There can be a lot of confusion around the GSA and their contracting terminology. From schedules to identification codes, learn all you need to know about improving your chances of winning contracts through a GSA Schedule here.
What is a GSA Schedule?
A GSA Schedule is a contracting program provided by the General Services Administration (GSA). It acts as a pre-approved list of vendors that the government can purchase goods and services from without going through a lengthy and repetitive procurement process for each applicant.
This speeds up the evaluation and selection process, making it easier for agencies to purchase products and services from pre-approved vendors. It also provides businesses just like yours with a significant opportunity to secure government contracts without repeated bidding processes over and over.
What is a GSA Schedule number?
Each GSA Schedule, representing a category of products or services, is assigned a distinct schedule number. These numbers help both government agencies and vendors quickly identify and refer to a particular GSA Schedule.
For example, the GSA Schedule number for IT products and services is sometimes referred to as GSA Schedule 70 or GSA IT70.
Multiple Award Schedule
MAS, or Multiple Award Schedules, is a program that further streamlines the acquisition of goods and services by establishing pre-negotiated, long-term contracts with multiple commercial vendors. Under the MAS program, GSA creates individual schedules or categories, each focusing on specific types of products or services.
When people talk about “GSA Schedules,” they are often referring to the specific categories within the broader MAS program. Each GSA Schedule is like a specialized catalog of approved vendors and their offerings within a particular industry or service area, making it easier for government agencies to find and purchase what they need.
List of GSA Schedules
There are 12 major categories for GSA Schedules, each representing a different industry that the government commonly purchases from. These categories are:
- Facilities (e.g. food service equipment, facilities maintenance/repair)
- Furniture and Furnishings (e.g. flooring, signs, packaged furniture, office furniture)
- Human Capital (e.g. HR, background checks, social services)
- Industrial Products and Services (e.g. packaging, cleaning supplies, tools/machinery)
- Information Technology (e.g. IT hardware/software, telecommunications)
- Miscellaneous (e.g. apparel, SINs, hair care items, musical instruments)
- Office Management (e.g. printing equipment, mail management, document services)
- Professional Services (e.g. marketing/PR, financial services, identity protection services)
- Scientific Management and Solutions (e.g. lab equipment, medical equipment, testing/analysis)
- Security and Protection (e.g. protective equipment, security systems)
- Transportation and Logistics (e.g. motor vehicles, auto repair, transportation of items)
- Travel (e.g. employee relocation, lodging)
GSA Schedule contracts
GSA Schedule contracts are the specific agreements (often IDIQ contracts) between the GSA and individual vendors within those categories. Once a business has won a GSA Schedule contract, you are part of the pre-approved list of vendors we discussed above.
Eligibility
Before you go down the rabbit hole of putting together a GSA Schedule proposal, it’s crucial to first verify that you actually qualify to be a GSA contractor. GSA wants to make sure that you’re a reliable company with some experience under your belt, solid financials, and the ability to offer products or services that follow the government’s preferences and guidelines. Here are the key requirements for your company to be added to a GSA Schedule and start looking for contracts:
- The company has to have been in business for at least 2 years
- Provide full Statements of Work (SoW) and descriptions for similar past projects
- Products must be in compliance with the Trade Agreements Act (TAA) — e.g. not produced in non-TAA countries like Russia or China
- May require Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) ratings or customer references
How to get on a GSA Schedule
Getting on a GSA Schedule involves a structured application and negotiation process with the GSA that can vary by industry and must follow all instructions to the letter:
- Perform a readiness assessment (an Authorized Negotiator must complete this)
- Read the MAS solicitation and category attachments (this will include compliance terms, evaluation criteria, etc.)
- Review checklist for new offerors (minimum requirements by category)
- Complete necessary registrations (SAM, UEI, and eOffer)
- Gather required information (learn more about GSA’s required formats, restrictions, templates, etc. here)
- Review and submit your offer
- Maintain post-award compliance (ongoing adherence to terms and conditions)
Get on a GSA Schedule without the hassle
At FAMR, we have years of experience working with the federal government and learning all the intricate ways that things need to be done to their satisfaction. This burden and stress of making sure every detail is formatted exactly how GSA wants it is typically on you, the business owner, which leads to many applicants being rejected or abandoning their submissions out of frustration. By taking this off your shoulders and streamlining the process, we enable you to focus on growing and improving your business instead of getting in the weeds on federal form filling. Learn more about our registration services or talk to our team of experts today!
