The GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program can give your company a whole new world full of opportunities. Not only is it the leading contract vehicle for the federal government, government buyers often prefer purchasing through the GSA MAS program because contractors are pre-vetted and government buyers know they are getting the best prices available. However, this also means access to the program is not entirely unfettered. Before you can become a federal contractor, you need to make sure you are eligible to sell to the government through a GSA Schedule contract. Contractors must meet a number of requirements before they can pursue a GSA Schedule contract. 

It’s no secret the federal government prioritizes small business participation in federal contracts. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, the federal government awarded $132 billion in prime contract dollars to small businesses and awarded just over $90 billion in subcontracts to small businesses. How does the government accomplish this? As children we were always taught to share, and although it’s slightly more complex and heavily regulated in adulthood, the concept is still very relevant. The federal government requires Other Than Small Businesses (OTSB) to create a “practicable opportunity” for small businesses to participate in federal procurement. One of the ways to accomplish this is through small business subcontracting.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is implementing numerous changes to the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. Phase 3 of the MAS Consolidation kicked off on August 1, 2020, which requires GSA contractors with multiple GSA Schedules to consolidate into one single Schedule. While the exact processes for this transition are still unclear, GSA has provided some guidance for the necessary steps. One thing we know for certain is that contract modifications are required.

First, congratulations on your GSA award—your GSA Schedule contract will prove to be a valuable contracting vehicle for your organization over the next twenty years. We know you went through a lengthy process to receive your GSA Schedule contract, but unfortunately, the work doesn’t stop there. Now that you have received an award, you’re probably asking yourself how to start selling. 

As of August 1st, 2020, GSA officially transitioned into Phase 3 of the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Consolidation. Phase 3 is the final phase of GSA’s plan to migrate all 24 legacy Schedules into one Schedule. Although Phase 2 impacted all GSA Schedule holders, Phase 3 only affects contractors with multiple contracts under one Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) such as the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS). GSA’s goal in the final phase of the MAS Consolidation is for each contractor to have one MAS contract per DUNS number.

If you want to sell your products and services through the GSA Schedule, you’ll need to  know how to find opportunities in your industry. Like any other business decision, federal contracting requires research into potential costs, benefits, and industries. As a GSA Schedule contractor, North American Industry Classification System codes (NAICS) can help you better understand what opportunities exist in your field for advancement in the federal contracting sphere. NAICS codes designate specific industries with specific codes, and these codes are then related to certain Special Item Numbers (SINS) used to classify goods and services on GSA Schedules.