The General Services Administration (GSA) is considering giving public schools and universities unprecedented access to a pre-negotiated list of deeply discounted technology tools and services once reserved solely for federal government agencies. Officials say the plan potentially could spare schools millions of dollars in technology-related costs each year.

But the proposal has its hitches, some observers say. For one, vendors that do business with the federal government would have the option of declining to accept orders from schools. For another, state and local procurement laws might preclude some entities from taking advantage of potential price breaks.

GSA is in the process of reviewing public comments regarding its proposed amendment to the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to implement Section 211 of the eGovernment Act of 2002. The amendment would allow state and local government entities—including schools—to purchase "automated data processing equipment" from GSA's Federal Supply Schedule (FSS). This includes all firmware, software, supplies, support equipment, and services contained in Schedule 70 of the federal supply classification code for information technology (IT).

The types of products and services provided under Schedule 70 include leasing agreements for IT equipment and short-term IT equipment rental services, as well as the purchase of computer, telephone, and radio equipment.

The schedule also includes a list of vendors specializing in equipment maintenance, classroom training services, electronic commerce, telecommunications services, financial management software, assistive technology for the physically challenged, and seat management programs.

According to the proposal, the GSAR amendment would include a series of clauses to address supply-schedule purchasing by eligible non-federal parties as it relates to scope, usage, payment, and the handling of disputes. Importantly, the amendment also likely would provide a "voluntary-use clause" that would enable suppliers to deny purchase orders from state and local entities on a case-by-case basis.

Though specific grounds for these denials were not available at press time, the clause harbors a potential problem for schools and universities that must decide whether the time and money required to apply for federally discounted services is worth the risk of denial.

Elvis Eaglin, senior procurement team leader for the Houston Independent School District—the nation's seventh largest school system—contends the proposed rule change would do little for larger school districts, because bigger operations generally have enough buying power to negotiate better bargains on their own terms.

"With over 300 schools, I normally can go out and negotiate and get my own deal," he said. Sometimes large school districts can meet or beat any co-op's price.