At this point, you’ve likely seen hundreds of articles published in this series and on our website about GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), the MAS consolidation, the structure, how it works, and on and on. But, what about the VA Federal Supply Schedule Service (FSS) Program? Most of the questions our consulting team sees come through our online chat or via email are about the GSA MAS program but today, we’ll be shining some light on the MAS program’s not-so-little sibling, the VA FSS Program managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
What is Sold Under VA FSS?
Simply put, the VA FSS Program is home to medical equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals, and services. Offerings from vendors that fall under Federal Supply Classification (FSC) Groups 65 and 66, and services in FSC 621 for Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing Services and Medical Laboratory Testing and Analysis Services, are sold through VA FSS, rather than GSA MAS.
Generally, products and services that are intended for medical use or human health purposes are within scope of one of the VA FSS Program. In contrast to GSA MAS, VA FSS has 9 separate solicitations and Schedules which house these medical offerings which are listed below:
- 621 I – Professional and Allied Healthcare Staffing Services
- 621 II – Medical Laboratory Testing and Analysis Services
- 65 I B – Pharmaceuticals and Drugs
- 65 II A – Medical Equipment and Supplies
- 65 II C – Dental Equipment and Supplies
- 65 II F – Patient Mobility Devices
- 65 V A – X-Ray Equipment and Supplies
- 65 VII – Invitro Diagnostics, Reagents, Test Kits, and Test Sets
- 66 III – Clinical Analyzers, Laboratory, Cost-Per-Test
It’s important to note that these are separate Schedule contracts, meaning that if your company offers products or services that cross between the scope of multiple Schedules, it may be necessary to hold more than one VA FSS contract.
Of the 9 schedules listed above, the most popular are 621 I, 621 II, and 65 II A.
Who Uses VA FSS to Purchase?
Although the program is managed by the VA, the same government agencies which are authorized to purchase using GSA MAS under GSA Order ADM 4800.2F, Eligibility to Use GSA Sources of Supply and Services are eligible to procure products and services via VA FSS. State and Local government customers may even utilize VA FSS contracts, under the GSA Disaster Purchasing Program. Contractors should keep note of which sales are VA sales, and which are from other government agencies for tracking and assessment compliance purposes.
How Much is Spent through VA FSS?
Now that we know who can buy via VA FSS, let’s take a look at how much they’re buying. Just like GSA MAS, VA FSS retains sales data which is representative of quarterly sales figures reported to VA FSS by contractors in their own Schedule Sales Query (SSQ) through the Office of Procurement, Acquisition and Logistics (OPAL).
It’s important to note that these figures are not considered “official” by VA, and the figures should be used for informational purposes only. For more definitive data on awards and contract actions valued over $10K, we recommend researching in FPDS.gov or the SAM.gov Data Bank. Nonetheless, the data available in VA SSQ can provide context for competitive analysis and strategic modification efforts. This information can be found on the OPAL webpage.
In Fiscal Year (FY)2023, the data breaks down like this for 3 select VA FSS:
Schedule 621 I: $227,292,523 in VA Sales, $406,431,916 in sales to other government agencies, $1,748,138 in sales to state and local agencies.
Schedule 621 II: $144,748,696 in VA Sales, $4,328,040 in sales to other government agencies, $0 in sales to state and local agencies.
Schedule 65 II A: $1,360,764,527 (yes, BILLION) in VA Sales, $193,959,821 in sales to other government agencies, $65,581,244 in sales to state and local agencies.
As you can see, VA FSS represents a massive marketplace for medical supplies, services, and equipment that you don’t want to miss out on.
Key Differences from GSA MAS
Although the VA FSS program stands on its own, it’s important to note a few differences between VA FSS contracts and GSA MAS contracts; especially if you are a vendor that might consider both.
- VA FSS contracts have a 10-year period of performance: GSA MAS contracts have a possible period of performance of 20 years. The 10 years are still split into one 5-year base period and a 5-year option period, however.
- The IFF percentage is different: All GSA MAS contractors incorporate an Industrial Funding Fee (IFF) of 0.75%. VA FSS contracts vary by schedule. It’s important to review the solicitation and FSS Vendor Response Document (VRD) relevant to your offer for more information on the correct IFF.
- VA FSS contracts don’t use GSA eMod/eOffer: Any modifications that occur post contract award are submitted via email, rather than in GSA eMod. The same goes for new offers under any VA FSS Schedule.
- TDR is not an option: VA FSS contractors, regardless of which schedule you fall under are not eligible for Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) at this point in time, and all contractors must submit Commercial Sales Practice (CSP) and Most Favored Customer (MFC)
Are You Interested in Getting a VA FSS?
If your company is interested in additional information regarding the VA FSS Program, contact our team of experienced consultants today! Winvale has supported many VA FSS contractors with offer assistance and ongoing contract maintenance across a variety of the 9 Schedules.
