Companies that hold GSA Contract or plan to submit a proposal should know GSA plans to issue Refresh Number 5 of the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation 47QSMD20R0001 soon. During a webinar last week, GSA briefed industry on Refresh 5 changes, which include administrative and template updates, as well as Special Item Number (SIN) additions and updates.
When Does GSA Plan to Release Refresh 5?
You can expect GSA to issue the Refresh 5 update of the MAS Solicitation on beta.SAM.gov on November 9, 2020.
What Changes are Included in Refresh 5?
The latest refresh will include three solicitation-wide changes, along with category specific changes to Professional Services.
Solicitation-Wide Changes
The following refresh 5 changes impact all GSA MAS Contracts:
- Incorporation of new Section 889 “Part B” Representation Requirement in the System for Award Management (SAM). Last month, we reviewed Section 889 Part B, which prohibits government contractors from using certain prohibited telecom. As of October 26, 2020, companies can indicate in SAM if they use prohibited telecom. GSA is considering adding a notification banner to GSA Advantage to make government buyers aware that this representation is now made in SAM.
- Removal of GSAR 552.204-70 Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment. This clause is being removed because it is now duplicative and no longer needed.
- Update of vendor templates for Agent Authorization Letter and Request to Hold Continuous Contracts. Companies that have submitted an Agent Authorization Letter or a Request to Hold Continuous Contracts will not have to resubmit. However, the updated templates must be used for any requests submitted after Refresh 5 is released.
Category Specific Changes
Refresh 5 will include the addition of seven new SINs and the definition change of two existing SINs. All of the SIN changes are within the Professional Services Large Category.
SIN Additions
Learn more about the SIN additions in our post on the expansion of Professional Services here.
- 562910RMI Environmental Remediation Services – Multiple Industries
- 541713 Research and Development in Nanotechnology
- 541714 Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)
- 541715AIR Engineering Research and Development for Aircraft, Aircraft Engines and Engine Parts
- 541715APM Engineering Research and Development for: Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment, Guided Missiles and Space Vehicles, Their Propulsion Units and Propulsion Parts
- 541330EMI Engineering Services Related to Military, Aerospace Equipment, or Military Weapons, the National Energy Policy Act of 1992, Marine Engineering and/or Naval Architecture
- 541720 Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
SIN Updates
See below for the two Professional Services SIN updates.
- SIN 562910REM | GSA is revising the description of SIN 562910REM, Environmental Remediation Services, to distinguish it from one of the new SINs, 562910RMI. The new description for the Environmental Remediation Services SIN will clarify “Remediation services encompassing three (3) or more industries/NAICS codes, where the preponderance of work is at least 50% under NAICS 562910, should be solicited and performed under SIN 562910RMI”. During last week’s webinar, GSA strongly encouraged companies that hold SIN 562910REM to add SIN 562910RMI when it becomes available to have total coverage.
- SIN 541690 | GSA plans to change the scope of SIN 541690, which was previously titled, “Integrated Logistics Support”. Refresh 5 will rename the SIN, “Technical Consulting Services”. If you currently hold SIN 541690 and cannot offer services under the new description, GSA recommends that you request a modification to delete the SIN after you accept Refresh 5. If you plan to keep the SIN despite the change, you will have to update your pricelist to reflect the new SIN title.
SIN 541690 New Title: Technical Consulting Services
SIN 541690 New Description: Services include providing advice and assistance on technical domains and issues (except those covered by the environmental, energy, and IT consulting SINs on this Schedule). Typical associated tasks include, but are not limited to: strategic planning, feasibility analysis, requirements determination, policy interpretation and support, process analysis and/or development, research studies, testing (other than laboratory testing), program analysis, and associated support tasks.
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