Government Contracting Blog

In modern society, information and processes have become faster and simpler. Now you can order online ahead of time, pay as you shop for groceries, the list goes on. Thanks to technological advances, delayed gratification of many processes has become a thing of the past. If you’re a looking to get on a GSA Schedule, luckily you have one more way to simplify getting what you want. Through GSA’s Startup Springboard Program, all government agencies can have more access to essential products and services, and most importantly for prospective GSA contractors, you can submit a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) proposal with fewer than 2 years of being in business.

If your company is based outside of the U.S., you may be wondering how you can do business with the U.S. federal government. For foreign companies who plan to use a government contracting vehicle to sell to government agencies, acquiring a NATO Commercial and Government Entity Code (NCAGE Code) and registering your company in the System for Award Management (SAM) are the first two crucial steps you will need to take. In this blog we’ll cover what you need to know about NCAGE Codes, who needs one, and how to register.

It’s well known that you can sell to the federal government through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program, but you can also sell to state, local, and tribal governments under certain circumstances. Some states even have their own MAS contract vehicles that are the preferred medium of procurement. A great example of this is the California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS), a special contract vehicle for state and local entities in California. This is a popular vehicle and is often overlooked by GSA contractors. In this blog we’ll share with you what CMAS is and how it could be beneficial for your GSA Schedule.

Small businesses might feel in over their heads while competing for government contracts through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. However, to ensure that small businesses receive a portion of government contracting dollars, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has established several contracting assistance programs such as the 8(a) Business Development Program. The 8(a) Program aids small, disadvantaged businesses, and the SBA works with federal agencies to promote equitable access to contracting opportunities in the federal marketplace. In this article, we’ll define the SBA's (8a) Business Development Program, who is eligible to participate in the program, and the benefits for small, disadvantaged businesses.

GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts have many compliance requirements to ensure that contractors provide products and services that align with federal procurement regulations. One aspect of compliance that many contractors are hesitant about is the Trade Agreements Act (TAA). Under TAA, contractors must agree each "final product" they sell will have been “substantially transformed” in the U.S. or another approved country. GSA contractors often have a lot of questions about “substantial transformation” and what this means. In this blog, we’ll explain the TAA, what “substantial transformation” means, and how Advisory Ruling requests can help you navigate this requirement and remain in compliance.

Once you’ve been awarded your GSA Schedule, you have a living document in your hands that can last up to 20 years and that any federal agency can purchase from. It's an exciting prospect, but as you are aware, 20 years is a lifetime in the business world. Think back to what was being sold two decades ago. Can you imagine being stuck with a catalog full of floppy disks? To avoid scenarios like this, GSA has established processes to modify your GSA Schedule after it has been awarded.