Another Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation Refresh is on the horizon—on March 31, 2022, GSA plans to release the MAS Solicitation 47QSMD20R0001 - Refresh # 10 to all existing GSA contracts. Once the Refresh is issued, GSA will release an accompanying Mass Modification (Mass Mod) which must be accepted by all contractors within 90 days. It’s important you are aware of all the changes in the Refresh, even if it may seem like they won’t greatly affect your GSA contract. We’ll break down everything you need to know about this Solicitation Refresh, so you are prepared to accept the Mass Mod.
Overall Changes to the GSA Multiple Award Schedule Solicitation
There are 5 overall changes in MAS Solicitation Refresh #10, which we’ll highlight below. These changes affect all contractors no matter what Large Category or Special Item Number (SIN) you sell under:
- The first change to the Solicitation is incorporating an update to SCP-FSS-001 Instructions Applicable to All Offerors, to address the allowability of remanufactured items under specific MAS SINs. Remanufactured items are only allowable under specific MAS SINs and are designated by their SIN description. The remanufactured items must be identified and meet the prescribed definition of “factory rebuilt to original specifications.” It’s important to note that refurbished, reconditioned, and repaired items are NOT within the scope of the MAS Solicitation. Each specific SIN affected by this update will be outlined below. The language added applies to both products and services.
- Every spring, GSA incorporates a new Wage Determination (WD) index to the Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS) in accordance with FAS policy. There are no clause changes or policy at this time, but contractors should make sure pricing and WD numbers are updated and included in their SCA matrix. A complete set of incorporated WDs can be found on GSA’s site.
- In April 2021, President Biden announced he was raising the minimum wage for federal contractors to $15.00. The Refresh will simply incorporate clause 52.222-55, Minimum Wages for Contractor Workers into the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), to implement President Biden’s Executive Order on increasing the minimum wage for federal contractors. Under MAS, the requirements will apply to contracts only after the revised clause has been incorporated into the Solicitation.
- The fourth change deletes clause I-FSS-163, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Evergreen) and replaces it with a new clause, 552.238-116, Option to Extend the Term of the FSS Contract.
- The final change to the overall Solicitation incorporates various clause provisions as necessary. You can view the full list of clauses on GSA’s Significant Changes attachment.
Changes to Specific Large Categories and Special Item Numbers (SINS)
Along with overall updates to the Multiple Award Schedule, Large Categories, their subsequent Subcategories, and Special Item Numbers (SINs) have been changed. It’s important to review these changes to see if it affects any of the products and services you currently sell, or plan to sell to the government in the future.
Office Management (Large Category A)
GSA is revising the SIN description for 3 SINs to clarify availability of remanufactured items (as mentioned in overall changes above). The SINS are: 339940 - Office Products, 339940OS4 - Office Products and Supplies, and 33940OVER - Overseas Office Products and Supplies.
Each of the 3 revised SIN descriptions have a note from GSA stating: “Toner cartridges are the ONLY remanufactured item(s) allowable under this SIN. The remanufactured toner cartridges must be identified per 552.238-78 and meet the prescribed definition of 'factory rebuilt to original specifications.'”
Facilities (Large Category B)
In this Large Category, GSA is making 3 main changes:
- SINs 541513 - Smart Building Systems Integration and 561210SB - Smart Building Systems Integrator, will be combined. Items previously awarded under SIN 541513 will be moved to SIN 561210SB.
- Since SIN 541513 is being combined with SIN 561210SB, it will be terminated and closed to all new offerors effective March 31, 2022.
- The title for SIN 561210SB will be revised from “Smart Buildings Systems Integrator” to “Smart Building Systems Integration.”
Furniture and Furnishings (Large Category C)
The Packaged Furniture Subcategory under this Large Category will be restructured to require and incorporate Contractor Teaming Arrangements (CTAs) in place of the current Letter of Supply. The instructions will be revised to make it clear that the products under the Packaged Furniture program are provided through MAS contractor level CTAs with various suppliers within the MAS program. A full list of the implementation details can be found on GSA’s Significant Changes attachment. If you have further questions about this change, you can contact furniture@gsa.gov.
Another change to this category is revising the description for SIN 33721RSB - Remanufactured Furniture (SBSA) to clarify the availability of remanufactured items. It’s important to note that this SIN is a Small Business Set Aside (SBSA).
The updated description for this SIN reads: “33721RSB includes remanufactured furniture that meets the 552.238-78 prescribed definition of ‘factory rebuilt to original specifications.’ Proposed items under this SIN must be specifically identified as remanufactured per 552.238-78. Refurbished, reconditioned, repaired items are not within scope of the MAS Solicitation.”
Miscellaneous (Large Category G)
In the Miscellaneous Large Category, GSA is making administrative changes to the Order Level Materials (OLM) SIN.
The revised description states: “OLMs are supplies and/or services acquired in direct support of an individual task or delivery order placed against a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program contract or BPA. OLM pricing is not established at the FSS contract, but at the order level. Since OLMs are identified and acquired at the order or BPA level, the ordering contracting officer (OCO) is responsible for making a fair and reasonable price determination for all OLMs using FAR 15.404 techniques for commercial price determinations. Using this procedure, ancillary supplies and services that are unknown at the time of the Schedule contract award may be included and priced at the order level or BPA level.”
Scientific Management and Solutions (Large Category I)
In this Large Category, the description for SIN 532490ESA - Equipment Service Agreements was revised to clarify availability of remanufactured items. The new description adds this note: “All remanufactured parts used in providing Product Support Options must be identified per 552.238-78 and meet the prescribed definition of ‘factory rebuilt to original specifications.’ Refurbished, reconditioned, repaired items are not within scope of the MAS Solicitation.”
Transportation and Logistics Services (K)
Lastly, in the Transportations and Logistics Services Large Category, SIN 336530 - Remanufactured Automotive Components was revised to clarify availability of remanufactured items as several of the SINS above.
The new description adds the note: “All remanufactured parts used in providing Product Support Options must be identified per 552.238-78 and meet the prescribed definition of ‘factory rebuilt to original specifications.’ Refurbished, reconditioned, repaired items are not within scope of the MAS Solicitation.”
Accepting the Mass Modification and Keeping Up with Future Solicitation Refreshes
Even though some of the specific Large Category and SIN changes may not apply to you, ALL GSA contractors must accept the Mass Modification in the Mass Mod System. Once the Solicitation Refresh is released and the accompanying Mass Mod is sent out, contractors will have 90 days to accept it.
Remember, only authorized negotiators with a valid GSA FAS ID will be able to accept the Mass Mod. To add someone to your list of authorized negotiators, you can submit a modification in the eMod system.
Once you accept this Mass Mod, it’s important you stay on top of future GSA updates including Solicitation Refreshes. There’s no set timeline for when GSA will release an updated Solicitation, but there have been quite a few Refreshes in the past year. To stay updated on future changes, check out our blog and our monthly newsletter. If you have any questions about accepting the Mass Mod or your GSA Schedule, one of our consultants would be happy to help you.
