Blanket purchasing agreements (BPAs) are a simplified method of filling anticipated repetitive needs for services and products. BPAs are “charge accounts” that ordering offices establish with GSA schedule contractors to provide themselves with an easy ordering tool. In accordance with FAR 8.404, ordering offices may establish BPAs under any GSA schedule contract.

Benefits and Advantages of Using BPAs

BPAs eliminate such contracting and open-market costs as the search for sources, the need to prepare solicitations, and the requirement to synopsize the acquisition. BPAs also

• Satisfy recurring requirements
• Reduce acquisition costs through quantity discounts
• Save time by eliminating repetitive, individual purchases and payments
• Reduce administrative efforts and paperwork
• Obtain better value by leveraging an ordering office’s buying power through volume purchasing
• Enable an ordering office to use streamlined ordering procedures with no dollar limitations on individual task/delivery orders
• Permit an ordering office to incorporate contractor team arrangements
• Allow for quicker turnarounds on orders
• Permit an ordering office to incorporate terms and conditions not in conflict with the underlying contract

A BPA can be set up for field offices across the nation to use, thus allowing them to participate in an ordering office’s BPA and place orders directly with GSA FSS contractors. In doing so, the entire agency reaps the benefits of additional discounts negotiated into the BPA. In addition, the ordering office reduces the administrative burden of writing numerous task/delivery orders, while still being able to order as much as it wants and as often as it wants. The flexibility and advantages are endless when setting up a BPA.

Click here for a “suggested format” of a blanket purchasing agreement for your convenience. You can also access our GSA Schedule. If you should require additional information, please contact us.