GSA has announced the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation 47QSMD20R0001 - Refresh #5 will be released in November 2020. If you’re a current MAS contractor, this Solicitation Refresh will be accompanied by a Mass Modification that you will need to accept within 30 days of its release. Within this blog, we break down the representation changes in SAM.gov, the clause and GSA template changes, and Large Category-specific updates that come with the new MAS Solicitation Refresh that all impact current and potential contractors. The MAS Solicitation is not “light reading,” but understanding how the solicitation changes with the refreshes could have big implications on your contract and contract compliance! Get the breakdown of the upcoming Solicitation Refresh and the Mass Modification to see how it impacts you.
Don’t miss your Opportunity to Engage with MAS Experts and Policy Makers! Join GSA for MAS Office Hours. This month will cover new and potential offeror topics, including MAS Roadmap. Participants will have a chance to ask the experts anything. Plus, you'll engage with policy makers and network with other vendors.
Join the Market Research Service team to learn more about Requests for Information (RFIs) and how they can be a useful tool for your business. This webinar will bring innovative insights on how to respond to GSA’s RFIs by providing tips and tricks from the experts on how to fill out these important surveys.
Join us for a webinar detailing how to sell to state and local governments through a GSA Schedule contract.
In this webinar, we will help you develop an understanding of GSA state and local government purchasing programs and delve into the eligibility for GSA Schedule contractors. Specifically, we will discuss:
GSA Basics and Recent MAS Updates for Contractors
The Ordering Requirements and Scope of Programs such as:
The Cooperative Purchasing Program;
Disaster Purchasing Program;
Public Health Emergencies Program; and
The 1122 Program
The Requirements for Various State and Local Cooperative Purchasing Vehicles
What You Can Do to Prepare for Phase 3 of the MAS Consolidation
If you have more than one GSA Schedule contract under one Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), you are required to consolidate them as part of Phase 3 of the Multiple Award Schedule Consolidation. Phase 3 began in August 2020, and GSA expects it will take 5 to 10 years to fully complete, but it’s important you begin preparing now.
GSA is working on moving all contracts to one Procurement Contracting Officer (PCO) when possible. Before you are assigned a PCO for the consolidation, you should read through GSA’s Phase 3 Overview and FAQs. Then, you’ll want to assess all your contracts and figure out a consolidation plan. You can start this process by completing the Phase 3 Contractor Checklist and Plan with all your contract information. You will ultimately need to decide whether you want to choose one surviving contract to move forward with or submit an entirely new MAS offer with all your solutions.
Before moving any of your contracts, your PCO will complete checks on your contract file. If you receive any notices from your PCO, you should be sure to respond promptly to move the process along. GSA’s goal is to have all contractor consolidation plans in place by the end of Fiscal Year 2021. For tips on Phase 3, check out our blog on Phase 3 of the Consolidation.
QUICK TIP OF THE MONTH
The Federal Procurement Data System Reports Transition to beta.SAM.gov
The Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) Report Function has completely migrated into beta.SAM.gov. Completed on October 17th, 2020, beta.SAM.gov is now the only place to run contract data reports, and the reports module on FPDS has retired.
You will see that the core data of static, standard, and administrative reports in beta.SAM.gov have not changed. However, the tool used to create ad hoc reports is different. To help ease the change, GSA has worked with users throughout the federal government and industry to develop and hone training videos, reference guides, and FAQs that can help both new and experienced reports users. They have recently added three new videos on drilling, sending and sharing, and using granular filters.
Additionally, users will see some key benefits in the new reports tool, such as an increased maximum number of rows returned from 30,000 to 150,000 rows and an increased maximum number of years of reportable data from five to 12 years. These changes mean you can create a single report with more information, saving time.
EMERGING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Safe Healthcare, Epidemiology, and Prevention Research Development (SHEPheRD) Program IDIQ
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) have issued a pre-solicitation for scientific and technical services in support of the division’s public health programs. The SHEPheRD Program is an IDIQ contract that will provide the CDC scientific, technical, and management expertise related to epidemiology research. This opportunity is listed under NAICS code541714 - Research and Development in Biotechnology. Responses are due no later than December 01, 2020 at 12 p.m. EST. More information can be found on beta.sam.gov under Notice ID: 2021-44934.
GSA Providing Ground Program
The General Services Administration (GSA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have issued a Request for Information (RFI) on resource efficient technologies that improve commercial building health and resilience. The building technology or solution submitted in this response should be innovative, transformational, and either in the pre-commercial or early commercial stage of development. This RFI is listed under NAICS code 541690 – Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. Responses are due by December 7, 2020 at 12 p.m. EST. More information can be found on beta.sam.gov under Notice ID: JEZ47PA0121R0000.
Information Technology and Database Applications Support Services
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Gaithersburg, Maryland campus has released a pre-solicitation for a multiple award IDIQ contract for Information Technology and Database Applications Support Services (ITDASS). The purpose of this contract is to develop measurement science, IT standards reference implications, IT tools, and support scientific and technical information archival projects. This opportunity is a total small business set-aside. Responses are due no later than December 15, at 12 p.m. EST. More information can be found on beta.sam.gov under Notice ID: 1333ND20RNB770014.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How do you complete your subcontracting reports?
A: There are two types of subcontracting reports, individual and summary. Individual Subcontracting Reports (ISR) need to be completed twice a year, and Summary Subcontracting Reports (SSR) only need to be submitted once a year. Contractors under Individual Subcontracting plans have to file the two ISRs and a SSR every year. Contractors on Commercial Subcontracting plans only have a to file a SSR every year. For both report types, you must report your subcontracting numbers by business size and socioeconomic concern and compare these numbers to the goals laid out in your plan. Your reports will be completed online at https://www.esrs.gov/.
Q: What is Direct vs. Indirect Subcontracting?
A: Direct Subcontracting is directly related to work performed under your GSA Schedule. An example would be a contractor that offers facilities maintenance service on their GSA Schedule subcontracting out work to a small business facilities maintenance company. Indirect Subcontracting involves the expenses of running the prime contractor’s business. It is subcontracted out but not directly related to work performed on the prime contractor’s GSA Schedule. An example would be a facilities maintenance prime contractor hiring an accounting firm as a subcontractor to take care of its finances. Contractors with Commercial Subcontracting plans should always report Indirect Subcontracting, while contractors with Individual Subcontracting plans are free to either include or exclude it.
Q: When are subcontracting reports due?
A: For contractors on Individual Subcontracting plans, there are three different dates to keep in mind. There is a mid-year ISR due on April 30 and an annual ISR due on October 30. You also have to submit a SSR by October 30 as well. If you are a contractor with a Commercial Subcontracting plan, you only have to submit a SSR on October 30. These are the usual dates to remember, but GSA has postponed the due date for subcontracting reports this year. The deadline for ISRs that would be due on October 30, 2020 is now November 30, 2020, and the deadline for SSRs is now December 30, 2020.
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