Where to find help or get more details
You can email questions on Office Supplies Fourth Generation, or OS4, to ncsccustomer.service@gsa.gov, and download the FSSI OS4: Best-in-Class Solution for Office Products and Services fact sheet for more details.
Learn more about MAS 75, which is now under the Multiple Award Schedule Office Management Category.
Why you should use FSSI OS4
By purchasing office supplies through OS4, you ensure you are meeting all relevant mandates and procurement regulations, including TAA and EO 13834. The items on OS4, where applicable, meet product guidelines for sustainable products, and when purchased in a large quantity by meeting the minimum purchasing thresholds, help reduce the number of deliveries and transactions.
Also, by using your GSA SmartPay card, you automatically get the discounted OS4 prices, and your agency gets credit card refunds in the process. Unlike buying office supplies retail, you are not paying sales tax, which your agency can monitor by receiving spend data to help keep prices down in the future. The contract prices have been proven to be better than any mass pricing discounts agencies can get on their own, and OS4 is easy to use, especially through GSA Advantage.
How to use OS4
Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for all purchasing authorities and purchase cardholders to procure office supplies that are compliant with all relevant mandates.
For orders at or below the micro-purchase threshold, use your GSA SmartPay card to make a purchase in the FSSI Office Supplies aisle of GSA Advantage. This is available by selecting Office Supplies & Equipment FSSI (BIC) on the left-side menu of the website.
FedMall, walking into a vendor’s store, or otherwise contacting the vendor directly are other means of buying office supplies through OS4, though they are not as streamlined as purchasing through GSA Advantage.
For orders over the micro-purchase threshold, check with your contracting officer to understand your agency’s purchasing policy.
Who can use OS4
- All federal agencies and activities in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
- Government contractors authorized in writing by a federal agency pursuant to 48 CFR 51.1.
- Mixed ownership government corporations* (as defined in the Government Corporation Control Act of 1945, as amended).
- The government of the District of Columbia.
- Other activities and organizations authorized by statute or regulation to use GSA as a source of supply.
*There are 18 of these quasi-government organizations, including the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Amtrak. These organizations typically have fewer regulatory guidelines for purchasing than the federal government, and are authorized by statute to use the Schedules program.
Visit our eligibility determinations page to read more about entities eligible to buy through us.
If you are wondering whether federal agencies are required to purchase from OS4
Many agencies mandate the use of OS4. Some agencies have designated which OS4 contractors to use, based on specific agency mandates. The information is provided through your agency’s FSSI representative.
Delivery requirements
Standard delivery is four business days after receipt of order. Express, desktop, secure, and international delivery are all available and may carry an extra fee. Orders below the minimum threshold of $100 (may be lower, depending on the vendor) may also have a convenience fee. In most circumstances, purchasing authorities and purchase cardholders can and should plan ahead for the procurement and delivery of office supplies. By doing so, the federal workforce significantly decreases costs, as overnight delivery can add 15-20% of the cost of the item with some vendors, and we reduce our impact on the environment and streamline the process for our employees.
Minimum order requirement
One way to reduce the total cost of your order is to increase the order size. This also reduces the costs of all items in the OS4 over time. This process results in less paperwork, less tracking, and less reconciliation. Plus, larger and fewer orders means there are fewer trucks on the road making deliveries, reducing the federal government’s financial footprint. We recommend you consolidate your orders, so you have fewer total transactions to manage. However, because it is not always possible to combine orders or otherwise meet the minimum order amount, some OS4 vendors process smaller orders with an additional convenience fee.
Competition requirements
Orders below the micro-purchase threshold can be placed with any Schedule contractor that can meet your agency’s needs. For orders exceeding the micro-purchase threshold, follow the procedures in FAR 8.405-1 or 8.405-2.
If you want to know if the contracts are consistent with AbilityOne
Yes. All contractors are required to remain AbilityOne certified resellers.
OS4 and small businesses
We are committed to increasing small business participation in strategic sourcing initiatives and OS4 is expected to increase the volume of spend going to small businesses, while also delivering government savings. We estimate that more than $8 out of every $10 spent on OS4 purchases will go to small businesses.
If the product you want to buy is not on OS4
In general, the OS4 program includes a wide range of products, brands, and part numbers, although not every brand or part number. We recommend purchasing an item that is a close second to the office supply you are intending to buy.
Additional discounts included in OS4
OS4 includes a Delivery Tier Discount structure. Percentage discounts are included on orders of $300 and more with some vendors.
If your favorite vendor is not part of OS4
For a list of OS4-awarded vendors, visit Office Supply Fourth Generation Awarded Vendors. OS4 was a full and open competition, and extensive competition was received. Not every proposal submitted received an award.