For businesses seeking to enter the world of government contracts, the General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), popularly known as GSA Schedule, provides an excellent opportunity to add sustainable sales to your business. For those of you who are familiar with our previous blogs, you’ll know that getting a GSA Schedule allows for government agencies to procure your products and services at pre-negotiated prices, streamlining the procurement process of other contracting vehicles. However, the requirements to get on a GSA Schedule differ depending on what solutions you have to offer. While the requirements for offering products and services on a GSA Schedule share some similarities, there are also distinct differences.

The world of GSA is full of acronyms--IFF, MFC, CSP, CAV, it can be hard to keep up. Contractors should be aware of all maintenance and compliance aspects associated with their GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract, and one of the most important recurring measures for GSA contractors is the Contractor Assessment Visit (CAV).

Obtaining a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) is a long, multi-step process. Before you can submit your offer in eOffer/eMod, you need to make sure you have gathered all documentation for the administrative, technical, and pricing section. Constructing all these necessary documents will allow your company to demonstrate your ability to provide your products/ services to GSA.

If you are a current GSA contractor or potentially looking to sell products or services on the GSA Schedule, you’ll need to know how to find opportunities in your industry. Federal contracting requires research into potential costs, benefits, and initiatives like any other business decision. As a GSA Schedule Contractor, the North American Industry Classification System codes (NAICS) can help you better concisely comprehend what opportunities exist in your field for success in the federal marketplace, and can help your company determine if you are considered a small business.

Right at the heels of Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation Refresh #16 which was released in late May, GSA has announced the release of Solicitation Refresh #17. By the end of July 2023, GSA plans to release Refresh #17 along with a Mass Modification. This Refresh will include changes to the overall solicitation as well as specific Large Category changes, so this applies to all GSA Schedule contractors no matter what product or service you offer. Here’s what you need to know about this update, so you are prepared for when it’s released.

There are several different avenues you can take to do business with the federal government through the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. Federal agencies are focused on procuring total solutions, so this often requires businesses to form partnerships in order to win larger opportunities. Now that Joint Ventures are becoming a hot topic in the MAS realm, there is a lot of talk about what kinds of partnerships are available to companies looking to be a part of the GSA Schedules program. Two of the most common methods to create a successful partnership are the Contractor Teaming Arrangement (CTA) and a prime/subcontractor agreement. However, both of these methods can prove to be very confusing for GSA contractors trying to differentiate between the two. In order to determine which method is best for you and your organization, you’ll need to answer the following 5 questions about CTAs and prime/subcontracting agreements: