General Services Administration (GSA)
The federal agency that manages government buildings, provides acquisition services, and operates the GSA Schedule — a pre-negotiated contract vehicle used to buy commercial products and services.
How It Works
GSA serves as the government's procurement and property management arm. Its most well-known function is the GSA Schedule (Multiple Award Schedule), a set of long-term, government-wide contracts that allow agencies to buy commercial products and services at pre-negotiated prices. GSA also manages over 370 million square feet of government-owned and leased office space, operates the federal fleet of vehicles, and runs technology services through 18F and the Technology Transformation Services. For contractors, getting on the GSA Schedule is often the first step to selling to the federal government.
Related Terms
- Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract — A contract that establishes ceiling prices and terms but allows the government to order specific quantities as needed over a multi-year period through individual task orders.
- SAM.gov (System for Award Management) — The federal government's central registration database for entities doing business with the government — required for receiving contracts, grants, or other awards.
- Federal Contract — A legally binding agreement between the U.S. government and a private company to provide goods or services — from fighter jets to IT consulting.
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About This Definition
This definition is part of the TaxDollarData Federal Spending Glossary — 31 terms explaining how the U.S. government spends taxpayer money. All definitions are written in plain language for taxpayers, journalists, contractors, and researchers.