Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) – The objective of a BPA is to fill anticipated repetitive needs for supplies and services for a federal buyer.

CCR Registration – The primary registrant database for the U.S. Federal Government. CCR collects, validates, stores and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition missions.

Cooperative Purchasing – Under the Cooperative Purchasing Program, state and local government entities may purchase under a selective variety of GSA Schedules.

DUNS Number – A unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping track of over 100 million businesses worldwide.

GSA Advantage – Online shopping and ordering system includes supplies and services under all of the GSA Schedules.

GSA Contract – See MAS.

GSA Ebuy – an online Request for Quotation (RFQ) tool designed to facilitate the request for submission of quotations for a wide range of commercial supplies and services offered by GSA Schedule contractors who are on GSAAdvantage!®.

GSA Schedule – A product or service category which determines which Acquisition Center a prospective federal contractor will submit their GSA Contract to for approval.

Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) – Also referred to as GSA Schedule and Federal Supply Schedule contracts, MAS’s are indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts that are available for use by federal agencies worldwide.

NAICS Code – The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.

ORCA Registration – An e-Government initiative that was designed by the Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE) to replace the paper based Representations and Certifications (Reps and Certs) process.

Prime Contractor – In prime/sub arrangements, the relationship is very tightly defined and controlled by the prime contractor.

Request for Information (RFI) – Issued by a contracting officer to gather information about a future purchase. Generally full of disclaimers that there is not an intent to buy.

Request for Quote (RFQ) – Issued by a contracting officer with the intent to purchase,. Generally has a very detailed description of the products or services desired, and may suggest a meetiing time.

Special Item Number (SIN) – Subcategories within a Schedule.

Teaming Arrangement – Under a Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA), two or more GSA Schedule contractors work together, by complementing each other’s capabilities, to offer a total solution to meet an ordering activity’s requirement.