GSA plans to end the year with another update to the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation. Refresh #23 will be the third refresh of 2024, and includes several updates to both the entire solicitation as well as specific Large Categories and Special Item Numbers (SINs). The Refresh is expected to be released in December. Let’s review these updates so you are prepared when the Mass Modification is released.

Congratulations on being awarded a GSA Schedule contract—this achievement likely required countless hours of hard work navigating the requirements outlined in the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) solicitation. However, the effort doesn’t stop here. As a contract holder, it's important to remain vigilant about several ongoing contract responsibilities.

GSA has recently announced that it has rolled out a major update to GSA Advantage! that enhances its functionality by introducing "Related Products," a rebranding of what was previously called "Product Accessories." This update simplifies acquisition for government buyers by making accessories more visible, easier to find, and accessible either as standalone purchases or accessories to base line items. In this blog, we’ll cover what the updates are and what contractors should be on the lookout for in the future.

If you hold a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract, you are probably familiar with the digital platforms available for contractors to market their pricelists, research competitors, and find contract opportunities. These platforms include GSA Advantage!, GSA eLibrary, and GSA eBuy.

If you’re a business that is interested in selling to the federal government, the first thing you will need is a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). UEI numbers are distributed through and maintained by SAM.gov, the System for Award Management. Once assigned, your UEI is permanent; even if your corporation’s ownership or location changes, the associated UEI will remain the same.

One of the frustrating things we have witnessed over the years as GSA Schedule consultants is ensuring our client has an active SAM.gov registration at the time of offer submission, but the SAM registration lapses or gets close to expiring because GSA (or another federal agency) takes several months to review the contract. Since the System for Award Management (SAM) site has recently become infamous for being backed up and causing delays in contract submissions and awards, the federal government is creating an interim rule to resolve this issue.