Government Contracting Blog

As a government contractor, there are many websites and resources to keep track of and monitor for compliance. If you are interested in becoming a GSA Schedule contractor, you are required to maintain an accurate and up to date account in the System for Award Management (SAM), or SAM.gov. This site not only allows you to search government contract opportunities and award notices but also houses a lot of core data relating to federal contractors’ businesses, including addresses, corporate representations and certifications, banking information, service classifications, and more.

The process of acquiring a General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract can be an intimidating one. Given the recent Executive Order (EO) directing most federal procurement activities under GSA’s management , it’s expected that the MAS program will experience an increase in opportunities as a result. Thus, you may be interested in acquiring a GSA Schedule contract to participate in this expected growth, and, like anyone setting out on a new journey, you probably have a lot of questions.

Since taking office, President Trump has signed multiple Executive Orders (EOs) impacting federal procurement and the operations of popular contract vehicles. For example, a recent EO was signed to consolidate many Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) under GSA, due to the agency’s expertise in managing federal procurement through the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) and other contracts.

The GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) allows contractors to sell their products or services to the federal government through specific Special Item Numbers (SINs) that align with their commercial business practices. If your business offers Information Technology (IT) software, products, or professional services, there are multiple SINs that could be applicable to your GSA MAS offer within the IT Category. However, most IT SINs require offerors to follow instructions, prepare supporting documents, and draft technical narratives beyond the standard requirements. For example, to have the Highly Adaptive Cybersecurity Services (HACS) SIN awarded, offerors must submit two supporting technical narratives demonstrating past performance, pass an oral technical evaluation, adhere to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards, and more.

In the world of government procurement, there are multiple contracting vehicles for businesses to consider when deciding to sell their services to federal agencies. We often discuss the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) and its requirements; however, additional contract vehicles include OASIS+, Alliant 3, 8(a) STARS III, Navy SeaPort NxG, and more. If you already hold a GSA Schedule, it’s important to understand other contracting vehicles that exist beyond GSA MAS to ensure you are maximizing your government business opportunities. Especially as we enter a new administration with shifts in spending habits and priorities, it’s important to keep additional contracting opportunities at the forefront of your business strategy.

Federal contractors are likely familiar with the numerous rules and policies they must follow to receive a contract award and throughout a contract’s period of performance. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) regulates the rules for agencies’ procurement of products and services and is managed by the Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In November of 2022, these agencies, or the “FAR Council,” proposed an amendment to the FAR requiring mandatory climate disclosures for federal contractors, such as reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions publicly. However, this proposal was recently withdrawn mid-January.