GSA's Federal Supply Schedules are contracts that allow federal customers to acquire more than 4 million products and services directly from more than 9,000 commercial suppliers.

They cover a vast array of commercial items - from office supplies and copier paper to system furniture, computers to laboratory services, from accounting to graphic design to landscaping.

GSA awards contracts to responsible companies that offer a commercial item falling within the generic description of the Schedule. Contracting Officers determine prices are fair and reasonable by comparing prices/discounts that a company offers the government, with the prices/discounts that the company offers to commercial customers. This negotiation objective is commonly known as "most favored customer" pricing. In order to make this comparison, GSA requires offerors to furnish commercial price lists and disclose information on their pricing/discounting practices.