As GSA prepares to take on more Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) and other large-scale vehicles, you may have noticed changes in timelines for obtaining a GSA Schedule contract, as well as receiving GSA Schedule modification awards. Unfortunately, these changes in timelines may not be in your favor, as you may have experienced prolonged delays in approvals for your submissions.
For IT companies looking to expedite the processing of offers or modification awards, you may look to GSA’s FASt Lane Program, as it offers a quicker path for approvals for qualifying IT vendors. However, it's essential to note that the eligibility criteria for this program are quite narrow, and it may not be a “catch-all” solution for your company. In this blog post, we will outline and discuss the current requirements for the FASt Lane Program and help you determine whether your business might qualify under the updated guidelines.
The FASt Lane Program enables eligible GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contractors to experience shorter processing times for contract actions, including GSA Schedule acquisition and modifications. Under this program, contractors can have their GSA Schedules awarded on a faster timeline than the standard GSA MAS acquisition process. While we can’t provide a guaranteed timeframe for government processes, this program does significantly reduce the time that’s involved.
On the post-award side of things, it also accelerates the modification process; for instance, adding new products and services to your MAS contract can take just 24 to 48 hours for approval. Agencies benefit from this program as well, as it provides them with quick access to emerging technologies and innovative offerings.
It makes sense for all IT GSA Schedule holders to consider opting into this option. However, it's important to be aware of the various requirements that must be followed. We outlined these requirements in a previous blog post, but please note that there have been slight changes. Below, we describe those updated requirements:
To participate in FASt Lane, you must:
All participants must complete and submit the FASt Lane Eligibility Checklist [DOCX - 28 KB] as part of your eOffer or eMod package.
We also want to emphasize that only ITC Special Item Numbers (SINs) can be used in eOffer/eMod submissions, as it is imperative to note that no other Large Categories under the MAS Program are eligible.
You also need to make sure that your company falls under the Information Technology Category (ITC), here’s a list of what the category offers to government agencies:
One of the main goals of the FASt Lane program is to provide agency customers with direct access to vendors offering new and emerging technologies. As you proceed with the program, there are two important factors that you’ll need to be mindful of. First, all vendors need to be in close contact and responsive to their designated GSA Contracting Specialist or Contracting Officer.
Second, it’s extremely imperative to ensure that all technical evaluations are completed and any necessary supporting documentation is included and submitted directly to the eMod system. Email exchanges with Contracting Officers and Specialists are not the proper method for officially submitting modifications or offers.
Now that you know that your company is ready to use the program, let’s now take a closer look at the required documents to successfully navigate the FASt Lane process, as these requirements can be easily overlooked.
FASt Lane will require the following documents to process your business as quickly as possible through the system. If you are a large business involved in any subcontracting plans, you may be asked for additional documentation or financial statements beyond the scope of this checklist. If you need clarification on what each document entails or how to obtain them, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our consulting team.
When submitting a FASt Lane offer through eOffer, you must include:
FASt Lane participants must respond within 24 hours of receiving any inquiries or requested information from GSA contracting officers, or the eOffer will lose FASt Lane eligibility.
Keep in mind that if your FASt Lane eligible initiative includes a Special Item Number that requires a technical review, the review must be completed before submitting modifications through eMod.
Once your technical documents are reviewed and approved by the GSA CO, you can submit a FASt Lane request through eMod along with the required FASt Lane Eligibility Checklist [DOCX - 28 KB].
FASt Lane participants must respond within 2 hours of receiving any inquiries or requested information from GSA contracting officers, or the eMod will lose FASt Lane eligibility.
Several FASt Lane SINs and BPAs require additional information for modification submissions:
As previously mentioned, you may be asked to go through some technical reviews prior to submitting your modification through the eMod system. Make sure that you’re carefully reviewing the FASt Lane Eligibility Checklist, which can be accessed on GSA’s FASt Lane tab under “Eligibility.” You will notice that this checklist will include the necessary links to government email addresses.
We highly recommend providing as much information as possible in your technical documents to give a comprehensive overview of your business’s eligibility and capabilities. Once all technical documents have been successfully reviewed, you can proceed to submit your FASt Lane request through eMod. Please ensure your communication during the process is prompt to avoid issues or delays in approving your modification. FASt Lane participants should be responding within 24 hours to any inquiries or requests for information from the GSA Contracting Officer.
We understand how important it is for you to quickly obtain and maintain your GSA Schedule. Not fully understanding the process can cause delays. If you have questions about your eligibility for the FASt Lane Program or need assistance with enrollment, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our consultants. Additionally, if you need to contact GSA regarding any questions or concerns, FASt Lane has its own dedicated mailbox for inquiries at fastlane@gsa.gov.