If you’re new to the world of federal contracting, chances are you have come across several foreign terms like GSA Multiple Award Schedule, and the definitions are not always self explanatory. The government has its own jargon we call "government speak" and it can be a little daunting at first to learn the terms and acronyms associated with selling to the government, but as consultants, it’s our job to help our clients understand. Federal contracts like the GSA Multiple Award Schedule provide plentiful opportunities for businesses and organizations to expand their public sector sales presence, but in order to reap the benefits of selling in the government landscape, it’s important for companies to understand the basics of government contracting first. In this article, we'll break down the GSA Multiple Award Schedule, highlight the benefits, and tell you how you can get on the GSA Schedule.

Are you in the process of putting together an offer for a GSA Schedule or bidding on a government solicitation and want to ensure your company is meeting all the compliance criteria? Well, Section 508 may apply to you. If you plan on supplying Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services to the federal government, you’ll need to outline your company’s ability to comply with the revised Section 508 standards. Here’s what you need to know about this legislation and how it fits into the federal government.

As a GSA contractor, odds are that you have come across subcontracting requirements and processes. GSA’s subcontracting requirements were created to help government agencies meet their small business spending budgets each fiscal year, whether directly or indirectly. Within the scope of subcontracting, there are many intricacies, but we have put together a blog to cover the basics of GSA subcontracting.

Congratulations on your GSA Schedule award—now that you have your contract, you’re ready to begin the process of maintaining compliance. This is essentially the “scope of contract,” which may seem vague to you at first. We advise all new contractors to begin familiarizing themselves with the rules and regulations of holding a GSA contract. As consultants, we can’t stress enough how important it is to look after your Schedule once it’s been awarded. To help you prepare for this process, let’s discuss why scope of contract is important and what you can do to maintain GSA Schedule compliance.

Although contracts can have a reputation of being binding, your GSA Schedule contract is meant to grow and change with your company. Anytime you need to change your address or primary Point of Contact, add or delete a product, alter a product description, or upload new photos, you are able to make these changes through a modification (mod). Each modification type requires a series of documents and/or requirements, and it can be difficult to figure out what needs to be done in order to successfully complete a mod. Thankfully, the General Services Administration (GSA) has created a guide to keep contractors up to date on all the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) modification standards.

The Trade Agreements Act (TAA) is a common concern among our clients whether they are getting a GSA Schedule for the first time or are several years into their contract. You might be wondering: why does the TAA exist? How is it different from the Buy American Act (BAA)? Or, what does the “Substantial Transformation” rule mean? To help clear up all the questions our clients may have, we put together a list of FAQs so you can use this as a quick reference guide whenever you have a question about TAA and how it relates to your GSA Schedule.