When government agencies purchase goods and services, they often have to go through a series of hoops to make sure they are abiding by the proper rules and regulations. But what if they have a need to purchase recurring solutions such as electrician services, office supplies, or repair parts? By establishing Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), government agencies and contractors can set up more efficient contracts that allows them to repeatedly purchase a particular good and service.

Upon being awarded a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract, companies officially become contractors in one of the largest and most popular government contracting programs. This, however, does not equal instant success. As much as we would like it to be that easy, you can’t just sit back and watch the orders come in. Once you get your contract, there are a few immediate and long-term things to do to support the foundation for success with your GSA Schedule. What additional steps are required once the contract has been awarded? Let’s break down these crucial first steps.

In the world of government contracting, one of the most confusing elements to navigate is all the acronyms. From government agencies to GSA Schedule terms, it seems as if there's an acronym for everything--and they aren't always spelled out. As a current or prospective GSA contractor, it's important you begin to learn government jargon because these terms will come up when you submit your GSA Schedule proposal, during GSA Schedule maintenance, and when you are communicating with government buyers.

GSA is planning to release the most anticipated document of the year so far—Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Refresh #16. This Refresh will include SBA size standard updates, Joint Venture (JV) solicitation guidance, and a series of updates to specific Large Categories. This Refresh is expected to come out on May 15, 2023, along with a Mass Modification (Mass Mod). No matter what products or services you offer, this Refresh is applicable to you, and you should be familiar with the changes before accepting the Mass Mod. Here’s what you need to know about this upcoming change.

Like shopping and ordering items online in just a few clicks on Amazon, GSA Advantage! is an online shopping and ordering system operated by the General Services Administration (GSA). The system provides government agencies access to a wide range of products and services available on GSA Schedule contracts, which are pre-negotiated agreements between GSA and commercial companies.

Throughout the life of your GSA Schedule contract, it’s expected that your business will experience changes, especially since you can hold your contract for up to 20 years. These factors all tie into how you provide discounts to your commercial and federal customers. As a contractor, you have the ability to make changes to your GSA Schedule through an update known as the Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) modification.