What You Need to Know About the MAS Solicitation Refresh #9
The newest GSA Schedule Solicitation Refresh is here—on December 17, 2021, GSA released Refresh #9 with an accompanying Mass Modification. How will the changes affect you as a contractor? Contractors have 90 days from the MAS Refresh release date to go into the Mass Mod system and accept the new updates. But before you accept it, you should understand all the changes GSA is making what it means for your Schedule. In a recent blog, we cover all the updates GSA is making in the Solicitation Refresh including decommissioning the Vendor Education Center (VEC), revising the Offer and Modification Price Proposal Templates, and specific changes to the IT, Office Management, and Furniture and Furnishings Large Categories. See all the highlights of the Solicitation Refresh and how to accept the Mass Mod in our blog.
Couldn't make it to last month's Lunch & Learn webinar? Watch it here on demand. We cover what you need to know to ensure your GSA Schedule sales reports are completed in an accurate and timely manner.
This webinar has everything you need to know to start using GSA State, Local, and Tribal programs. This overview course will provide a summary of the programs and tools available to your organization. Highlights include summaries of GSA’s eBuy system, Disaster Preparedness, and the Cooperative Purchasing Program (COOP). Register here.
Learn about the GSA eBuy program, and how it functions to benefit both the government buyer and the vendor. This class will give you the basics to access this unique electronic request-for-quote tool. Register for the event here.
This webinar will explain the nuts and bolts of suspension and debarment, the impact it can have on small businesses, and proactive steps your small business can take to avoid such mishaps in your organization. Register for the event here.
Winvale Webinar
TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2:00 PM ET
Maintaining your GSA Schedule contract is crucial to becoming a successful contractor. Since you can have your contract for up to 20 years, it becomes a living document that needs to grow and change with your business. We know it can be a lot to balance between finding contracting opportunities and making sure you are properly managing your contract.
In this comprehensive webinar, we'll cover everything you need to know about GSA Schedule maintenance. Some topics we'll discuss include:
Compliance
Sales Reporting and IFF Payment
Subcontracting Reporting
Pricing Reductions tracking and the Commercial Sales Practices (CSP)/ Most Favored Customer (MFC)
Trade Agreements Act (TAA) Compliance
Mass Modifications / Solicitation Refreshes
Modifications
Marketing Your Contract
GSA Advantage / eLibrary Pricelist
GSA eBuy
Paid tools / SAM Search for Opportunities
CRITICAL INFORMATION
Contractors Must Report their GSA Advantage! Order Status
Just like we want to know exactly when our packages will arrive at our front doors, government agencies like to know what’s going on with their GSA Schedule orders. GSA recently announced that by April 2022, contractors with 10 or more products not in compliance with order status reporting will be suspended from GSA Advantage! and GSA eBuy.
When government customers place an order, they have access to an order history where they can manage their orders and check order status. In order to avoid concerned calls from customers, contractors should use the Purchase Order (PO) portal or the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to routinely update their order status from “In Process,” to “Shipped,” or indicate if an order is “Backordered” or “Cancelled.” You can learn more about reporting your order status and what to do if you get suspended in our blog.
GSA to expand Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) Across all SINs
GSA recently announced they are planning to expand Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) requirements to all Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) SINs in FY 2022. GSA anticipates all product SINs to become available to TDR in the spring and all services SINs in the summer, but more information will be posted on GSA Interact as it becomes available. It's important to note that if you choose to opt into TDR once it becomes available for your SIN(s), you will not be subject to the Price Reduction Clause (PRC) and Commercial Sales Practices (CSP).
QUICK TIP OF THE MONTH
Best Practices for Sales and IFF Reporting
Since January is a reporting month, it’s crucial to start getting organized. This means knowing when and what you need to report. First, you’ll want to have the following noted on every invoice: GSA Contract Number, DUNS/UEI, SIN, Part Number and/or Service Name and Description. Do NOT charge above the GSA price, but feel free to give spot discounts. Spot discounts can be given either on a service or line item, or on the order as a whole. Spot discounts will not affect your GSA pricing.
Next, ensure that the GSA prompt payment and volume discounts are noted on quotes, proposals, contracts, and invoices. If your GSA Schedule contract(s) call for a volume and prompt payment discount but this is not stated on the invoices, you may be held responsible and need to credit the government at a later date. If you include Open Market items on a GSA order, make sure you mark the items as Open Market to avoid overpaying the IFF fee. Lastly, check if your contract is subject to Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) or not, as this will affect the information you must report and the frequency in which you report. You can learn more about sales and IFF reporting in our blog.
EMERGING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Professional Management/Analytical Support Services
The U.S Department of Energy (DOE), Loan Programs Office (LPO) has issued a solicitation for professional management and analytical services in six specific areas. This opportunity falls under NAICS code 523930 – Investment Advice. The response date for this opportunity is due February 9, 2022, at 10:00am EST. More information can be found under Notice ID 89303022NLP000011.
Brokerage Services
The Department of State plans to award multiple Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quality (IDIQ) contracts for real estate services for a variety of transactions. This opportunity falls under NAICS 531210-Office of Real Estate Agents and Brokers. Offers are due January 31, 2022, at 12:00pm EST. More information can be found under Notice ID 19AQMM21R0118.
RFI Supply Chain Management System
FEMA has issued a sources sought notice requesting information about the availability of a cloud-based supply chain management system. This opportunity falls under NAICS 511210- Software Publishers. The response date for this opportunity is March 1, 2022, at 3:00PM EST. More information c an be found under Notice ID 70FA3022I00000002
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What’s the process of capturing federal government business?
A: To capture federal government business, you should first get to know your government customer’s challenges and express how your product/service offers a solution. It's also important to do some research and scope out the competition. With this research, identify your competitor’s weaknesses and explain why your company offers the best solution. Lastly, include in your proposal a description of the value of your solution.
Q: How can you build a strong online presence?
A: Use your website to your advantage. You should dedicate a specific section to your site to government customers and include case studies, past performance, contact information, and include the appropriate GSA logos. Social media channels are also great platforms to promote your company’s solutions.
Q: Where can you find contract opportunities?
A: One place to find contract opportunities is SAM.gov. You can filter contract opportunities by keyword, agency, notice type, response date, place of performance, and small business designation. Contract opportunities in the form of Requests for Quotes (RFQs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are also posted on GSA eBuy.
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Richmond, VA
Winvale, 3951 Westerre Parkway, Suite 250, Richmond, VA 23233, United States, (202) 296-5505
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