If you are looking into getting a GSA Schedule contract, you’re probably excited about the prospect of selling to government customers, but also wary of some of the less favorable elements of government contracting, like processing times and regulatory requirements. While having a GSA contract does not free you of all the burdens of federal government contracting, it does mean that you can take care of the pricing and terms from the outset so that future contracting is streamlined.

So you have decided to get a GSA Schedule—what’s next? While having a GSA Schedule will certainly be very beneficial for your company, it’s quite an undertaking. A lot of prospective and current GSA contractors decide to hire a consultant to handle their GSA Schedule contract acquisition and maintenance. Should you consider hiring one too?

A GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract is no doubt a great business opportunity—not only does it open doors to a huge pool of government agencies, but the ability to sell directly to the largest buyer of goods and services in the world at pre-negotiated rates and shorter lead times is not something you can find in the commercial market. However, it’s not without effort. If you are interested in becoming a GSA contractor, or if you have recently been awarded a contract, it’s important you are aware of the requirements it takes to maintain a GSA Schedule contract. One of the main requirements is identifying what a GSA sale is and reporting it regularly to GSA. Several clients have come to us wondering what constitutes a GSA sale, so we have created a blog with everything you need to know.

The short answer is no, companies are able to win federal contracts without a GSA Schedule, but you could be limiting your company from capitalizing on prime government business. This is because federal government agencies often look to the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program and other Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) first to purchase goods and services. However, sometimes a GSA Schedule isn’t the right fit for your company, or you may need some time to reevaluate your options. In this blog, we’ll discuss the benefits of holding a GSA Schedule contract and compare it to other government contracting options so you can make the best decision for your company.

If you’ve made the decision to pursue a GSA Schedule contract, one of the first choices you will need to make is whether to go it alone or hire a GSA consultant to help. At first, your instinct might be to save money and handle it internally because you may have a sales or marketing team that deals with your commercial sales. If your company has an individual in mind with government experience and plans to dedicate a significant portion of their time to your GSA Schedule, your instinct may be right. However, it's important to remember that the government marketplace is a whole new ballgame. With regulations, a minimum sales quota, and a myriad of other rules and processes, it can be difficult to navigate.

Working with the government can be a profitable venture for you and your company. The federal government is a consistent customer that can help grow your business opportunities. However, a lot of companies do not have the bandwidth to take on all the administrative, pricing, and compliance measures that maintaining a GSA Schedule contract requires. GSA and government contracting as a whole can be a confusing with all the government jargon and regulations you need to follow. This is why a lot of contractors choose to hire a GSA consultant to help them navigate the government marketplace, get their GSA Schedule awarded, and to maintain it for up to 20 years.