GSA Schedules
SAM Minor Name and Address Changes Fix Coming Soon
Per Buy.GSA.Gov: “In July, we shared an Interact post informing you of an issue related to the entity validation process and certain minor punctuation (periods, commas, etc.) and abbreviations in a business name; or the address may have changed. These minor changes resulted in a mismatch between an entity’s name in SAM.gov and our MAS systems. This mismatch then triggered a Name Change/Novation and/or Address Change modification notification.
The MAS PMO has been working on a system solution to correct minor name and address changes in our systems. We are excited to share that in April the solution will be implemented!FAS’ position is that SAM.gov reflects the legal business names of an entity, and as such, our systems should reflect that legal business name. The solution is to do a robomod that will replace the name when there are minor discrepancies between the name and address in SAM.gov and our systems. The system will also send you a copy of the modification that updated the name and/or address.” To read more, click here. [March 2023]
GWCM PMO Common and Defense-Centric Spend Tables (CDCST)
The GWCM PMO is excited to announce it has completed updates to the Common and Defense-Centric Spend Tables (CDCST) dashboard. The purpose of the update was to streamline functionality and bring the CDCST up to the standards of the other GWCM PMO dashboards; there is no new data being shared. Key features of the updated dashboard include:
- Comparative visuals showing GWCM and Defense-centric spend on the same page for ease of summarization and briefing to higher executives
- Preservation of existing functionality of previous small business and obligation tables
- New PSC finder tool to allow users to explore GWCM and defense-centric taxonomy, along with additional transparency on GWCM taxonomy exclusions
If you have any questions or additional feedback, please email govtwidecmdashboards@gsa.gov. [February 2023]
New Requirement for Registering a Contract with the Vendor Support Center
Attention MAS Contractors,
As part of GSA’s ongoing commitment to your privacy and security, there is a new requirement for registering a contract with the Vendor Support Center (VSC). Previously, all that was needed to register was a Contract Number and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). As of February 16, 2023, you must also be an Authorized Negotiator to register a contract. Note: This requirement does not apply to VA contracts.
If you are not listed on the contract as an Authorized Negotiator or Authorized Negotiator to Sign, an administrative modification must be submitted to update the contract. If you need assistance, please contact the help desk at eoffer@gsa.govor 1-866 472-9114. To read, click here. [February 2023]
Updated Model Subcontracting Plans
The GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program is implementing new subcontracting plan templates. Effective January 25, 2023, we updated Commercial and Individual Subcontracting Plans. Model Subcontracting Plans are often used as a tool by “other than small businesses (OTSB)” to complete their small business subcontracting plans when the total value of the acquisition exceeds $750,000. Contracting officers also use Model Subcontracting Plans to understand the statutory requirements.
The updated plans affect new offers and new subcontracting plans as of January 25, 2023. The updated model subcontracting plans templates are very similar to the previous subcontracting plan templates other than a few minor updates which include:
- Text under “Identification Data” to add back the “Projected Annual Sales” line as required in FAR 52.219-9(d)(2) – specific to Commercial Subcontracting Plans only
- The references of DUNS to UEI
- The name of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) to APEX Accelerators
- A few of the hyperlinks within the templates to link to the current websites
- Subcontracting plan thresholds were removed from the templates and come from FAR 19.702
- The references to statutory goals and replaced the references with the Agency-wide Subcontracting goals since subcontracting goals are not statutory
- The footnote regarding “good faith effort” to include the FAR reference (FAR 19.705-7)
- Other minor administrative updates
To read more, click here. [January 2023]
GSA Fall 2022 MAS Industry Newsletter Is Available Now!
What’s New:
- GSA Optimizes Opportunities for Small Businesses Through SBA 8(a) Partnership Agreement
- Multiple Award Schedule Contract Modification Process: Best Practices and Frequently Asked Questions
- New Threshold and Other Updates to GSA Advantage Order Status
- Multiple Award Schedule Program Working to Address Inflationary Impacts
- Removing Non-Compliant Products from MAS Contracts and GSA Advantage
To read the newsletter, click here. [December 2022]
Transactional Data Reporting: A Logical Step in the Evolution of the MAS Program
In 2016, the General Services Administration issued a final rule to amend the GSA Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to require that vendors report transactional data from, among other things, GSA Schedules orders. Currently, in evaluating Schedules pricing, GSA makes use of two tools: the Commercial Sales Practices (CSP) format which identifies, for each Special Item Number (SIN) under a Schedules contract, the sales and pricing information juxtaposed to pricing (including discounts) provided to an identified Most Favored Customer (MFC), and the Price Reduction Clause (PRC), which requires the identification of a customer that serves as the basis of award and how changes in prices to that customer will affect the government. To read more, click here. [October 2022]
Action Required for Wisconsin GSA Schedule Holders
Schedule Input Program (SIP) version 9.0 will be released at the end of October and GSA Schedule contract holders will need to upgrade from SIP 8.0 to SIP 9.0. This version will include both security upgrades and changes to the user interface. Additionally, with this upgrade, Windows 10 or greater will be required. The SIP program is used to register you contract with GSA and to create and manage price list entries for GSA Advantage including – additions, deletions, price changes and Sales events. Don’t wait until the last minute!
For more information on this change, please click here.
To stay up to date with changes to the MAS program, follow the MAS interact, here. [October 2022]
Memorandum For FAS Heads of Contracting Activity
On March 17, 2022, Acquisition Letter MV-22-02 was issued to provide a temporary moratorium on the enforcement of certain limitations contained in certain GSA EPA contract clauses. Various factors such as inflation, supply chain shortages, and price volatility continue to significantly impact the global economy.
This Supplement updates the temporary flexibilities on certain limitations contained in certain GSA EPA contract clauses and extends the temporary moratorium on the enforcement of such limitations to March 31, 2023. These steps are taken in recognition of the ongoing impact of various factors on GSA contractors and their ability to support federal agencies. To read more on this memorandum, click here. [September 2022]
General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules, also known as Federal Supply Schedules, and Multiple Award Schedules (MAS), are long-term government wide contracts with commercial companies to sell commercial products and services to the government. Schedules make buying easy and efficient with the use of modern technology to connect government buyers and industry. Schedules are designed to provide discount resources to all GSA federal agencies worldwide. A contract holder can sell to any government agency with just one source, instead of having separate contracts with each agency.
Getting a GSA Schedule contract does not guarantee business with the Government. Your contract will need to be managed, marketed, and you will need to actively pursue opportunities to work with the Government.
GSA Schedule prices are available to the public and businesses can search the GSA schedules to see what other contractors are charging for the same or similar goods and services.
Learn more through GSA’s website – Are Schedules a Good Fit for Me?
GSA eLibrary is the one source for latest GSA contract award .
GSA Advantage is GSA’s online catalog.
For additional information on GSA Schedules, please contact our staff of experts at apexaccelerator@wispro.org or 414-270-3600.
