I'm an 8(a) certified firm and a HUBZone firm, and we sell office furniture. I've been looking at state procurement portals, specifically Team Georgia Marketplace and eVA eProcurement Marketplace. I noticed several states buying office furniture, NAICS code 423210, through something called NASPO ValuePoint. It looks like a master agreement, and then states issue their own solicitations off of it. I'm trying to figure out how a small business like mine would get on one of these. What is the process for becoming a vendor on a NASPO ValuePoint master agreement? Does the lead state issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for that? How long does that cycle typically take? Can a regional dealer participate as a reseller, or do you have to be the manufacturer?
What is NASPO ValuePoint, and can a small firm realistically get on a NASPO contract?
Ask a question- NASPO ValuePoint is a cooperative purchasing program that state and local governments use to buy goods and services.
- A small firm can realistically get on a NASPO ValuePoint contract, but it is a competitive process.
- The NASPO ValuePoint program aggregates demand from multiple states to achieve better pricing and terms, and it is usually managed by a lead state.
2 answers
NASPO ValuePoint is a cooperative purchasing program that state and local governments use to buy goods and services. A small firm can realistically get on a NASPO ValuePoint contract, but it is a competitive process. The NASPO ValuePoint program aggregates demand from multiple states to achieve better pricing and terms, and it is usually managed by a lead state. The lead state issues a solicitation, often an RFP, to establish a master agreement for a specific category of goods or services, like office furniture. This process is distinct from federal acquisitions, which follow the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). State procurement rules govern the NASPO ValuePoint solicitations, and these vary by state, so you would need to review the specific solicitation from the lead state to understand the requirements.
Jo is correct that a lead state issues a solicitation for a NASPO ValuePoint master agreement. The lead state will specify in its solicitation whether a reseller or only the manufacturer can propose. These state-level solicitations are typically advertised on the lead state's procurement portal. For example, the Team Georgia Marketplace and Virginia's eVA eProcurement Marketplace are state procurement portals that advertise state solicitations. You will need to register as a vendor on the specific state's portal to receive notifications and bid on their solicitations. The cycle time from solicitation release to master agreement award depends on the complexity of the procurement and the number of offers received.