The General Services Administration (GSA) has recently made updates to the Multiple Awards Schedule (MAS) Solicitation. MAS Solicitation Refreshes #18 and #19 consist of several significant changes, such as adjustments to minimum sales requirement, updated language, and implementation of Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCSA) Orders.

As a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contractor, it can sometimes seem like a mystery how the “fair and reasonable” pricing determination can be reached. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) outlines parameters for how the federal government analyzes and makes these determinations, but the guidance does allow a certain amount of discretion.

As the New Year approaches, the General Services Administration (GSA) is making some updates with the release of Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation Refresh #18 and an unexpected #19. While some of these updates are run of the mill changes and additions, GSA has also included some significant changes in these refreshes including altering the minimum sales requirement and incorporating clauses related to Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act (FASCA) Orders. GSA released #18 on Dec 4th and #19 on Dec 6th with subsequent Mass Modifications.

There are a lot of terms, processes, and requirements to remember when it comes to GSA Schedule acquisition, but in this blog, we're going to focus on pricing, specifically determining what is "fair and reasonable." When establishing a GSA Schedule contract, the first thing to note is that the federal government intends to obtain equal or better pricing. Why do they need to do this? Well, GSA has determined the prices under the GSA Schedule to be "fair and reasonable." During GSA Schedule negotiations, if the proposed prices are not deemed “fair and reasonable,” the offer can be either denied or negotiated further to meet the standards of the GSA. So, who determines "fair and reasonable" pricing and how do you ensure you are proposing the right numbers? Let’s discuss the highlights so that your offer can be successful during the contract review process.

Have you ever gotten an email saying that you will need to pay hundreds of dollars to renew your SAM.gov registration? Contractors should be wary of these offers, some of which are outright scams, because registering and updating your business’s registration in SAM.gov is always free. If you are already a federal contractor, you probably have dealt with registration in SAM.gov, and as you can imagine, keeping this registration updated yearly is important.

For new and experienced GSA Schedule contract holders, juggling the task of acquiring and managing orders from another larger purchaser like the government can be daunting. Especially when there's a specific number of sales you need to meet to comply with the minimum sales requirement.