--- title: Open Market - Selling Items Not listed in your GSA Contract description: View this video of a whiteboard session explaining how to add open market items to gsa contract orders. image: https://www.turbogsa.com/hs-fs/file-203117791-png/images/selling-open-market-items.png --- [![Turbo GSA Logo](https://www.turbogsa.com/hs-fs/file-14156912-png/images/logo.png "Turbo GSA Logo")](https://www.turbogsa.com/) 866-291-5238 [![manage-my-gsa-contract](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/46415/df46f48f-f7a1-4f2e-a097-6b0662481cf5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/46415/df46f48f-f7a1-4f2e-a097-6b0662481cf5) ## [Open Market - Selling Items Not listed in your GSA Contract](https://www.turbogsa.com/blog/bid/98276/Open-Market-Selling-Items-Not-listed-in-your-GSA-Contract) Posted by [Robert Kelly](https://www.turbogsa.com/blog/author/robert-kelly) on Jun 19, 2013 10:01:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## Abstract This whiteboard session is about selling products and services that are not listed on your GSA Schedule contract.   This video describes what open market items are and how you can sell such items using your GSA contract. these are also referred to as incidental items and non-schedule items.This Whiteboard Session is about selling products and services that are not listed on your GSA schedule contract. When you sell something not listed on your GSA contract, those items are referred to an Open Market Items. This is simply an odd term for anything not previously approved and specified on your contract. You may also hear these items referred to as Incidental items, Non-contract Items, Non-schedule Items, or Other Direct Costs. Otherwise known as ODCs. I am often asked if contractors can sell items that are not listed in their GSA contract. New contractors is in particular often experience problems with GSA auditors if they do not manage this correctly. Open Market Items may be sold to agencies under a GSA contract order as long as the GSA contractor clearly tells the customer that the items are Open Market. This is very important due to differing acquisition regulations for federal supply schedule procurements versus open market procurements. Be sure to tell your sales people and others who are involved in proposals, quotes, and invoicing about the rules of adding Open Market Items to GSA orders. So how should you tell customers that the open market items are part of your quote or order prior to the sale? Communicate this to your customer by providing a written quote that simply states the term Open Market Item after each item. And then add this statement to the invoice that is sent to the customer afterwards. Some government buyers may get a bit nervous about accepting proposals containing Open Market Items. Therefore, any proposal, letter, or email should state, "This quote or invoice contains Open Market Items which been properly identified." I am asked if firm's can quote Open Market Items in response to RFQs found on eBuy. One thing to keep in mind is that you cannot quote Open Market Items on eBuy opportunities because eBuy has different rules on Open Market items. eBuy only allows scheduled contract items to be quoted. But here's a tip. If you see an eBuy opportunity that contains items you could deliver but are not on your contract, then simply email the buyer a quote. The buyer may still choose to go with a vendor that already has the items on their GSA contract, but it's not unheard of for a buyer to accept an unsolicited offer. Hint. If you were seeing items being requested that are not on your schedule, then modify your contract to include those items. One final note. GSA schedule contractors should not include the value of Open Market Items when completing the quarterly 72A sales report. You only need to report the total sales of contract items. If you need help with GSA contract compliance or developing federal marketing strategies, please give me a call. This has been Robert Kelly. If you have questions, please call me at 866-291-5238, extension 705, or email me at robert@turbogsa.com. ### Open Market Items When you sell something not listed in your GSA contract, those items are referred to as Open Market items.  This is simply an odd  term for anything that is not previously approved and specified on your GSA contract.   You may also hear these items referred to as: - Incidental Items - Non-Contract Items - Non-Schedule Items or - Other Direct Costs (ODC’s) ## Can you sell items that are not listed in your GSA contract? ![selling-open-market-items-gsa](https://www.turbogsa.com/hs-fs/file-203117791-png/images/selling-open-market-items.png?width=300&height=180&name=selling-open-market-items.png)I am often asked if contractors can sell  items that are not listed in their GSA contract. New contractors, in particular, often experience problems with the GSA auditors if they do not manage this correctly. Open market items may be sold to Agencies under a GSA Contract order, as long the GSA contractor clearly tells the customer that the items are open market.  This is very important due to differing acquisition regulations for Federal Supply Schedule procurements versus open market procurements.  Be sure to tell your sales people and others who are involved in proposals, quotes and invoicing about the rules of adding open market items to GSA orders. ## How to Communicate Open Market Items ![open market items gsa order](https://www.turbogsa.com/hs-fs/file-203135279-png/images/open-market-items-gsa-order.png?width=350&height=244&name=open-market-items-gsa-order.png)So how should you tell customers  that open market items are part of your quote or order prior to the sale.  Communicate this to your customer by providing: - a written quote that simply states  the term "Open Market Item" after each item and - then add this statement to invoice that are sent to the customer . Some government buyers may get a bit nervous about accepting proposals containing open market items.  Therefore,  any proposal, letter, or email should state:*** "This quote or invoice contains open market items which have been properly identified. Open market items are allowed as stated in FAR 8.402(f)"*** ## Do Not Quote Open Market Items on eBuy Opportunities ![open market items ebuy gsa](https://www.turbogsa.com/hs-fs/file-203148315-png/images/open-market-items-ebuy-gsa.png?width=400&height=241&name=open-market-items-ebuy-gsa.png)I am asked if firms can quote open market items in response to RFQs found on ebuy. One thing to keep in mind is that you cannot quote Open Market Items on eBuy Opportunities, because eBuy has different rules on open market items.  eBuy only allows scheduled contract items to be quoted. But here’s a tip.  If you see an eBuy opportunity that contains items you could deliver but are not on your contract, then simply email the buyer a quote.  The buyer may still choose to go with a vendor that already has all the items on their GSA contract, but it’s not unheard of for a buyer to accept an unsolicited offer. HINT - If you keep seeing items being requested that are not on your schedule, then modify your contract to include those items. ## Do not report Open Market Sales on your Quarterly Sales Report One final note.  GSA Schedule contractors should NOT include the value of open market items when completing the quarterly 72a sales report.  You only need to report the total sales of contract items. ## Presenter: Robert Kelly - Founder, Principal Consultant - TurboGSA Robert helps firms expand their Federal business through innovative federal marketing programs and GSA Schedule contracts. Roebrt has worked with more than 500 clietns over the years to enter and grow their presence in teh federal market. ## Need help with GSA Compliance? If you need help with GSA contract compliance or developing federal marketing strategies, please give me a call If you have any questions, please call Robert Kellyat 866-291-5238 ext. 705  [![New Call to action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/46415/6fccd15b-c09f-4e7c-941a-76226b889efa.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/46415/6fccd15b-c09f-4e7c-941a-76226b889efa) [Google](https://plus.google.com/117928737051483659799?rel=author) Topics: [2. Manage a GSA Contract](https://www.turbogsa.com/blog/topic/2-manage-a-gsa-contract), [3. 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