As GSA Schedule consultants, we sometimes see companies spend a great chunk of time and effort on getting a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) and then they don’t know what to do with it, leaving the contract to gather dust and cobwebs. This is unfortunate, because getting a GSA Schedule contract is a long and often difficult process, but it can be so rewarding in the end. Why waste the time to get a contract if you aren’t going to take advantage of it? GSA Schedule contractors have access to a whole new world of customers, resources and tools to expand their business.

Paperwork, market research, proposals, negotiations–these are all things companies trying to break into the public sector deal with when establishing an effective government sales pipeline. Selling to the federal government can often be an intimidating task, but there are ways to streamline the process. For example, the General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) is a $41 billion contract vehicle that makes it easy for contractors to sell their products and services to government agencies.

So, you want to successfully sell your products and/or services to the government with a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)—where do you begin? This is a loaded question because it depends on several factors. Are you registered on the proper platforms, do you meet all the requirements to get a GSA Schedule? Or, do you already have a GSA Schedule contract, and are you keeping up with all the maintenance? The bottom line here is getting a GSA Schedule or any government contract is not an easy task. It requires time, bandwidth, and a certain degree of government contracting knowledge.

The federal government is actively working toward making sure small businesses have a big slice of government contracting dollars. Recently, the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) have signed a revised 8(a) Program Partnerships Agreement (PA) and established a final rule that will increase contracting opportunities both sole source and set aside contractors, and make it easier for government customers to use GSA Schedules to access 8(a) company solutions. 8(a) companies are a part of a small disadvantaged business program, and the government has been focused on making federal procurement more accessible for contractors under this program. Let’s discuss 8(a) Business Development, what the new partnership will mean, and other ways small businesses can utilize support from the government.

If you specialize in services, you are well aware that there are several labor regulations surrounding your workers, especially if you offer those services to the federal government. As a GSA Schedule contractor, you have already gone through the phases of getting your solutions awarded to your contract, but you must also ensure you are keeping up and complying with the latest regulations. One of these is the Service Contract Act (SCA), or often referred to as the Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS).

Another contract vehicle is on the horizon for government contractors—GSA has created 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 slowly been releasing draft sections, but the final Requests for Proposals (RFPs) were released in June 2023 and they are due September 13. So here’s what we know about the contract vehicle, including the reasoning behind its creation, its scope, and anticipated release dates.