Government Contracting Blog

Another contract vehicle is on the horizon for government contractors—GSA is creating a new services Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) to replace OASIS. Formerly named Services Multi-Agency Contract (MAC) and more recently dubbed as OASIS+, this contract vehicle will support GSA’s Federal Acquisition (FAS) Office of Professional Services and Human Capital Categories (PSHC), and will include small business set-asides. GSA has announced the final Request for Proposal (RFP) will be released on or about March 30, 2023, so here’s what we know about the contract vehicle so far, including the reasoning behind its creation, its scope, and anticipated release dates.

The global economy has taken a hit recently—from disrupted supply chains to an ongoing pandemic, there have been severe supply shortages and a sharp increase in prices. This inflation has caused a significant increase in the number of Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) modifications among GSA contractors. However, even with raising their prices, some contractors have not been able to heighten them enough keep up with inflation due to GSA pricing regulations. Recognizing this critical issue, GSA jointly issued a GSA acquisition letter in March 2022 placing a temporary moratorium on a number of limitations in certain GSA EPA clauses. GSA has now updated and extended the moratorium to September 30, 2023, in a supplement letter. 

To answer your question right away, there are a lot of requirements when it comes to getting a GSA Schedule, but no, you don’t have to hire a consultant. GSA does not require you to have help, but the real question is—will you need it? If you have several years of experience selling to the government and have a team dedicated to government acquisition and sales, you probably won’t need to hire someone. However, many of our clients are small businesses who may not have the bandwidth or resources to handle GSA Schedule acquisition and maintenance. Your GSA Schedule contract can last up 20 years, and within that timeframe it requires a lot of special attention, not including the process of getting your contract awarded.

You know what your products and services are, you have an idea where and how you want to market them, but who are your target customers? As public sector consultants, we’re asked this question a lot because a wide array of agencies purchase through the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program and the answer isn't always clear. The GSA MAS program was created for government agencies to have access to around 11 million different products and services at a volume discount, but it’s not open to just any organization. So who can you sell to with a GSA Schedule contract?

2023 has already brought important changes for the future of small businesses in the federal marketplace. The Department of Defense (DoD), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) are issuing two final rules amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). These rules will implement changes to Small Business Administration Regulations (SBA) which will improve federal market opportunities and provide more clarity as well as consistency between SBA and FAR regulations. The final rules will go into effect on March 16, 2023. 

Every business has its own standard Commercial Sales Practices that ensure the company remains competitive and successful within the marketplace. However, many businesses do not track them in a way that easily translates to GSA’s requirements. Having a strong record of your Commercial Sales Practices is a vital part of obtaining and maintaining a GSA Schedule. For companies considering entering the federal marketplace through the GSA Schedules Program, it's smart to learn the Commercial Sales Practice disclosure requirements from the early stages. In this blog, we'll highlight what you need to know from the beginning of the GSA Schedule offer process to after award.