The world of GSA is full of acronyms--IFF, MFC, CSP, CAV, it can be hard to keep up. Contractors should be aware of all maintenance and compliance aspects associated with their GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract, and one of the most important recurring measures for GSA contractors is the Contractor Assessment Visit (CAV).

To keep the acquisition process efficient and running smoothly, the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies use various codes to identify and track suppliers, contractors, and shipments. Two important codes in the government contracting world are Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Codes and Department of Defense Activity Address Codes (DoDAACs).

Obtaining a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) is a long, multi-step process. Before you can submit your offer in eOffer/eMod, you need to make sure you have gathered all documentation for the administrative, technical, and pricing section. Constructing all these necessary documents will allow your company to demonstrate your ability to provide your products/ services to GSA.

If you are a current GSA contractor or potentially looking to sell products or services on the GSA Schedule, you’ll need to know how to find opportunities in your industry. Federal contracting requires research into potential costs, benefits, and initiatives like any other business decision. As a GSA Schedule Contractor, the North American Industry Classification System codes (NAICS) can help you better concisely comprehend what opportunities exist in your field for success in the federal marketplace, and can help your company determine if you are considered a small business.

A government contractor always needs to plan ahead for future opportunities, arguably more so than in the commercial marketplace due to the bureaucracy involved. Given the fact that agencies often start planning future opportunities well in advance of the anticipated award date, you may feel you are keeping well informed of relevant contracting opportunities.

We’re all aware that the federal government is one of the largest buyers in the U.S. Contractors looking to tap into the federal market through GSA Schedules are first going to need to conduct market research to see where they fit in, and will need to continue to research even after they are awarded a contract. But how can we track where all the massive spending is going? Which contracts are obtaining the most cash flows? How much money does each state spend in taxpayer dollars?