At a time when we are dealing with the uncertainty of the pandemic, consumer habits have changed and in some industries, commercial spending has dramatically decreased. This is alarming to many companies because the future is rocky and unpredictable. However, there are some marketplaces that are remaining steady throughout this global crisis.  U.S. federal government spending has risen significantly in the past few years. The federal government has spent over $1.6 trillion in response to COVID-19, totaling $9.9 trillion in overall spending for Fiscal Year 2020. As one of the biggest buyers in the world, the federal marketplace is always bustling—even during times of economic uncertainty.

SIP—it’s only three letters, but it can be a dense and frustrating program for GSA Schedule contractors. SIP, which stands for Schedule Input Program, is a software program created by the General Services Administration (GSA) for contractors to upload their contract information to GSA eLibrary and GSA Advantage! platforms.

Whether you’re a new GSA Schedule contractor or you have been selling to the government for years, Contractor Assessments (CAs) can be stressful if you’re not prepared. Even if you are on top of your contract maintenance, it can be intimidating to have an official checking up on your company and handing you a detailed report card about your performance. How do you know what to expect? Now you have a guide to help you make sense of the process.

It’s no secret the federal government prioritizes small business participation in federal contracts. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, the federal government awarded $132 billion in prime contract dollars to small businesses and awarded just over $90 billion in subcontracts to small businesses. How does the government accomplish this? As children we were always taught to share, and although it’s slightly more complex and heavily regulated in adulthood, the concept is still very relevant. The federal government requires Other Than Small Businesses (OTSB) to create a “practicable opportunity” for small businesses to participate in federal procurement. One of the ways to accomplish this is through small business subcontracting.

As a GSA Schedule contractor, you know there are a multitude of laws, regulations, and guidelines you need to follow to remain compliant. If you provide services through your contract, one of the laws you may have heard of is the McNamara O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA). Enacted in 1965, the SCA’s main purpose is to protect employees performing work for contractors and subcontractors. At Winvale, we have a lot of clients asking us if the SCA impacts them as GSA Schedule contractors so let’s review the SCA, SCA exemptions and compliance, and why it’s relevant for several GSA Schedule contractors.

Who are my customers? It’s often the burning question in any commercial marketplace. You know what your products and services are, you have an idea where and how you want to market them, but who is your target audience? It’s no different when you’re selling to the government through a GSA Schedule contract. 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 government entity. So who can you sell to with a GSA Schedule contract?