With all the changes going on in the federal government, it’s fitting there’s another GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation Refresh coming out soon. Solicitation Refresh #26 is expected to be released in April, and it includes a significant action to retire 32 Special Item Numbers (SINs). Read on to learn about Refresh #26 so you’re prepared for the accompanying Mass Modification when it’s released.
Updates to the MAS Solicitation Overall
GSA plans to make a few changes to the entire solicitation, meaning it’ll impact all GSA Schedule contractors. These include:
- Implement minor revision to SCP-FSS-001 Instructions Applicable to All Offerors: updating the link for Smart Bulletin No. 039 – SCP paragraph (j)(3)(ii)(F)
- Implement revisions to all Offer and Modification Products/Services and Training Price Proposal Templates (PPT)
- Revise ‘Commercial MFC Price’ column to ‘MFC Price’ and ‘Discount offered to Commercial MFC’ to ‘Discount offered to MFC’ under all tabs.
- Modification Products Price Proposal Templates (PPT): Update Tab A instructions on the ‘Read Me First’ to clarify Options are excluded from Tab A
- Incorporate clause and provision updates, as necessary, through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2025-03 and GSAR Change 196, excluding GSAR Change 187.
- Revise clause I-FSS-600 note regarding Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTs) items
GSA also plans to add the following statement to the 'General Information' section of each Large Category Attachment:
General Out of Scope Items: GSA will not award items that fall under the following categories:
- Remanufactured (except toner)
- Automotive Parts
- Personal hygiene products
- Fully assembled rotary-wing or fixed-wing aircraft
GSA to Retire 32 SINs
The new administration’s priority to streamline processes and eliminate waste has led to some pretty big changes in the world of GSA. Most recently, we have learned that GSA is expected to quadruple in size, but it also means there will be cuts where GSA sees noncompliance and underperforming contracts.
Additionally, GSA will take action to eliminate SINs with insufficient market demand, or when the administrative costs outweigh the benefits. GSA has identified 32 SINs that will be retired in Refresh #26. They are listed below:
GSA has noted that many of the SINs on this list are available through other procurement channels, which are marked in the table above. GSA has not released any official guidance if certain contractors can migrate to a similar SIN if they are affected by this update. If you have both SINs on this list and SINs on your contract that are not affected, then you will most likely need to do a delete SIN modification. More information to come as we learn more.
Changes to Specific Large Categories and Special Item Numbers (SINs)
Office Management (A)
In the Office Management Category (A), GSA plans to update the category specific attachment for SINs 339940OS4 - Office Products and Supplies and 339940OVER - Overseas Office Products and Supplies. More specifically, GSA will update the Letter of Compliance from 4 ARO business days to 7 ARO calendar days.
Furniture and Furnishings (C)
In Large Category C, Furniture and Furnishings, GSA will update the following SINs: SIN(s) 337127CISB Correctional Institution Furniture (SBSA), 337127CI Correctional Institution Furniture, and 337127INT International Furniture Products. In these SINs, GSA will remove all references to "Testing must be performed by one of the accredited test labs listed in the most current version of the purchase description 3QSAB 11-613A.”
Information Technology (F)
There are a number of updates planned for Large Category F, Information Technology. They include:
- Add language to the General Information section regarding the use of AI. The language will read:
- The use of Government data for the purpose of training artificial intelligence/machine learning models and systems is prohibited without explicit written authorization from the ordering activity contracting officer. Definition: Government data means any information, (including metadata), document, media, or machine-readable material regardless of physical form or characteristics that is created or obtained by the Government, or a contractor on behalf of the Government, in the course of official Government business.
- Update the Instructions for all IT Offerors to add two new subcategories: Cloud Services (F01) and Financial Management Services (F03)
- SIN 54151HACS Highly Adaptive Cybersecurity Services (HACS): Add new optional subgroup, ‘Incident Handling and Event Management (IHEM)’ to this SIN
- SIN 518210C Cloud Computing and Cloud Related IT Professional Services: Revise SIN description to include “Cloud Based Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML).”
- Move this SIN to the new Cloud Services Subcategory (F01).
- SIN 518210FM Financial Management Quality Service Management Office (FM QSMO) Core Financial Management (FM) Solutions and IT Professional Services: Move this SIN to the new Subcategory, Financial Management Services Subcategory (F03)
Professional Services (H)
Under the Professional Services Large Category (H), GSA plans to make several changes to the SIN instructions for SIN 541611 - Management and Financial Consulting, Acquisition and Grants Management Support, and Business Program and Project Management Services. These updates address administrative changes in response to offeror inquiries regarding the subgroup Program Evaluation Services. These changes are specific and detailed, so you can find them here in the GSA interact post.
Security and Protection (J)
In the Security and Protection Category (J), GSA will add the following instructions to SIN 336413 Aircraft Armoring and Helicopter Equipment:
The award of rotary-wing or fixed-wing aircraft is explicitly excluded under this SIN. Offerors shall not submit proposals for the sale, lease, or procurement of fully assembled aircraft, including but not limited to helicopters and airplanes.
Accepting the Mass Modification and Keeping up with GSA Schedule Compliance
As we said earlier, GSA plans to release Solicitation Refresh #26 sometime in April. Once the Refresh is released, contractors will have 90 days to accept the Mass Modification in the Mass Mod system.
With all these changes to ensure the government is operating more efficiently, it's clear that GSA Schedule holders must focus their energy on contract compliance. It's important you are managing your contract well from meeting the minimum sales requirement, to sales reporting, and updating your catalog/pricelist.
To learn more about future GSA Schedule updates, subscribe to our blog and our monthly government contracting newsletter. If you have questions about your GSA Schedule or need help managing your contract, we would be happy to help you.
