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GSA MAS Consolidation

The GSA Schedules Program Circa October 2019

Up until October 1, 2019, the General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) program consisted of 24 GSA Schedules. Each GSA Schedule was a negotiated contract that companies could obtain to offer a type of product or service to government agencies. For example, there was a GSA Schedule for IT products and services, one for security solutions, and another for furniture. Each GSA Schedule had its own solicitation with varying requirements, clauses, terms and conditions. Depending on what your company offered, you could have been eligible to pursue multiple GSA Schedules. That is — until the GSA MAS Consolidation.

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What is the GSA MAS Consolidation?

On September 30, 2019, GSA released a single MAS Contract that incorporates all products and services covered under the 24 legacy GSA Schedules, which are now closed to new offers. You can view GSA’s new Multiple Award Schedule Solicitation on SAM.gov here.

Why Did GSA Create
a Single MAS Schedule?

The GSA MAS Consolidation is part of an initiative to simplify the buying process for government agencies, the selling process for contractors, and the overall contract acquisition and management process for all parties. GSA spent over a year gathering feedback during industry days and reviewing surveys completed by government agencies and contractors. The consensus was that:

  • Contractors that qualified for more than one GSA Schedule are frustrated by the inconsistent path to obtain each Schedule and the deviation in terms and conditions.
  • Obtaining and then managing multiple GSA Schedules is a challenging task for contractors, particularly when clauses like the Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) vary across their GSA Schedule Contracts.
  • Duplication in products and services across some of the GSA Schedules causes confusion and uncertainty for buyers and contractors.

What is the Process & Timeline for
the GSA MAS Consolidation?

Phase One

GSA reviewed the terms and conditions for each GSA Schedule. They then determined if each clause was contract wide, category specific, or obsolete. Multiple variations of the same clause were merged into one final version. Duplicate and obsolete clauses — approximately 150 in all — will be deleted.

Each GSA Schedule is broken down into Special Item Numbers (SINs). GSA reviewed all existing SINs and consolidated more than 900 SINs into just over 300 SINs. Unlike the existing GSA Schedules, the new MAS Schedule will be broken down into categories, subcategories, and then SINs. GSA followed the Government-Wide Category Management structure as closely as possible when determining categories.

At midnight on September 30, 2019 – the final day of the 2019 government fiscal year – GSA will close all 24 GSA Schedules to new offers. On October 1, 2019, GSA will release the single GSA MAS Schedule. This date is important, particularly if you are in the process of pursuing a GSA Schedule Contract. GSA will continue to review any offers received by September 30, 2019. However, starting the following day, you’ll have to submit your proposal following the new MAS Schedule solicitation.

Phase Two

Existing GSA Schedule Contractors

In January of 2020, GSA will issue a mass modification to transition existing GSA Schedule contractors to the new MAS Schedule solicitation. Once you accept the mass modification, it will automatically update all of your terms and conditions and SINs to conform with the new MAS Schedule solicitation. Contractors will have until July of 2020 to review and sign the mass modification.

A few notes on the mass modification for existing GSA Schedule contractors:

  • Your contract number will not change.
  • Your GSA Schedule Contract expiration date will not change.
  • The number of remaining options on your GSA Schedule Contract will not change.
  • Negotiated items (including warranties, delivery terms, labor categories, pricing, and Basis of Award) will not change.
  • If you hold multiple GSA Schedule Contracts, you’ll receive the mass modification for each contract (they will not be consolidated into one contract at this point).
  • You will not be able to add SINs that were outside the scope of your existing GSA Schedule until you sign the mass modification.

While the new MAS Schedule will be released on October 1st, existing GSA Schedule Contractors will not be able to take advantage of adding SINs that were previously outside the scope of their GSA Schedule until January of 2020 at the earliest.

Phase Three

Existing GSA Schedule Contractors with Multiple GSA Schedule Contracts

In July of 2020, GSA will begin reaching out to companies that hold multiple GSA Schedule Contracts. GSA will work one on one with each company to determine the best option for consolidating multiple GSA Schedules. This could involve letting one or more of your contracts lapse and working with your highest performing GSA Schedule Contract. It could also involve letting all of your GSA Schedules lapse and pursuing a new contract under the new solicitation.

GSA stressed that for companies with multiple GSA Schedules:

  • You will receive options for consolidating your GSA Schedule Contracts.
  • GSA will work with you to determine the best option for your company based upon the status of your contracts and existing BPAs.
  • There is no end date for this phase. GSA wants to ensure that your GSA Schedule Contracts continue to cover any BPAs you hold.
  • The Multiple Award Schedule Program Management Office (MAS PMO) will coordinate with all of your Contracting Officers during this process.

How is the New GSA MAS Contract Structured?

The GSA Schedules Program formerly consisted of 24 GSA Schedules broken down into approximately 940 SINs. Since the MAS Consolidation, the program now consists of one GSA Schedule broken down into 12 categories, 83 subcategories, and approximately 300 SINs.

The SINs under the new MAS Schedule each have a number and a “plain language title”. SINs are mapped to one or more NAICS Codes. Whenever possible, GSA looked to map each SIN to a single NAICS Code, however there are still SINs that map to multiple NAICS Codes, as well as NAICS Codes that map to multiple SINs.

The SIN number, in many cases, mirror its corresponding NAICS Code. For example, NAICS Code 541611, “Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services,” applies to multiple SINs. The “Managed Print Services” SIN is 541611MPS, while the “Document Services” SIN is 541611LIT.

GSA Consolidation
Chart:

  • Pre-MAS Consolidation
  • 24 GSA Schedules
    900+ SINS
  • Post-MAS Consolidation
  • 1 GSA Schedule
    12 Categories
    80+ Subcategories
    300+ SINs

How Does the GSA MAS Consolidation Impact…..

Transactional Data Reporting (TDR)

TDR will still apply at the SIN level. If you hold an applicable TDR SIN and choose to participate in TDR, it will apply to your entire GSA Schedule Contract, just as it does today.

Cooperative Purchasing

Cooperating Purchasing will apply to the applicable SIN only. Unlike TDR, it will not extend to your entire GSA Schedule Contract (unless you only hold Cooperative Purchasing SINs). For example, if you offer IT consulting under one SIN and management consulting under another SIN, Cooperative Purchasing will not be available under the management consulting SIN.

Order Level Materials (OLMs)

The OLM SIN allows contractors to provide supplies and/or services that were unknown when they received their GSA Schedule Contract award in order to support a GSA Schedule order. The OLM SIN is currently only available under 12 of the GSA Schedules. During a MAS Consolidation webinar on September 17th, GSA announced OLM’s will not be extended to all GSA Schedule Contractors.

GSA eLibrary

GSA will update eLibrary in July of 2020 to display the single MAS Schedule. While you will no longer see the 24 legacy GSA Schedules, contractors will still see each GSA Schedule Contract they hold on eLibrary.

GSA eBuy

In July of 2020 GSA will update eBuy to conform with the new MAS Schedule. Agencies will have the ability to issue an RFI against a category or subcategory. The SIN level will be removed from eBuy to avoid confusion.

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GSA MAS Consolidation

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The GSA MAS Consolidation may improve the process of obtaining and maintaining GSA Schedule Contracts in the long run. However, in the short term, expect delays in review times for new offers and modifications. Federal Schedules, Inc. has been helping companies obtain and manage their GSA Schedule Contracts since 1986.

We can help your company:

  • Evaluate how the MAS Consolidation will impact your business.
  • Secure a GSA Schedule Contract under the new MAS solicitation.
  • Update your existing GSA Schedule Contract Post Consolidation.
  • Help you determine the best option for consolidating multiple GSA Schedules.
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