As a GSA Schedule contractor, you have several codes that signify your industry, business size, unique identification, and location. One of these essential codes is the CAGE Code. The Commercial And Government Entity Code, or CAGE Code, is a unique five-character ID used in the government as an identifier for suppliers to the federal government. You may be wondering, how is this code different from your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) or perhaps your old DUNS Number? In this blog, we'll talk about the importance of CAGE Codes to GSA Schedule contractors and how you can get one.

As a government contractor, you have likely become familiar with SAM.gov. There are a number of features in SAM, but arguably the most important is the entity registration feature. Since registering your entity in SAM.gov is required in order to do things like apply for contracts or receive grants from the federal government, this creates a database of thousands of companies. Not only that, but these registrations require resubmission every year in order to remain active. However, the process of updating SAM can be fraught with downfalls that can jeopardize your compliance status and contract opportunities.

One way that contractors can report their GSA sales is through the Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) pilot program. First rolled out in 2016, the TDR program is still evolving, and GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) is preparing to make some updates to the program this fiscal year.

At a time where our economy is dealing with inflation, supply chain issues, and global conflict, you may be wondering how to navigate this rocky and unpredictable market. The commercial market has seen dramatic shifts over the past few years, with certain industries booming and others falling flat. However, one marketplace has remained fairly steady throughout all the fluctuation--the public sector. As one of the biggest buyers in the world, the federal marketplace is always bustling, even during times of economic uncertainty.

Maintaining your GSA Schedule is not only a key to success as a contractor, but it’s essential to keeping your contract for up to 20 years. One fear our clients come to us with is losing their GSA Schedule—while this doesn’t happen with minor infractions, a series of missteps can add up. Losing your GSA Schedule can of course significantly impact your business, but understanding the reasons behind cancellations can help you avoid this pitfall.

In the chaos of government Q4 of the Fiscal Year, contractors are focused on responding to federal opportunities, but may be missing out on key state and local government opportunities as well. There’s a common misconception that contractors can only sell to the federal government through a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract. Along with a list of eligible national and international organizations, GSA contractors can also sell to state and local government as well as tribal governments and certain educational institutions through certain purchasing programs. Most state governments end on June 30 or September 30, meaning now's the time to be searching for these opportunities.