Government schedule contracting offers significant advantages for both government agencies and commercial vendors. Agencies save time and money through the streamlined procurement process and pre-negotiated pricing, while contractors benefit from long-term relationships with their customers. For companies seeking to enter the Federal market, getting on a GSA schedule provides a pathway to secure business with an established, trusted, and recognized contract vehicle.

While many factors influence the value of a particular product or service, pricing is frequently the most important factor in determining an order’s winner. The ability to negotiate discounts is a major advantage of the GSA Schedule program, but businesses must use best practices and tactics when pursuing discounts. Conducting thorough market research, maximizing competition among contractors, and strategically requesting discounts at different stages of the ordering process can lead to favorable pricing.

Government Schedule Contracting: What You Need to Know

In the current environment, it is becoming increasingly difficult for small businesses to compete in the Federal marketplace. Oftentimes, these firms have little or no experience in the Government and must play the “waiting game” to obtain a GSA Schedule through the mentor-protege program.

Changing the requirement to best value would eliminate this barrier by allowing contractors to offer innovative, truly commercial offerings without being subject to burdensome and costly price reduction clause requirements. Updating the statutory language of CICA to focus on best value will modernize the Schedule program and provide procuring agencies and contracting officers with greater flexibility to evaluate non-price factors when deciding to award task or delivery orders.

The best paver sealer ramps up your home’s curb appeal, protecting the paving stones against UV damage and weathering. It also makes it easier to clean, requiring only soap and water or a broom to remove mildew and dirt. However, there are many factors that go into choosing the right sealer. A professional hardscape installer is the best choice for assessing a site’s unique circumstances and recommending the appropriate product.

Depending on your desired finish, there are different types of paver sealers to choose from: a wet-look, a natural finish or a penetrating. Generally, higher acrylic or polyurethane concentrations produce wet-look finishes, and lower concentrations yield a matte finish.

Why You Need a Penetrating Sealer for Natural Stone: Expert Tips

A good sealer will prevent weed and moss growth by hardening the joint sand and limiting moisture penetration. However, proper joint sanding and surface cleaning are essential for this to be effective.

The type of pavers you have, soil conditions and your location will impact the results of any sealer application. For example, sand-based pavers can be prone to water penetration and may require a heavier coating than concrete block or clay brick pavers.

A solvent-based concrete sealer like Cryli-Tek 5505 will offer the best protection for paver stone surfaces, defending against sand loss, dirt, weeds and color fading. It is a popular choice to reseal pattern imprinted concrete (PIC). A solvent-based product will require two coats and will have a strong odor. A water-based sealer, on the other hand, is safer and less likely to contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds). However, it is not as durable or form a thicker coating than a solvent-based sealer.