Beta.SAM and SAM.gov will become one official website
GSA is preparing for the final transition to SAM.gov. On May 24, 2021, GSA will merge beta.SAM.gov and SAM.gov, retiring the “beta” part. SAM.gov will then become the official website for people who make, receive, and manage federal awards. Here’s what you need to know.
The homepage, help pages, and search bar will all have a new design based on comments from the feedback tool from its users. Additionally, the main menu will be easier for contractors to navigate. There will also be a “homepage” for each of the system's different functions: wage determinations, contract opportunities, and assistance listings. Entity registrations will be added in May with the merge.
GSA made sure to release the design early back in April, so contractors would have time to adjust and get used to the new look and functionality of SAM.gov. For more information on the new design, check out our blog.
If you are interested in getting on a GSA Schedule, do not miss this webinar! The Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) will be outlining what your small business needs to understand to get on the GSA Schedule. Claim your virtual seat here.
To be successful, businesses should take a strategic approach to marketing and selling their goods and services to the government. GSA’s OSDBU follow-up presentation will help small business learn the how to develop a solid marketing plan with a targeted approach to government purchasing. Register here.
GSA offers these monthly webinars to prospective and current industry partners to discuss various complex MAS topics and answer questions from industry partners. This month's webinar will be about your Basis of Award customer. Get your questions ready and sign up here.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Couldn't make it to last month's Lunch & Learn webinar? Watch it here on demand. Learn how to make yourself visible to government customers and effectively market your GSA Schedule contract.
On May 17, 2021, GSA will issue the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation 47QSMD20R0001 - Refresh # 6. Once the Solicitation is released, GSA contractors will have 90 days to accept the accompanying Mass Modification. Only authorized negotiators with a valid GSA FAS ID will be able to sign the Mass Mod, so make sure you have the right people listed in the Mass Mod system.
As a GSA contractor, it’s important you understand what changes are being made in the Solicitation Refresh and how they will impact you. The Solicitation Refresh #6 includes implementation of the Verified Products Portal (VPP), updates to DocuSign and GSA FAS ID, and a temporary waiver of certain offeror requirements to support the government’s response to COVID-19. You can get the breakdown of all the changes in the Solicitation Refresh in our recent blog.
QUICK TIP OF THE MONTH
Return Your Phase 3 Consolidation Checklist by September 30
In August 2020, GSA launched Phase 3 of the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Consolidation. In Phase 1, the GSA consolidated the 24 legacy schedules down to a single Schedule. In Phase 2, the GSA sent out a Mass Modification to update contractors on the new terms and conditions for the new solicitation. Now, during Phase 3, contractors who have multiple contracts per unique entity identifier (UEI) will have to begin the process of consolidating their MAS contracts down to one contract.
Contractors who are impacted by Phase 3 of Consolidation will be assigned a Procurement Contracting Officer (PCO), who will work with contractors to plan how to best move forward with their contract consolidation.
In order to be fully prepared for Phase 3, contractors should read through the Phase 3 Overview and FAQs and complete the Contractor Checklist (located on page 6 of the FAQ) and return it to their PCO by September 30.
EMERGING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
General Electric Engineering Services
The Department of Defense has issued a pre-solicitation for electric engineering services to maintain systems contained within multiple classes of Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships. MSC ships require a range of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts and technical services, and the DoD is looking to award an IDIQ contract with a 5-year ordering period. This opportunity is listed under primary NAICS Code 541330 - Engineering Services. Responses are due by June 7, 2021 at 2 p.m. EDT. More information can be found under Notice ID: N3220521R4113.
Scientific, Technical, Engineering, and Program Support Services
The Department of Defense has released a pre-solicitation for the research, development, and testing support of three functional areas: Engineering Support, Research and Technology, and Integration Support. This opportunity is a partial small business set-aside listed under NAICS Code 541 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services. Responses are due by July 6, 2021 at 5 p.m. EDT. More information can be found under Notice ID: W911SR-19-R-STEPSS.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What do I need to know about the SAM.gov registration extension?
A: SAM.gov is currently experiencing a significantly higher volume of requests than usual, in part due to stimulus measures such as the American Rescue Plan Act. To help ease some of the administrative headache, a 180-day extension has been instituted for SAM.gov registrations that expire between April 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021. This extension only affects businesses who are re-registering and no current action is needed. SAM.gov will automatically add 180 days to any expiration date between April 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021. You can check your company’s SAM.gov account or use the “Search Records” function to view your entity’s registration expiration date.
Q: What should I do if I need to update my SAM.gov record during this extension period?
A: You will be able to update your SAM.gov record as usual during this extension period and should do so if there are any significant changes that normally require an update in SAM.gov, such as a change in business size. The 180-day extension also does not apply if your registration expired before April 1, 2021. If that is the case, you should re-register through your SAM.gov account as soon as possible. It may take longer than usual to re-register as GSA continues to work through their backlog. If you need any help with registering or re-registering your SAM.gov account, you may find these SAM.gov Registration FAQs helpful!
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