Government Contracting Blog

In the world of government contracting, one of the most confusing elements to navigate is the incessant use of 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.

On August 10, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, sending it to the House of Representatives for consideration. It is welcome news that an infrastructure bill is being discussed after years of Congressional inaction, but simply securing funding will not guarantee successful projects. An unprecedented combination of economic, social, and climate challenges will loom over the construction sector for years, making effective project management systems more necessary than ever. Before the first projects begin, government agencies and contractors alike should examine and take the necessary steps to improve their own project management infrastructure.

The White House COVID-19 Response Team recently announced that millions of federal contractors and subcontractors must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 8, 2021, unless they are granted a legal exemption. This order mandates both in-person and remote federal contractors, as well as employees who are working under a covered contract to get vaccinated. So, which contracts are considered “covered” under this order and what other COVID-19 protocols will contractors have to follow to remain compliant? Let’s break down the order: 

The government Fiscal Year is coming to a close on Thursday, September 30, which means time is not only running out to use up annual budgets, but the clock is ticking for Congress to approve government funds for next year. This year, there’s a very real chance that the funds may not get approved in time, causing the federal government to shut down.

On August 31, 2021, GSA proposed a rule to help GSA Schedule contractors perform on Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) orders beyond their contract term. This proposed rule would amend the GSA Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to include an internal GSA policy of extending FSS orders for 5 years beyond the terms of an FSS contract. As a reminder, the GSA Schedule is also referred to as the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) and the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), so this order directly affects GSA contractors. 

When you go through the GSA Schedule acquisition process, you are evaluated on many levels. From administrative and financial records, to past performance and your pricing, GSA takes a very close look at your company. This is because GSA wants to make sure you are going to be a reliable contractor and can supply the products and services you intend to offer. However, once you have made it successfully through the acquisition process and are awarded your GSA Schedule contract, the evaluations don’t necessarily evaporate.