If you’ve done any research into GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts, you’ll see one key phrase used a lot: “Contract compliance.” But what does it mean? Contracts in any sphere can be complicated, and government contracts are especially difficult, as government buyers and sellers have to abide by procurement regulations established in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Any business that holds a GSA contract or is looking to acquire one needs to be aware of the terms and conditions that are applicable to their company. Failing to be compliant with those terms and conditions can have serious consequences for your GSA contract.

The changes keep on coming—GSA has announced advanced notice of Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation Refresh #13. On June 30, 2022, GSA will release Refresh #13, which includes a number of significant changes to the MAS Solicitation. As we saw in MAS Refresh #12, GSA gave notice of retiring certain Special Item Numbers (SINs), and in Refresh #13, they plan to officially eliminate these SINs. Unlike Refresh #12, Refresh #13 will be accompanied by a Mass Modification. This means once the Refresh is released, contractors will have 90 days to review and accept the modification.

GSA Schedule deliveries are an essential part of maintaining not only a good relationship with buyers but also maintaining contract compliance. When creating an offer, you establish shipping/delivery terms and abiding by these terms is an essential part of compliance. In an effort to help buyers and sellers, GSA Advantage! has been sending out an order status for contract holders. This status takes shipping/delivery statuses and times and assigns a score (in percentage). GSA has recently cracked down on GSA Advantage! order status, and if this score gets below 50%, your business could be in jeopardy of being suspended by GSA Advantage!. This is just one of the many reasons it’s essential that you know your company’s delivery terms and best practices associated with them.

The 4th quarter always seems to be the most important--whether it’s in a football game where a quarterback is running a 2-minute drill while down one score, a basketball team is rallying back from a deficit and banking on a buzzer beater to take home the win, or even discussing government spending toward the end of the fiscal year when government agencies are rushing to use up their annual budget. One statistic that stands out to rookies and seasoned contracting veterans alike is that nearly one-third (yes, 1/3!) of federal contract dollars are awarded during Q4 of the government’s fiscal year. With agencies spending the remainder of their annual budget, and a rising need to procure a larger volume of products and services, the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program becomes a key vehicle for both buyers and sellers.

Just like the commercial world, it’s important to periodically research what the current federal marketplace looks like and where it may be headed. Tracking federal government spending allows you know which agencies are spending the most money and what they are most interested buying. As we move through the 3rd quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, the government is gearing up for the Q4 spending spree, so it's important to take note of agencies' procurement habits and how your business can prepare.

The road to becoming a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contractor is a lengthy and often arduous process, but once awarded, your business will be in position to sell to the federal government for up to 20 years. As we all know, a lot can happen in 20 years, and while contracts have the reputation of being binding, your GSA Schedule is supposed to grow and adapt with your company.