The General Services Administration (GSA) recently announced the retirement of their 2nd Generation Information Technology (2GIT) Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), a popular vehicle created for streamlined access to IT and software solutions. The 2GIT BPA ran from March 2021 through September 2026, but GSA said they do not have plans to renew this vehicle, as part of the White House’s initiative to consolidate procurement. GSA is now directing agencies over to the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program and a few device-specific BPAs (for high-volume purchases) for their IT needs.
If are planning on expanding your market to the public sector, the GSA MAS Program is continually proving to be a highly trafficked and popular place for government buyers, especially for IT. Now is the time to get on the MAS Program and take advantage of the increasing IT spending. Here’s what you need to know about the sunsetting of 2GIT and what the MAS Program has to offer.
What is the 2GIT BPA?
The 2nd Generation IT BPA was created by GSA and the Air Force to replace the Network-Centric Solutions-2 (NETCENTS-2) vehicle and streamlined the purchases of IT hardware, software and services. The vehicle was open to more than just federal buyers, and served state, local, and tribal entities as well.
Agencies purchased Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) hardware and software products and ancillary supplies and services from this BPA, knowing that they were abiding by Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) and Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) requirements.
Why Did GSA Sunset 2GIT?
Last year, the White House released two Executive Orders (EOs): one aimed at reducing overlap in government programs and another aimed at consolidating procurement, which directed agencies to turn to government-wide contracts such as the MAS Program. 2GIT was performing very well, but GSA noted that the MAS Program is already handling a high-volume of government buyers, including IT products and services, so it could handle the same purchasing volume as 2GIT.
The MAS Program also recently strengthened SCRM and C-SCRM protections, so there is no need for a separate BPA that promises these requirements are fulfilled.
How is the 2GIT BPA Similar to the MAS Program?
The good news is, there is already an IT category in the MAS Program, and you will not have to wait for the federal government to transition this contract over (we all know how that goes). If you were considering selling your IT solutions to federal agencies, you should start looking into it now.
The MAS Program is broken down into 12 different Large Categories, and the IT Category (called Large Category F), is one of the most popular of the program. These Large Categories are further broken down into Special Item Numbers (SINs).
Many products and services on 2GIT already map to SINs within the IT category. These are:
- New IT hardware or electronic equipment: SIN 33411
- Maintenance: SIN 811212
- Equipment leasing: SIN 532420L
- Software licenses: SIN 511210
- Software maintenance: SIN 54151
For device-specific higher volume buys, GSA recommends agencies use these:
- Printers: Governmentwide Printer BPA
- Ruggedized laptops and tablets: Governmentwide Rugged BPAs
- Standard laptops and desktops: Governmentwide Strategic Solutions for Desktops and Laptops BPAs
That being said, if you offer network printers, laptops (including rugged), desktops, and tablets, there is still a great place for you on GSA MAS with SIN 33411.
Benefits of the MAS Program
The MAS Program was already one of the most popular vehicles in the federal government, but consolidations like these are making it really a one-stop-shop for buyers. There are also more dollar opportunities through MAS, as well as a more flexible timeline.
The estimated value of the 2GIT BPA over 5 years was $5.5 billion. That’s a lot of money, but the GSA MAS Program sees roughly $40 billion a year overall, and IT sales specifically have totaled almost $90 billion (and counting) during the same 5-year period as 2GIT.
2GIT also had a ceiling; the MAS Program is an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, meaning there is no sales ceiling or limit. The period of performance for an MAS contract is 20 years (for each individual contract holder), provided you keep up with your contract maintenance and GSA gives you the option to extend your contract every 5 years. Contractors can also choose to get a new contract when the 20 years is up through a streamlined acquisition process. Since the period of performance is unique to contractors, there is no deadline for MAS Program proposals. Unlike most contracts, the MAS Program is continuously on-ramping contractors.
What Are the Requirements to Get a GSA Schedule Contract?
The acquisition process for the GSA MAS contract is not an easy one. It can take several months, so you should take the time now to assess whether the MAS Program is right for you. Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 just started, so it’s a new year with new opportunities in the IT space.
The MAS Program has some specific requirements you must meet. The basics include:
- Be in business for at least 2 years (unless you qualify for FASt Lane and Springboard Programs)
- Your products must be Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliant
- Your pricing must be “fair and reasonable”
- Your company must be registered in SAM.gov
- You must fill out and submit a GSA Schedule proposal
Many IT SINs have their own requirements on top of this as well, so we suggest you review the IT Large Category Attachment.
Do You Want a GSA Schedule?
If you want to learn more about getting a GSA Schedule, check out these blogs:
- GSA Contractor Requirements: What You Need to Get a GSA Schedule
- The GSA Schedule Acquisition Process From Start to Finish
If you are interested in becoming a contractor in the MAS Program or learning more about opportunities to sell to the government, we are here to help.
