If you’ve ever found yourself walking out of your favorite hardware store with a bill larger than you anticipated, you’re not alone in spending a lot on these types of goods. From cleaning products to water heaters to cranes, the federal government is a major purchaser of industrial products every year. The Industrial Products and Services, also known as Large Category E, covers all these and is one of the largest categories within General Services Administration’s (GSA) Large Category groupings. In the 2023 fiscal year alone, GSA saw $2.3 billion in sales through this category within the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS).
If you’re interested in selling to the federal government through this category, read on to find out what kind of goods and services are offered and a breakdown on how these solutions are sold to the federal government.
What You Can Sell Through GSA’s Industrial Products and Services Category
The Industrial Products and Services Large Category is defined by GSA to include goods and services used in the production of a final product, such as basic or raw materials and components, instruments, hardware, or tools. GSA organizes the various products and services that fall under this category using subcategories. Those subcategories are broken up further into Special Item Numbers (SINs) that define a specific type of item.
Subcategories and SINs within GSA’s Industrial Products and Services Category
The following list outlines the subcategories and some associated SINs that can help you determine what you can sell through this Large Category. For an exhaustive list of all SINs included and their descriptions, visit the associated solicitation document in eOffer.
- Cleaning Supplies
- Cleaning Products (SIN 325611)
- Disinfectants, Sterilants, and Deodorizers (SIN 325612)
- Fire/Rescue/Safety/Environmental Protection Equipment
- Hoses, Valves, Fittings, Nozzles, Couplings, and Related Accessories (SIN 326220)
- Safety Zone Products (SIN 339999S)
- Fuel Management
- Fuel Management Systems (SIN 333914)
- Hardware and Tools
- Hardware Manufacturing (SIN332510)
- Lawn and Garden Equipment, Machinery, Implements, Tools, Products and Accessories (SIN 333112)
- Tools (Powered and Non-Powered), Tool Kits, Tool Boxes and Accessories (SIN 333TOOL)
- Industrial Products
- Pallets, Plastic, and Wood (SIN 314120)
- Pest and Animal Control Products & Services (SIN 325320)
- Plumbing Products and Bathroom Fixture Solutions (SIN 332913
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) (SIN 333415HVAC)
- Energy-Efficient Lighting and Sustainable Energy Solutions (SIN 33512)
- Industrial Products and Services Maintenance and Repair
- Maintenance and Repair Shop Equipment (SIN 811310)
- Machinery and Components
- Vehicle Material Handling Equipment (SIN 333921)
- Vehicular Cranes and Attachments (SIN 333923)
- Utility Trucks and Tractors (SIN 333924)
- Packaging
- Performance-Oriented Packaging (POP), plastic over pack, and hazardous material packaging (SIN 322220)
- Packaging Materials (SIN 3PACK)
- Test and Measurement Supplies
- Scales and Balances (SIN 333997)
Breakdown of Sales and Vendors within the Industrial Products and Services Large Category
The Industrial Products and Services Large Category is one of the most popular categories within GSA. Below we’ll break down the cash flow and number of contractors participating in this category. If you’re a prospective contractor, this section can help you get an idea of the fiscal landscape of this Large Category.
In the first half of this fiscal year (October 2023- April 2024), the Industrial Products and Services Large Category has seen $992.6 million dollars spent. If you have a small business looking to offer SINs within the Industrial Products and Services purview, you may be happy to know that small business spending is high in this Large Category. Of that $992.6 million, $451.9 million was spent on small businesses. There are many resources available to small businesses to obtain a contract through GSA; knowing what markets are open to you is one of the most important.
Another important metric to consider is the number of vendors participating in the Industrial Products and Services Category. This fiscal year, 933 vendors have offered SINs on their contract that fall under this category. In 2023 alone, 1,037 vendors were responsible for the $2.3 billion in sales that went through this category, while 2022 had 1,114 vendors making just over $2 billion in sales.
Industrial Products and Services has had steady numbers in the past five years, in both sales and number of vendors participating in those sales. This Large Category can be a great opportunity, whether you want a GSA Schedule or already have one and want to expand into Industrial Products and Services.
Environmental Considerations
Many SINs in the Industrial Products and Services category have instructions for a contractor to be able to offer that SIN on a GSA Schedule contract. These instructions are largely concerned with the sustainable acquisition purchasing requirements of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 23.
For example, lighting (SIN 33512) or water heaters (SIN 333414) offered on a GSA contract must be certified Energy Star or Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) compliant for energy efficiency. Plumbing products (SIN 332913) must meet WaterSense requirements and be certified as WaterSense compliant by obtaining certifications through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The instructions for each SIN can be found within the solicitation document for the Large Category in eOffer, where the federal government retains all active GSA solicitations.
Are You Interested in Selling Your Industrial Products and Services to the Government?
The process of obtaining a GSA Schedule contract can be a daunting prospect, but the potential rewards of being able to sell your solutions to the federal marketplace are also great. If you’re ready to take that next step into selling to the federal government, a good place to start is to familiarize yourself with the contract acquisition process.
If you are interested in other categories of GSA’s Schedule, check out information on Information Technology Large Category, and a comprehensive overview of all the Large Categories on our blog.
If you have any questions about what Large Category would best fit your business’s niche, feel free to reach out to the Winvale team and we would be happy to assess where you fit into the MAS program.
