Government Contracting Blog

Maintenance and compliance are a huge part of being a successful GSA Schedule contractor. One of the more important compliance requirements for GSA contractors is submitting sales in the Federal Acquisition Service Sales Reporting Portal, also known as FAS SRP. The FAS SRP supports the collection of data required by FAS procurement programs including Multiple Award Schedules and other Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACS).

Most GSA contractors are used to working with federal government agencies through the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program. While federal government agencies do account for a large percentage of GSA revenue, some of the major buyers through the GSA MAS Program are state and local government entities. State and local government entities cannot purchase everything through GSA Schedules, but they can qualify through certain programs. One of the ways in which states and local units of government can purchase off GSA Schedules is through the 1122 Program.

Once you have your GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), it can stay with your company for a long time. GSA Schedule contracts can last for 20 years, starting with a 5-year base period followed by three additional 5-year option periods. While your Schedule can last up to two decades, it’s meant to grow with you. Your offerings, pricing, and administrative information are not locked in with your initial award. They will need to be altered through a contract modification.

Once contractors acquire a GSA Schedule, they gain access to one of the largest buyers of goods and services in the world—the U.S. government. Since the U.S. government is one of the largest consumers, they want to receive the best values and prices available from contractors. This is where your Commercial Sales Practices (CSP) come in.

The GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program can give your company a whole new world full of opportunities. Not only is it the leading contract vehicle for the federal government, government buyers often prefer purchasing through the GSA MAS program because contractors are pre-vetted and government buyers know they are getting the best prices available. However, this also means access to the program is not entirely unfettered. Before you can become a federal contractor, you need to make sure you are eligible to sell to the government through a GSA Schedule contract. Contractors must meet a number of requirements before they can pursue a GSA Schedule contract. 

Companies that choose to pursue a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract frequently reap the rewards of a nearly endless customer list. Once GSA MAS proposals are awarded, prospective vendors become contractors to one of the largest buying agencies in the world, but success isn't necessarily instant. After going through what can be a lengthy review process to have your contract awarded, you must also take a few initial steps to ensure you are setting yourself up for success. We recently wrote about what prospective contractors would need to get on a GSA Schedule contract, but what additional steps are required once the contract has been awarded? Let’s break down these crucial first steps: