The GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program has long been regarded as one of the most popular government contract vehicles, allowing commercial companies to sell their products and services to federal, state, and local government entities. With pre-negotiated pricing and pre-vetted contractors, the MAS program streamlines the procurement process making it much more efficient to buy and sell products and services.

Right at the heels of Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation Refresh #16 which was released in late May, GSA has announced the release of Solicitation Refresh #17. By the end of July 2023, GSA plans to release Refresh #17 along with a Mass Modification. This Refresh will include changes to the overall solicitation as well as specific Large Category changes, so this applies to all GSA Schedule contractors no matter what product or service you offer. Here’s what you need to know about this update, so you are prepared for when it’s released.

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.

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.