If you’re considering getting a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract or already have one that needs ongoing maintenance, you may be wondering whether you need outside help—and how much that help will cost. GSA Schedule consulting costs can vary significantly depending on the type of support, complexity of your contract, and level of involvement you need from a consultant.
Based on our experience in the GSA consulting world, full-service GSA Schedule acquisition consulting generally ranges from $15,000 to $25,000, while ongoing GSA Schedule maintenance support may range from $15,000 to $30,000 per year or $1,250/$2,500 a month. These are general ranges, and the actual cost will depend on your company and contract needs.
So, what are you actually paying for, and how do you compare consulting firms beyond the price tag? In this blog, we’ll answer common questions about GSA Schedule consulting costs, what services are typically included, and what to consider when choosing a consultant.
Every consulting firm structures its services differently, so it's important to understand the level of support included in each quote. We’ll dive deeper into these ranges and what can influence cost up and down later in this article, but first we want to cover what exactly your payments should be covering when you hire a GSA Schedule consultant.
GSA Schedule consulting helps companies acquire, maintain, and remain compliant with a GSA MAS contract. Depending on the firm and level of service, consultants may support the entire acquisition process, provide ongoing contract maintenance, or assist with individual tasks.
If you’re pursuing a GSA Schedule for the first time, a full-service consultant may support you throughout the acquisition process. This can include:
The amount of work handled by the consultant can vary significantly by firm. Some consultants primarily provide guidance and templates and send you on your way, while full-service firms may take a more hands-on role in preparing and managing the offer.
Getting a GSA Schedule is only the beginning. Contractors are responsible for maintaining their contracts and complying with GSA requirements throughout the life of the contract.
GSA Schedule maintenance consulting may include:
Before choosing a maintenance provider, you should determine which of these responsibilities you can handle internally and where your team may need additional support.
The amount you ultimately pay for GSA Schedule consulting depends on how much of the process you want the consultant to manage. Full-service acquisition support will generally cost more than limited advisory services because the consultant provides more hands-on support with proposal development, pricing, submission, and the negotiation process. In our experience this range is $15,000 to $25,000.
The same applies to maintenance. A company looking for comprehensive contract management will generally pay more than a contractor that only needs occasional help with modifications or compliance questions. In our experience, this can range from $15,000 to $30,000 a year, or $1,250 to $2,500 a month.
Consulting fees can also reflect differences in the scope of work. A lower-priced consulting firm may provide advisory support or templates while requiring your internal team to complete more of the proposal, while a higher-priced full-service option will include more hands-on support.
When evaluating the cost, it’s also helpful to compare consulting support with the internal resources required to manage the process. Hiring and training a full-time employee with GSA Schedule expertise can be a significant investment, particularly if your company only needs specialized support at certain points in the contract lifecycle.
There is no universal price for GSA Schedule consulting because every offer and contract is different. Several factors can influence how much support your company needs.
Offer Complexity: A company pursuing multiple Special Item Numbers (SINs), offering a large catalog, or operating across multiple Large Categories may require more proposal development and pricing work than a company with a relatively simple offering.
Business Size: Large businesses, referred to by GSA as “Other Than Small Businesses,” may have additional responsibilities, including developing and maintaining a Small Business Subcontracting Plan when required.
Level of Support: Some companies need guidance on only a few specific tasks, while others want a consultant to manage most of the acquisition or maintenance process.
Acquisition vs. Maintenance: Preparing a new GSA Schedule offer involves different responsibilities than managing an existing contract. Maintenance costs can also vary based on the number and complexity of modifications, catalog changes, reporting requirements, and other ongoing needs.
Number of Products or Services: A large product catalog or extensive service offering can increase the amount of pricing, documentation, and catalog work involved, which may affect the level of consulting support needed.
Understanding these factors can help you determine why two consulting firms may provide very different quotes for what initially appears to be the same service.
GSA Schedule consulting firms can have very different service models, which is one reason pricing varies so widely.
Some firms provide templates, instructions, and limited advisory support while leaving most of the proposal preparation to the contractor. This can be a good option for companies that already have internal GSA expertise and only need assistance with certain parts of the process. However, it’s important to be aware of the “scammy” firms that are in this bucket. Some firms will promise you contract award by a certain deadline, or advertise it’ll only take a few months. No consultant has a magic mirror to see when a Contracting Officer will be assigned, or exactly how long the negotiations process will take. That’s up to GSA.
Full-service firms generally cost more because they take a more hands-on role in preparing the offer, developing pricing, responding to clarifications, supporting negotiations, and guiding the company throughout the acquisition process.
You should also consider the firm's experience, who will be managing your project and how accessible that team will be throughout the process.
Knowing what questions to ask a GSA Schedule consultant can make it easier to compare firms on more than cost alone.
Before choosing a GSA Schedule consultant, make sure you understand the pricing structure, exactly what the quoted price covers, and whether additional fees may apply. A lower initial price may not necessarily be less expensive if important services require additional fees later.
Consider asking:
Yes. GSA does not require companies to hire a consultant to submit a GSA Schedule offer. Companies can prepare and submit an offer themselves if they have the necessary time, resources, and knowledge of GSA requirements.
The better question is whether handling the process internally makes sense for your company.
If members of your team already have GSA Schedule experience and can dedicate a significant amount of time to preparing the offer, you may not need comprehensive consulting support. If your company has little federal contracting experience, a complex offering, or limited internal resources, outside assistance may make the process more manageable.
The same principle applies after award. Some contractors manage their own modifications, reporting, and compliance requirements, while others use consultants for comprehensive or as-needed maintenance support.
GSA Schedule consulting can be worth the cost for companies that do not have dedicated GSA expertise in-house, have a complex offer, or want ongoing assistance managing contract requirements.
One of the biggest considerations is the tradeoff between cost and internal time. Preparing a GSA Schedule offer requires research, documentation, pricing development, and responses to GSA during the review process. Mistakes or incomplete information can also create delays or contribute to proposal rejection.
The responsibilities continue after award. GSA Schedule contractors must stay on top of reporting, catalog management, modifications, pricing, and other contract requirements. Hiring a consultant can give companies access to specialized expertise without maintaining that expertise entirely in-house.
Cost is an important factor when comparing GSA Schedule consulting firms, but it shouldn’t be the only consideration. A lower-priced option may require more work from your internal team, while a higher-priced option may include services your company doesn’t need.
Before choosing a firm, compare the scope of services, experience, pricing structure, level of involvement, and support available during and after the acquisition process. Most importantly, make sure you understand exactly what you're paying for before signing an agreement.
If you’re still researching your options, these resources can help you evaluate potential consultants:
At Winvale, we support companies through both GSA Schedule acquisition and ongoing contract maintenance, so the right level of support depends on where you are in the contract lifecycle and what resources you already have internally. If you're considering consulting support, our team can help you determine what type of assistance makes sense for your GSA Schedule needs.