If your company is competing in the federal market, you may come across an opportunity that requires you hold a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Contract, also referred to as the GSA Schedule. Unfortunately, unless that opportunity is in the early planning stages, if you don’t already hold a GSA MAS Contract you are unlikely to obtain one in time to compete for the opportunity. Why? While a GSA MAS Contract shortens and simplifies the government sales process, obtaining the contract is not so simple. That is where FASt Lane comes into play.
What is FASt Lane?
FASt Lane is a GSA initiative to help government agencies get access to new and innovative technology. The FASt Lane initiative achieves this goal by reducing the processing time for contract awards and contract modifications under the IT Large Category of the GSA Multiple Award Schedule. This reduced processing time also allows IT companies to be more agile by helping them quickly secure or update their GSA MAS Contract to meet customer needs.
FASt Lane Processing Goals
When reviewing the time frames below, it is important to note, FASt lane time frames are goals for the minimum time needed. These minimum times are not guaranteed; the actual time frame to contract award or modification approval will vary.
New Proposal Offers
If your company is pursuing a GSA MAS Contract under the IT Large Category, you can expect the process to take approximately 4-6 months from the time you submit your offer to GSA. If you qualify for the FASt Lane program, GSA’s goal is to significantly cut down the processing time, possibly to as little as 45 days.
Contract Modifications
If you currently hold a GSA MAS Contract and are looking to update or add an IT SIN to that contract, the process can take an average of 45-60 days from the time you submit the modification to GSA. If you qualify for the FASt Lane program, GSA’s goal is to shorten the time frame for modification approval to as little as two days. That said, you should always prepare for a longer approval time. Depending on the modification and its complexity, approval could take approximately 30 days even with FASt Lane. However, that is still half the time a standard contract modification can take.
| Action Type | Standard Time Frame | FASt Lane Time Frame Goal |
| New Offer | 4-6 Months | As Little as 45 Days |
| Modification | 45-60 Days | As Little as 2 Days |
How to Qualify for GSA’s FASt Lane Program
Much like when GSA first announced FASt Lane in 2016, this program is still limited to IT offerings, but the IT Schedule 70 is now the IT Large Category under the GSA Multiple Award Schedule.
To qualify for GSA’s FASt Lane you must:
- Submit a new offer or contract modification with IT Large Category SINs only. The one exception is the Ancillary SIN, which may be included along with IT SINs; and
- Be assigned to an IT Large Category Contracting Officer if you are a current GSA Contractor; and
- Be associated with a FASt Lane eligible initiative. Please note, the list of FASt Lane eligible initiatives is dynamic. GSA bases this off of agency need.
- Have a written request from a federal agency ordering activity that states you should participate in FASt Lane to support the agency’s IT requirements.
FASt Lane Eligible Initiatives
- 2nd Generation IT BPA (2GIT) Awardees
- Defense Health Agency (DHA) Enterprise IT Services
- Other IT initiatives as identified to GSA by the customer that may arise (may include contract modification initiatives)
- A written request from a federal agency ordering activity that your company participate in FASt Lane to support the agency’s IT requirements
Get Help to Submit Through GSA FASt Lane
Our team here at FEDSched has extensive experience with GSA’s FASt Lane program. If your company is looking to get a proposal awarded or modification approved quickly, we can help with your FASt Lane submission. We can also reduce the time needed to prepare your proposal or modification. Contact us at 703-709-8700 or online.