Government Contracting Blog

One of the most challenging aspects of being a GSA contract holder with a Multiple Award Schedule (GSA MAS) is maintaining compliance under the Trade Agreements Act. On the surface, the agreement seems simple: the GSA must only acquire U.S.-made and TAA-compliant products under the MAS program. However, non-compliance can occur because the TAA has implemented several grants through trade treaties to signatory countries, which have been given the ability to supply non-discriminated commercial products to the U.S. The TAA has also developed grants to discriminate and prohibit the supply of products from non-signatory countries. Needless to say, this agreement has often left MAS contract holders confused on its true meaning.