Information Technology (IT) is consistently one of the top industries in federal contracting, especially within the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. As an IT contractor, you may be very aware of all the extra regulations you have to follow to make sure everything aligns with IT and cybersecurity policies. The government takes security very seriously, but they also put an emphasis on accessibility through Section 508 standards. Did you know there’s an accessibility document specifically for communication technology products?

Exploring the world of government contracting vehicles may feel like a deep dive into an ocean of acronyms and abbreviations that you have never come across before. Don’t panic—it takes time to make sense of it all. If you are interested in selling your products or services to the government or you are a new contractor, it’s important you understand what vehicles are available to you. Below is a guide to the government contracting vehicles that you will come across in your research.

If you're a GSA Schedule contractor, contract maintenance is crucial to your success. It's essential you stay up to date with the requirements and regulations that apply to GSA contractors, including Human Resources (HR) specific requirements. Along with adhering to HR practices, you must also fulfill other contract maintenance requirements, including sales reporting and modifications. However, the HR requirements are often forgotten about when it comes to maintenance because they are not necessarily frequent action items such as changing information on your Schedule, adjusting prices, or reporting your sales. This blog highlights the crucial HR requirements and other contract maintenance requirements that federal government contractors must meet.

We live in a world where it may be as simple as picking up the phone and asking a prospective client if they’d like to purchase what you have to offer. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like this when selling to the federal government. You need to abide by certain rules and regulations, and go through a formal process to sell your products and services. So, how do commercial companies sell to the government?

For GSA contract holders, it is no secret that some of the tools used to manage and maintain contracts are slow and outdated. For example, the layout of the Schedule Input Program (SIP) is difficult to navigate, and catalog information is divided into multiple tabs. Though most find it frustrating, it’s crucial for GSA contractors to use this program to update their contract data and maintain compliance. After receiving feedback and hearing contractor’s frustrations, GSA started developing solutions to replace some of their existing platforms to modernize the acquisition process. One of the solutions is the FAS Catalog Platform (FCP) which will replace SIP, the Contracting Officer Reporting System (CORS), and the current Price Proposal Template (PPT). 

Once you have been awarded a GSA Schedule, your job is unfortunately not over. You must continue to be diligent and maintain your Schedule by complying with government regulations. This includes ensuring your company’s information is frequently updated and relevant to your current offerings, as well as consistently tracking and reporting your sales. Ultimately, lack of compliance with GSA’s regulations can result in the termination of your contract, so let’s focus on what you need to be doing to successfully stay on top of your GSA Schedule.