The short answer is no, companies are able to win federal contracts without a GSA Schedule, but you could be limiting your company from capitalizing on prime government business. This is because federal government agencies often look to the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program and other Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) first to purchase goods and services. However, sometimes a GSA Schedule isn’t the right fit for your company, or you may need some time to reevaluate your options. In this blog, we’ll discuss the benefits of holding a GSA Schedule contract and compare it to other government contracting options so you can make the best decision for your company.

Although the large corporations tend to take over the headlines for capturing government contracting opportunities, small businesses have plenty of opportunities to go after in the federal marketplace. Even if you see a Request for Quote (RFQ) that your company may not be able to handle on its own, you shouldn’t necessarily discredit it right away. There are several ways in which small businesses can partner with large or other small businesses to expand their offerings and increase their competitiveness. As a GSA Schedule contractor, there are 4 main ways you can team up with another business. They are: subcontracting, Joint Ventures, partnering with a reseller, and Contractor Team Arrangements (CTA). Let’s dive into each partnership and find out which one could work best for you.

Government agencies use contract vehicles like the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program to purchase many of the products and services they need from commercial customers. The GSA Schedules Program provides over 11 million products and services to federal, state, and local government buyers, and is often the preferred contract vehicle for government agencies. This is because GSA has simplified the acquisition process to make purchasing of products and services as smooth and efficient as possible.

As a GSA Schedule contractor, you are used to abiding by several regulations and requirements. Not only is it important you are aware of the requirements to maintain your GSA Schedule, but you should also familiarize yourself with certain government contracting legislation that affects your government customers, like the Berry Amendment.

The short answer is, no. The purpose of GSA eBuy is for U.S. federal government agencies and military services worldwide to have an online procurement site to find solutions at the best value and price. In order for government buyers to be guaranteed this value, they need to purchase pre-vetted products and services from GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts.

Selling your products or services to the federal government can be intimidating and it can often be difficult to get your foot in the door. Thankfully as a GSA Schedule contractor, you have several tools and opportunities available to you, especially if you are a small business.