Government Contracting Blog

In the world of government contracting, one of the most confusing elements to navigate is the incessant use of acronyms. From government agencies to GSA Schedule terms, it seems as if there's an acronym for everything--and they aren't always spelled out. As a current or prospective GSA contractor, it's important you begin to learn government jargon because these terms will come up when you submit your GSA Schedule proposal, during GSA Schedule maintenance, and when you are communicating with government buyers.

One of the biggest reasons contractors choose to get a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract is the easy access it provides to the world’s largest buyer of goods and services, the U.S. government. With a GSA Schedule, contractors have access to government buyers with pre-negotiated prices and terms, giving them an advantage over other contract vehicles. This is because government buyers often choose to purchase from GSA Schedules with streamlined procurement and pre-negotiated pricing, terms and conditions, and pre-vetted contractors.

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 an IT start-up looking to get on a GSA Schedule, luckily you have one more way to simplify getting what you want. Through GSA’s Information Technology (IT) Category Startup Springboard, all government agencies can have more access to the most up-to-date technology, and most importantly for prospective GSA contractors, you can submit a GSA Schedule proposal with fewer than 2 years of being in business.

Once you’ve submitted your GSA Schedule proposal, you are probably excited to get it awarded and start selling your products or services as soon as possible. Unfortunately, perhaps the hardest part of the Schedule acquisition process is waiting. Although this can be frustrating, GSA needs some time to process and review your GSA Schedule proposal to make sure it’s worthy of award. GSA can take anywhere from around three months to a year to complete the review of your GSA Schedule proposal, depending on several factors.

When it comes to federal procurement, the government has a distinct order in which government agencies can purchase goods and services. For example, offerings through the AbilityOne Program, a program that provides employment opportunities for people who are blind or who have significant disabilities, must be considered for purchase before GSA Schedule contracts and other federal contracts.

On August 10, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, sending it to the House of Representatives for consideration. It is welcome news that an infrastructure bill is being discussed after years of Congressional inaction, but simply securing funding will not guarantee successful projects. An unprecedented combination of economic, social, and climate challenges will loom over the construction sector for years, making effective project management systems more necessary than ever. Before the first projects begin, government agencies and contractors alike should examine and take the necessary steps to improve their own project management infrastructure.