Feb 26, 2013

Vanessa Payne

No Comments

 Email This Post

388 view(s)

DOD ECA Digital Certificates Now Allow Access to GSA eOffer/eMod System

GSA’s eOffer/eMod application for online contract management has expanded the types of Digital Certificates accepted for system access and contract signature to include Department of Defense (DOD) External Certificate Authority (ECA) certificates. Previously only ACES Business Representative Certificates were acceptable. Digital certificates create an electronic identity that ties the certificate-holder to the company they work for. As noted on the GSA eOffer/eMod webpage:

GSA realizes that it has a lot of vendors who also do business with DOD and who are required to have a DOD ECA certificate. Effective Jan 1, 2013, if you have a DOD ECA certificate you may also use it to access the [GSA] eOffer/eMod applications. To minimize the cost of doing business for our vendors, GSA is now allowing its vendors that have both certificates [ACES Business Representative Certificates and DOD ECA/PKI certificates] to only have to maintain one certificate and be able to use it with both organizations.

Remember, all GSA Schedules require use of the eOffer/eMod application for offer proposals and contractor-initiated modifications. It is imperative that contractors have at least one (preferably two) employees obtain and maintain current digital certificates for the organization. An expired digital certificate can delay your ability to submit an electronic offer or modification by weeks.