1) What is the exact requirement on Universal Product Code (UPC) submission for GSA Advantage?
The new requirement is for vendors to submit at least one UPC per qualifying SIN. A listing of which SINs require mandatory UPC submission by going to the Vendor Support Center at vsc.gsa.gov and following this path: Getting on Advantage >> Lookup Tables (under “EDI Documentation”) >> Schedules SIN|MOL|Photo|UPC. The direct link is: https://vsc.gsa.gov/lookup/sin_mol.cfm
2) Why are UPCs mandatory now?
The UPC will be a critical component of the upcoming Formatted Price List (FPL) portion of the Enterprise Acquisition Systems (EAS) project. It will allow for easy product comparisons and validation. UPCs are the most reliable way to group the same products together to facilitate comparisons of best value. In addition, it will improve the quality of product data and the general system experience for all users
UPC submission on Advantage has been voluntary since 2009. The "one UPC per SIN" requirement is designed to smooth the transition and encourage vendors to submit UPCs. The transition is temporary and the current plan is to require UPC for all products (except excluded SINs and Schedules) by the end of 2012.
3) What if a vendor has a question about the requirement for UPCs on GSA Advantage?
For more information please contact the Vendor Support Center (VSC) at (877) 495-4849. The VSC will provide guidance on issues for submitting UPCs, what to do if you do not have a UPC, exclusions, troubleshooting etc.
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