Federal Contracting Glossary
Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)
A simplified, ongoing arrangement an agency sets up to fill repetitive needs by placing orders on pre-agreed terms — including BPAs built on GSA Schedules.
Definition
A Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) is a simplified method an agency uses to satisfy recurring needs for supplies or services. Rather than awarding a separate contract each time, the agency establishes a BPA with one or more vendors on pre-agreed terms and then places individual calls/orders as needs arise. BPAs can be set up under FAR Part 13 simplified procedures or, very commonly, against the GSA Schedule under FAR 8.405-3.
BPAs streamline repeat buying and can be single-award or multiple-award. Schedule-based BPAs are especially popular because they layer agency-specific terms and often deeper discounts on top of an already-negotiated Schedule contract, giving the agency speed and the holder a steady stream of orders.
How this affects your proposal
Orders against a multiple-award BPA are often competed on tight timelines, so keep your past performance, key personnel resumes, and standard responses ready to deploy quickly when a call goes out.
Common questions about blanket purchase agreement (bpa)
Who uses BPAs?
Agencies that have recurring, repetitive needs and want to avoid issuing a new contract each time. Schedule-based BPAs (FAR 8.405-3) are widely used across civilian and defense agencies.
Is a BPA only for large vendors?
No. BPAs — including Schedule-based and simplified-acquisition BPAs — are routinely established with small businesses, and many are set aside or structured to favor small-business participation.
Related terms
General Services Administration (GSA)
The U.S. government's central acquisition agency, operating the GSA Schedules and gover…
GWAC (Government-Wide Acquisition Contract)
A pre-competed, government-wide IDIQ for IT and related services that any agency can or…
IDIQ Contract
An Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity contract that lets an agency place task or …
Writing a proposal that involves blanket purchase agreement (bpa)?
GovCon is the AI proposal-writing tool built specifically for federal offerors. Free plan, no card required.
Start free →See all federal contracting terms in the GovCon glossary, or read our long-form federal contracting guides.