There are several different avenues you can take to do business with the federal government through the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. Federal agencies are focused on procuring total solutions, so this often requires businesses to form partnerships in order to win larger opportunities. Now that Joint Ventures are becoming a hot topic in the MAS realm, there is a lot of talk about what kinds of partnerships are available to companies looking to be a part of the GSA Schedules program. Two of the most common methods to create a successful partnership are the Contractor Teaming Arrangement (CTA) and a prime/subcontractor agreement. However, both of these methods can prove to be very confusing for GSA contractors trying to differentiate between the two. In order to determine which method is best for you and your organization, you’ll need to answer the following 5 questions about CTAs and prime/subcontracting agreements:

Recently, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and GSA have signed a revised 8(a) Partnership Agreement that aims to increase contracting opportunities for 8(a) contractors. The agreement will also make it easier for GSA customers to purchase solutions from 8(a) through the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. Once the agreement is fully put in place, there will be increased ordering flexibility under the MAS program. To accomplish this, GSA and the SBA are working together to establish an MAS pool for 8(a) contractors. Let’s talk about this agreement, the upcoming pool, and what action items you need to take as a current or prospective 8(a) business.

In the world of government contracting, one of the most confusing elements to navigate is all the acronyms. From government agencies to GSA Schedule terms, it seems as if there's an acronym for everything--and they aren't always spelled out. As a current or prospective GSA contractor, it's important you begin to learn government jargon because these terms will come up when you submit your GSA Schedule proposal, during GSA Schedule maintenance, and when you are communicating with government buyers.

GSA is planning to release the most anticipated document of the year so far—Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Refresh #16. This Refresh will include SBA size standard updates, Joint Venture (JV) solicitation guidance, and a series of updates to specific Large Categories. This Refresh is expected to come out on May 15, 2023, along with a Mass Modification (Mass Mod). No matter what products or services you offer, this Refresh is applicable to you, and you should be familiar with the changes before accepting the Mass Mod. Here’s what you need to know about this upcoming change.

When considering your company’s opportunities for growth, taking stock of your resources is important. Certain businesses, especially small businesses may feel like they do not qualify for a GSA Schedule contract due to a variety of reasons, such as a lack of marketing presence, or lack of employees and experience to meet federal demands, etc. Something that many businesses could benefit from is a Joint Venture. Throughout the course of this post, we will be going over what a Joint Venture is, what it means in terms of a GSA Schedule, and how to obtain one.

Working with the federal government can be a cumbersome process, even as a contractor through the General Services Administration (GSA). With an abundance of necessary paperwork and regulations associated with acquiring and maintaining a GSA Schedule contract, a common practice is to hire a GSA Schedule consultant to guide your company through the process.