Conducting research can be overwhelming if you’re unaware of the tools available to you in the federal market. Luckily for contractors, GSA has several procurement tools available to help you research your competitors, your industry, and find contracting opportunities. However, it’s one thing to know there are tools that exist, and another to know what each tool is and how to use it. These are free resources and are very integral to a contractor’s success, so we suggest you use them to your advantage. Here’s what you need to know.

The 4th quarter always seems to be the most important--whether it’s in a football game where a quarterback is running a 2-minute drill while down one score, a basketball team is rallying back from a deficit and banking on a buzzer beater to take home the win, or even discussing government spending toward the end of the fiscal year when government agencies are rushing to use up their annual budget. One statistic that stands out to rookies and seasoned contracting veterans alike is that nearly one-third (yes, 1/3!) of federal contract dollars are awarded during Q4 of the government’s fiscal year. With agencies spending the remainder of their annual budget, and a rising need to procure a larger volume of products and services, the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program becomes a key vehicle for both buyers and sellers.

Just like the commercial world, it’s important to periodically research what the current federal marketplace looks like and where it may be headed. Tracking federal government spending allows you know which agencies are spending the most money and what they are most interested buying. As we move through the 3rd quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, the government is gearing up for the Q4 spending spree, so it's important to take note of agencies' procurement habits and how your business can prepare.

Since early 2020, every business has had to adjust its day-to-day operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations quickly adapted to the changes in infectious disease control protocols, supply chain, and resources availability. Similarly, many government agencies have mobilized new policies and procedures to help stay ahead of the pandemic's regulatory curve. In this growing climate of risk to public health, organizations search for ways to measure and validate their businesses. You may find it surprising that in the current digital age, many organizations still use paper to measure operational compliance. Paper workflows are prominent in the Support Service & Environmental Management Service (EMS) sectors. There is the perception and reality of clean, but how do you prove and measure operational compliance in a simple workflow while having information to drive efficiencies?

The road to becoming a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contractor is a lengthy and often arduous process, but once awarded, your business will be in position to sell to the federal government for up to 20 years. As we all know, a lot can happen in 20 years, and while contracts have the reputation of being binding, your GSA Schedule is supposed to grow and adapt with your company.

In modern society, information and processes have become faster and simpler. Now you can order online ahead of time, pay as you shop for groceries, the list goes on. Thanks to technological advances, delayed gratification of many processes has become a thing of the past. If you’re a looking to get on a GSA Schedule, luckily you have one more way to simplify getting what you want. Through GSA’s Startup Springboard Program, all government agencies can have more access to essential products and services, and most importantly for prospective GSA contractors, you can submit a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) proposal with fewer than 2 years of being in business.