may occur either verbally or in writing. Ultimately, the contracting officer uses all the information and inputs to make an award decision. For competitive task orders, this may entail making the "best value" determination, in which case the competitive environment will serve as the rationale for determining that the price is fair and reasonable. For single source task order awards, the contracting officer will use a combination of competitive methods (i.e., the fact that the labor rates used to build task order prices came from the basic contract, which was awarded based upon the original competition) and an analysis of the individual elements of cost proposed. Negotiations may also include non-price related factors. The contracting officer is responsible for documenting the award decision, which may include a "best value" decision memorandum or an abbreviated price negotiation memorandum.
Step 9. Task Order Award: Task orders are issued as unilateral documents upon award. Task order contracting officers must notify unsuccessful contractors of the award decision. Contract holders may not protest an award decision other than on the grounds that the award increases the scope, period, or maximum value of the contract. However, the acquisition team should, upon request, provide the participating firms a debriefing of the selection decision so that they may improve their submittals on future task orders. The task order contracting officer will ensure that all interested parties get a copy of the final task order document for their records, once executed. Task order distribution is also a good time to issue any COTR delegation letters to employee(s) of the customer agency.
9. How quickly can BuyIT.gov place a contract action to support our requirements?
At BuyIT.gov we understand that customers often have urgent requirements needing immediate action. We focus on those requirements and use the most streamlined procurement approaches available under any set of circumstances. The time needed to complete any acquisition depends on factors such as the complexity of the requirement, and the ability of the customer to adequately define the requirement and provide an actionable procurement package. For customer needs of low to medium complexity, BuyIT.gov can often award task orders under existing contracts, such as GITSS, within 15 days or less.
10. How do I get started using BuyIT.gov acquisition services?
Using BuyIT.gov is simple. When a Federal agency identifies a requirement and wants to use BuyIT.gov's acquisition services, there are two ways:
- Utilizing the BuyIT.gov contracting office—Where BuyIT.gov provides acquisition support services; that is, "we do the contracting." We provide solicitation, award, and routine post-award procurement services to obtain contractor services for information technology (IT) goods and services required by you.
- (b) Ordering directly from the GITSS contracts—Where BuyIT.gov issues a delegation of authority to your agency's contracting activity to place task orders against the GITSS contracts; that is, "you do the task order contracting."
Both methods require BuyIT.gov and the customer agency to sign an Inter/Intra Agency Cross-Servicing Support Agreement (VA Form 2269). This is a simple 2-page agreement available on our Web site. Click here to downlad a copy in MS Word format or PDF format.
Procedures for Using BuyIT.gov Acquisition Services
Step 1. The customer agency forwards an acquisition request and funding document via e-mail to info@BuyIT.gov. Submissions must be in MS Word 6.0 or higher format for documents and MS Excel 5.0 or higher for spreadsheets.
The acquisition request must be "actionable" and include the following, when appropriate:
- A complete "clean" statement of work (meaning one that does not require major changes), or statement of objectives, or commercial item description, or other appropriate specifications;
- Any required justifications or certifications;
- An independent government cost estimate; and
- For VA customers only, an IRM approval or other internal agency approvals as required by the acquisition.
Step 2. Complete the general and POC information chart and e-mail it to BuyIT.gov POC identified in Step 1. Click here for a copy in MS Word format.
Step 3. Download, print, sign, and return by mail the Inter/Intra Agency Cross-Servicing Support Agreement (VA Form 2269) to David Peterson, Program Manager (200/OOD), Department of Veterans Affairs, Austin Automation Center, P.O. Box 40909, Austin, Texas, 78704-0016. Click here to downlad a copy in MS Word format or PDF format. This agreement outlines the terms, conditions, service levels, and costs for the acquisition services to be provided. An official who is authorized to obligate your agency's funds and sign interagency agreements signs the VA Form 2269 (two originals).
Step 4. Upon receipt of the completed agreement, BuyIT.gov will review it for completeness and contact you if there are any questions. If complete, BuyIT.gov will execute the agreement and return an original to the customer agency. This is the funding document with appropriate signatures and valid funds citation. The obligated amount must include the BuyIT.gov acquisition fee.
Step 5. BuyIT.gov begins performing services once the agreement is fully executed by both parties and an actionable acquisition request, described in Step 1, is received.
Step 6. A BuyIT.gov contracting officer will review the acquisition request for completeness and work with the appropriate customer agency representative(s) to develop and implement the best acquisition strategy for the given procurement. The result will be a contract award document, copies of which will be sent to the contractor and customer agency.
Step 7. The BuyIT.gov business office will process an Intra-governmental Payment and Collection System (IPAC) collection for the contract amount and agreed-to fees at the time BuyIT.gov obligates funds for contract award. Special funding and payment arrangements may be made on a case-by-case basis.
Step 8. BuyIT.gov handles all contractor payments, unless other arrangements are made with the customer agency in advance. Invoices are submitted by the contractor directly to the BuyIT.gov contracting officer. The contracting officer e-mails the COTR at the customer agency for certification that items have been delivered and/or services have been performed in accordance with contract requirements. The COTR's certification response to the e-mail will be used as the contracting officer's basis for processing the invoice for payment. If the contractor has the capability, the invoices may be sent electronically through MS Outlook to the COTR at the requesting agency and the BuyIT.gov contracting officer concurrently. Using this method, the COTR will forward the contractor's e-mail to the contracting officer certifying that items have been delivered and/or services have been performed in accordance with contract requirements on the same message that the invoice is accepted and certified for payment. This will then be used as the contracting officer's basis for processing the invoice for payment.
Procedures for Ordering Directly from the GITSS Contracts
Managed by BuyIT.gov, the GITSS program comprises 10 indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) multi-agency contracts to acquire IT services as well as hardware and software related to those services. Click here to download a copy of the GITSS contracts in PDF format.
Step 1. The customer agency and BuyIT.gov execute an Inter/Intra Agency Cross-Servicing Support Agreement (VA Form 2269), which authorizes the customer agency's contracting activity to issue and administer task orders under the GITSS contracts. This delegation of authority is authorized under the Clinger-Cohen Act and the Government Management Reform Act.
Step 2. Complete the general and POC information chart and return by mail to David Peterson, Program Manager (200/00D), Department of Veterans Affairs, Austin Automation Center, P.O. Box 40909, Austin, Texas, 78704-0016. Click here for a copy in MS Word format.
Step 3. Contact David Peterson via e-mail at info@BuyIT.gov or call him at (512) 326-6531 or (512) 326-6020, to discuss your requirements and need for a delegation of authority to use the GITSS contracts.
Step 4. After the customer agency and BuyIT.gov reach an agreement, both parties execute the intra/interagency agreement and then BuyIT.gov will provide the customer agency guidelines on using the GITSS contracts. At that point, the customer agency may begin using the GITSS contracts.
Note the customer agency is responsible for all matters pertaining to task orders issued by the customer agency's contracting activity, including, but not limited to any disputes or claims.
11. When will the customer agency be billed for BuyIT.gov services?
Typically, BuyIT.gov will bill your agency the month after the procurement action is completed. The VA Enterprise Fund Office will produce the billing statements. The amount due will be the obligated dollar amount of the order or contract award plus the appropriate acquisition fee. The customer agency will have a legitimate obligation recorded based on the fully executed interagency agreement. Payment will be made via the United States Department of Treasury Intra-governmental Payment and Collection System (IPAC). Note that these transactions are governed by the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Business Rules for Intragovernmental Transactions (M-03-01), dated October 4, 2002. A copy of these business rules can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/m03-01.html.
However, there may be occasions, subject to mutual agreement between the customer agency and BuyIT.gov, where special arrangements are made to bill after execution of the agreement and before the procurement action is completed. In those instances where an "advance payment" may be authorized, BuyIT.gov may need to seek approval beyond the AAC and VA since OMB apportions the budget reimbursable authority. Also, advance payment must take into account OMB's Business Rules for Intragovernmental Transactions, which comes with additional reporting requirements.
For its Department of Defense customers, BuyIT.gov can accept the Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request (MIPR - DD Form 448) in combination with its Inter/Intra Agency Cross-Servicing Support Agreement (VA Form 2269), for purposes of establishing business relationship and obligating funds.
12. How can BuyIT.gov help me meet my small business program goals?
BuyIT.gov supports small business in several ways. First, we believe the customer agency should receive credit for any large and small business dollars awarded on your behalf by BuyIT.gov. If you provide us with your four-digit funding agency code (FIPS 95), BuyIT.gov will report an award done by VA on behalf of another Federal agency into the Federal Procurement Data System—Next Generation (FPDS-NG). If a funding agency code is not provided, BuyIT.gov will report the award on its own behalf. The funding agency code is provided at the time BuyIT.gov and the customer agency execute the interagency agreement. This will ensure the customer agency receives credit for any large and small business awards when VA transfers the FPDS records to the GSA, Federal Procurement Data Center.
Another way BuyIT.gov supports small business growth in America is through the GITSS program. The basic GITSS contract resulted in awards to seven large businesses and three small businesses. Also, the basic GITSS contract contains Special Contract Requirement H-24, "Enhanced Subcontracting Plan," which requires large businesses to subcontract to small business and small business subgroups at least 20 percent of the dollars obligated on the contract. The basic GITSS contract under Special Contract Requirement H-14, mandates the offering of every competitive task order valued at $100,000 or less only to the small business contract holders. Finally, it allows for the setting aside of requirements at any dollar value for the GITSS small businesses when requested by the customer agency.
13. What is the scope of the GITSS contracts?
In addition to IT services, can hardware and software products be acquired under the contract? Under this contract, any agency of the United States government will be able to fulfill requirements for or relating to IT and telecommunications, and such services will be performed anytime and anywhere in the world, as required. The term "information technology" is used in its broadest sense and includes telecommunications. For administrative purposes, IT services may be categorized in the 22 functional areas identified in the basic GITSS contract, Statement of Work/Section C (Section J, Attachment 1). However, since this contract is specifically for any IT and telecommunications services, requirements in functional areas that are not identified shall be construed as being within the scope of the contract. In determining whether a particular service is within scope, if it "touches" IT and/or telecommunications, then it is within the scope of the contract.
Service needs may require the contractor to provide a "total solution," encompassing, for example, required hardware, software, and telecommunication products, in conjunction with all services needed to integrate a system, network, or other service delivery platform in order to meet a customer's mission requirements. Accordingly, task orders may include acquisitions of hardware, software, and other products. GITSS is not intended as a mechanism to purchase IT or telecommunication products. However, there are no limits on the amount of such products that may be purchased as part of a given requirement, to the extent that those products are necessary to deliver the services required.
Services and related products covered under this contract are global in reach and GITSS contractors are prepared to provide services and deliverables worldwide.
14. How can contractors check on invoice payments due from VA?
The Vendor Inquiry System (VIS) enables VA's vendors to make online inquiries to determine status of their payments and to request information on previous payments made via check or electronic funds transfer (EFT). An online application is available for vendors wishing to use this application. If you are an existing vendor, please use our toll free number for payment resolution and vendor inquiries 1-877-353-9791. The VIS can be accessed at http://www.fsc.va.gov/fsc/vendors.htm.
15. How can customer agencies check on the payment status of orders issued on their behalf by BuyIT.gov?
Customer agencies can follow the same process identified in the answer to number 14 above.
16. Who do I contact if I want to discuss in further detail using BuyIT.gov acquisition services or if I have any specific questions related to my situation?
The following BuyIT.gov employees will be happy to assist you:
Gary Arwood
Phone: (512) 326-6106
E-mail: Gary.Arwood@va.gov
To learn how to get started using BuyIT.gov or the GITSS contracts to meet your IT services needs, please contact David Peterson, Program Manager for BuyIT.gov.
David Peterson
Phone: (512) 326-6020 or (512) 326-6531
E-mail: info@BuyIT.gov
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