Government Contracting Blog

When you first got your GSA Schedule, you probably learned that it could last for up to 20 years. The thing to keep in mind about this 20-year period though, is that it’s broken up into four periods of five years, consisting of a base period and then three option periods. While your GSA Schedule may last for up to two decades, GSA maintains the right to cancel or allow your GSA Schedule to expire at any time (although it doesn’t generally happen without cause). After this 20-year period is up, you can submit an offer for a new GSA Schedule using streamlined acquisition procedures. As such, proper maintenance of your GSA Schedule is crucial to ensuring a smooth GSA Schedule renewal process whether it's every 5 years or 20 years. So, here's what you need to know about renewing your GSA Schedule. 

For GSA contract holders, it is no secret that some of the tools used to manage and maintain contracts are slow and outdated. For example, the layout of the Schedule Input Program (SIP) is difficult to navigate, and catalog information is divided into multiple tabs. Though most find it frustrating, it’s crucial for GSA contractors to use this program to update their contract data and maintain compliance. However, after receiving feedback and hearing contractor’s frustrations, GSA started developing solutions to replace some of their existing platforms to modernize the acquisition process. One of the solutions is the Common Catalog Platform (CCP) which will replace SIP, the Contracting Officer Reporting System (CORS), and the current Price Proposal Template (PPT). 

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes are an essential part of GSA Schedules—but did you know that GSA prohibits a few of them? We’ve talked about how NAICS Codes are important for identifying business size and opportunities and how you have the ability to choose your own NAICS Code, however, there are some exceptions. Recently, GSA did a sweep of all GSA contractors with the prohibited codes and notified companies that listed them on GSA eLibrary. Here’s what you need to know about the prohibited NAICS Codes and how to remove them from your contract by October 31, 2022. 

The global economy has taken a hit recently—from disrupted supply chains to an ongoing pandemic, and now the conflict in Ukraine, there have been severe supply shortages and a sharp increase in prices. This inflation has caused a significant increase in the number of Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) modifications among GSA contractors. However, even with raising their prices, some contractors have not been able to heighten them enough keep up with inflation due to GSA pricing regulations. Recognizing this critical issue, GSA jointly issued a GSA acquisition letter in March 2022 placing a temporary moratorium on a number of limitations in certain GSA EPA clauses. GSA has now updated and extended the moratorium to March 2023, in a supplement letter. 

As federal government Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 comes to an end on September 30, it's time to reflect on which industries the government was spending the most money on and what the funding looks like for the future. Just like you conduct annual recaps on sales and the market in your commercial market, it’s important to see trends in the federal marketplace whether you are a current contractor or plan to become one soon.

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.