What is a General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule?
Getting a GSA Schedule contract, also known as a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract, is your lowest cost entry into the Federal Marketplace! Your Schedule contract is the only type of Federal contract that gives you access to 100% of the Federal Government customers worldwide. It provides access to other authorized non-government customers and in some circumstances, state and local governments can use the contract, too. Overall sales in Government Fiscal Year 2025 exceeded $51.5 Billion under the MAS Program.
What is the purpose of a GSA Schedule?
- To facilitate and simplify the Government procurement process
- Includes Pre-negotiated Pricing & Terms and Conditions
- Majority of work completed by GSA to the benefit of government customer
- To Speed the procurement process
- Purchase cycle time reduced for federal and other eligible buyers
- To allow a wide variety of contractors to participate and provides an abundance of choice for the Government Buyer
- Almost any commercial product or service can be sold through a GSA Schedule – from office supplies to nuclear engineers
What are the benefits to having a GSA Schedule Contract?
The General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule Program was created to streamline the federal procurement process. The buying process for eligible agencies is simplified because GSA has completed the bulk of the procurement process on behalf of government buyers.
What are the Benefits for Contractors?
- It acts as a “seal of approval” for contractors
- Opens doors into the government market. It is a hunting license to compete for business with any Federal agency various non-governmental/quasi-governmental organizations and, even state and local governments in some circumstances
- Builds brand recognition in government marketplace
- Differentiates you from non-schedule vendors offering the same services/products
- Simplifies ordering procedures for the Government Customer under GSA Regulations (GSAR) Subpart 538.71— Federal Supply Schedule Ordering Procedures
- Reduces time from requisition to order
- Allows the use of online ordering on GSA Advantage and GSA eBuy
- Wide-scope IDIQ (Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity) contract
- Over 2,800 authorized buying activities
- Direct customer relationship – GSA is not a middleman
- Offers under customer task orders can be customized
- Fast order/payment procedure – positive cash flow
- Lowest cost barrier to entry into the federal market
What are the Benefits for Government Customers?
- Fast, Simple Ordering Process
- No Order Limitations
- A SAM.gov Synopsis is Not Required
- GSA Schedule Pricing is Pre-Determined by GSA to be “Fair and Reasonable”
- Schedule Contracts can include both Products and Services
- Simplified ordering process to be followed by Government Contracting Officers (COs)
- Payment can be made through a Government Purchase Card (Visa or Mastercard)
- GSA Schedule Contracts Meet All Applicable Regulations & Competition Requirements
- Customers can Limit Competitive Evaluations based on GSA regulations
- Less taxing on evaluating team
- Minimal Protest Exposure – Less aggravation, delay
- Direct Relationship with the Contractor – GSA is not the middleman
Flexible features of the GSA Schedules program increase convenience and effectiveness for ordering activities. These include:
- Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) are similar to commercial accounts – GSA Schedules simplify the acquisition process. BPA’s improve on this convenience by allowing one or more vehicles to satisfy ongoing needs for the same supplies or service(s). BPA’s save time for both ordering activities that enjoy reduced prices on high-volume buying, and Schedule contractors who enjoy the continued benefits of regular sales. GSAR 7104-1 outlines usage of FSS Blanket Purchase Agreements.
- Contractor Team Arrangements (CTAs) – CTAs enable greater options for both ordering activities and contractors. Through CTAs, Schedules contractors can meet government agency needs they would not otherwise be able to meet individually, allowing contractors to expand business opportunities. Ordering activities have the convenience of a single solution for a wide range of requirements, precluding the need to negotiate with multiple contractors.
- Small Business Utilization – Small businesses succeed with the Schedules program by establishing CTAs, BPAs or subcontracting opportunities with larger businesses. These options also assist ordering activities and large businesses with GSA contracts to meet their socio-economic small business procurement goals.
Have Questions About the Schedules Program?
Our consulting staff and leadership will provide you with the highest quality of services focused on your GSA and/or VA Schedules objectives. No one knows the Schedules Program more thoroughly from both an industry and government perspective, is more up-to-date on Schedule Policy and changes, or is better known by the Schedule Program Officials than The Gormley Group (TGG).
The Gormley Group (TGG) is a government contracts consulting company with unparalleled government contracting domain expertise. TGG consultants and management team have over 350 years of accumulated contracting knowledge and have provided our services to thousands of businesses of all sizes. We provide offer preparation, compliance and contract management support for GSA/VA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) and other federal and state contracting vehicles such as OASIS+, SEWP, 2GIT BPA, CMAS, TXMAS and US Communities. TGG is proud that the majority of our business is referrals which come from all areas of industry and government and we were named an Inc. Magazine Business to Business Power Partner Award Winner.