What is Essentially-the-Same (ETS)?
ETS refers to commercial products that have the same fit, form, and/or function as an AbilityOne product.
- Fit: Same size/dimensional characteristics as an ETS product
- Form: Same appearance, shape, design, features, etc. as an ETS product
- Function: Same purpose as an ETS product
When an item is designated as ETS, the government adds it to the “procurement list” and either assigns it a National Stock Number (NSN) or an item designation to identify it as ETS.
How does GSA identify ETS?
AbilityOne’s central nonprofit agency works with producing nonprofit organizations to identify ETS through various monitoring efforts. This includes searching catalogs, reviewing GSA Advantage, and examining commercial platforms. In addition, the AbilityOne Commission works closely with GSA to identify and agree on products to be designated as ETS.
What are MAS contractor’s ETS requirements?
MAS contractors must not offer or sell ETS products on their contracts. If ETS products are identified, contractors must remove those products from their contract. Multiple ETS violations can result in contract cancellation.
How should contractors proactively address ETS?
Contractors should regularly monitor and review their product offerings to identify potential compliance concerns using the AbilityOne Commission’s Procurement List. If contractors identify any ETS product on their contract, they should immediately submit a deletion modification to remove the offering.
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