We live in an increasingly digitally connected age, and the federal government is no exception. If your business is in the Information Technology (IT) field, you may be leaving money on the table if you are not actively marketing your products and services to the federal government. While often thought of as out of date in terms of its technology, it’s worth noting that the federal government spends billions on new IT hardware, software, solutions, and services every year. Not only that, but it is also increasing its expenditures in an attempt to create a more connected and secure federal cyber infrastructure.

If you're a GSA Schedule contractor, contract maintenance is crucial to your success. It's essential you stay up to date with the requirements and regulations that apply to GSA contractors, including Human Resources (HR) specific requirements. Along with adhering to HR practices, you must also fulfill other contract maintenance requirements, including sales reporting and modifications. However, the HR requirements are often forgotten about when it comes to maintenance because they are not necessarily frequent action items such as changing information on your Schedule, adjusting prices, or reporting your sales. This blog highlights the crucial HR requirements and other contract maintenance requirements that federal government contractors must meet.

For GSA contract holders, it is no secret that some of the tools used to manage and maintain contracts are slow and outdated.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. 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 FAS Catalog Platform (FCP) which will replace SIP, the Contracting Officer Reporting System (CORS), and the current Price Proposal Template (PPT).

Once you have been awarded a GSA Schedule, your job is unfortunately not over. You must continue to be diligent and maintain your Schedule by complying with government regulations. This includes ensuring your company’s information is frequently updated and relevant to your current offerings, as well as consistently tracking and reporting your sales. Ultimately, lack of compliance with GSA’s regulations can result in the termination of your contract, so let’s focus on what you need to be doing to successfully stay on top of your GSA Schedule.

Upon being awarded a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract, companies officially become contractors in one of the largest and most popular government contracting programs. This, however, does not equal instant success. As much as we would like it to be that easy, you can’t just sit back and watch the orders come in. Once you get your contract, there are a few immediate and long-term things to do to support the foundation for success with your GSA Schedule. What additional steps are required once the contract has been awarded? Let’s break down these crucial first steps.

GSA is planning to release the most anticipated document of the year so far—Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Refresh #16. This Refresh will include SBA size standard updates, Joint Venture (JV) solicitation guidance, and a series of updates to specific Large Categories. This Refresh is expected to come out on May 15, 2023, along with a Mass Modification (Mass Mod). No matter what products or services you offer, this Refresh is applicable to you, and you should be familiar with the changes before accepting the Mass Mod. Here’s what you need to know about this upcoming change.