[A-F] [G-R] [S-Z]

General Services Administration (GSA). An agency in the executive branch with the function of procuring supplies and services (including construction) that are used in common by many agencies.

HUBZone Program stimulates economic development and creates jobs in urban and rural communities by providing Federal contracting preferences to small businesses. These preferences go to small businesses that obtain HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) certification in part by employing staff who live in a HUBZone. The company must also maintain a "principal office" in one of these specially designated areas. [A principal office can be different from a company headquarters, as explained in our section dedicated to Frequently Asked Questions.] The program resulted from provisions contained in the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program is administered by a staff in Washington, D.C. in cooperation with field staff located in SBA District Offices around the country. A full listing of those local District Office staff members [HUBZone liaisons] is available on the HUBZone web page under "Contacts."

Indefinite-Delivery Contract. A type of contract in which the time of delivery is unspecified in the original contract, but established by the contracting officer during performance.

Indefinite-Quantity Contract. A contract providing for an indefinite quantity, within stated maximum or minimum limits, of specific supplies or services to be furnished during a fixed period, with deliveries to be scheduled by placing orders with the contractor. Such contracts are commonly referred to as IDIQ contracts.

ISO 9000. A set of five universal standards for a Quality Assurance system that is accepted around the world. Go to http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/ISOOnline.frontpage for more information.

Method of Transfer of Information Between Government and Its Trading Partners. Information from a Government activity such as a DoD Contracting Office is sent through an application system to the supporting Gateway. After translation, archiving, and other processing by the Gateway, the information is transmitted to a Network Entry Point [NEP]. NEPs receive the EDI transactions and transfer them to VANs that have been certified and connected to the DoD Infrastructure. VANs distribute the EDI transactions to their customers in ANSI X12 format. EDI transactions are returned to the Government by its trading partners in reverse order.

Metric Conversion Act of 1975 designated the metric system as the preferred system of weights and measures for US trade and commerce, and directed federal agencies to convert to the metric system, to the extent feasible, including the use of metric in construction of federal facilities.

Military Specifications (MIL-SPECS). Specifications and Standards unique to DoD, that are prepared, maintained and controlled by the Secretary of Defense.

Modification. Any written change in the terms of a contract.

• Bilateral - signed by both the contracting officer and the contractor
• Unilateral - signed only by the contracting officer

Multiple-Award Schedules (MAS). A schedule in the Federal Supply Schedules system that contains prices for comparable supplies or services being offered by more than one supplier.

Negotiation. A method of contracting that uses competitive or non-competitive procedures that permits bargaining with the offeror after receipt of proposal.

Offer. A response to a solicitation that, if accepted, would bind the offeror to perform the resultant contract.

Procurement. All stages of the process of acquiring property or services, beginning with determination of need for the property or services and ending with contract completion and closeout.

Procurement Technical Assistance Center [PTAC] is an organization funded by the Defense Logistics Agency in partnership with [typically] a state government of other economic development organization to help small businesses compete for federal, state and local government contracts. PTACs exist in forty-six states.

Purchase Cards are the federal government’s credit cards, typically Visa or MasterCard. In FY98, purchase cards were used by the government to buy over $5 billion in goods and services. Therefore, it is important for vendors to be able to accept purchase card payments. Purchase cards (formerly “IMPAC” cards) are now called “SmartPay” cards. For more information about accepting purchase card payments, see: http://pub.fss.gsa.gov/services/gsa-smartpay.

Request for Proposal (RFP). The government's invitation to a prospective offeror to submit proposals based on the terms and conditions set forth in the RFP. Responses to RFP's are offers called "proposals".

Request for Quotations (RFQ). A solicitation document to communicate government requirements to prospective contractors. As an RFQ is only a request for information, quotes Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation submitted in response are NOT offers, and may not be accepted by the government to form a binding contract. Used by some agencies to obtain price, delivery, or other information on sole source procurements.

Request for Information (RFI). A request for information used when the government does not presently intend to award a contract, but needs to obtain price, delivery, other market information, or capabilities for planning purposes.