When Will Refresh 13 be Released?

GSA plans to issue Solicitation Refresh 13 on June 30, 2022. It will be the fourth refresh in as many months.

What is Changing with Solicitation Refresh 13?

GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation Refresh 13 will include two Schedule-wide changes, as well as three specific Special Item Number (SIN) changes.

Summary of Refresh 13 Changes

• Schedule-Wide Hazardous Material Identification Clause
• Schedule-Wide Exceptions to COVID Safety Protocols
• Changes to Cloud SIN 518210C
• Retirement of SIN 541519CDM
• Retirement of SIN 561210FS

Hazardous Material Identification Clause (Schedule-Wide)

Refresh 13 will incorporate Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.223-3 Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data (Alternate I July 1995). GSA noted that information on hazardous material (i.e. safety data sheets, hazardous material labels, etc.) should be submitted directly to the customer as opposed to the GSA Contracting Officer. You can review the clause below.

If the contract is awarded by an agency other than the Department of Defense, add the following paragraph (i) to the basic clause:

(i) Except as provided in paragraph (i)(2), the Contractor shall prepare and submit a sufficient number of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s), meeting the requirements of 29 CFR1910.1200(g) and the latest version of Federal Standard No.313, for all hazardous materials identified in paragraph (b) of this clause.

(1) For items shipped to consignees, the Contractor shall include a copy of the MSDS’s with the packing list or other suitable shipping document which accompanies each shipment. Alternatively, the Contractor is permitted to transmit MSDS’s to consignees in advance of receipt of shipments by consignees, if authorized in writing by the Contracting Officer.

(2) For items shipped to consignees identified by mailing address as agency depots, distribution centers or customer supply centers, the Contractor shall provide one copy of the MSDS’s in or on each shipping container. If affixed to the outside of each container, the MSDS’s must be placed in a weather resistant envelope.

Exceptions to COVID Safety Protocols
(Schedule-Wide)

With the release of GSA Refresh 13, GSA will allow contractors to take exception to FAR 52.223-99, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors, if the contractor has not already incorporated the clause into their contract. We should note, as of June 22, 2022, injunctions continue to prohibit the enforcement of this clause. GSA also notes that if injunctions are removed and enforcement of the clause is allowed, contractors may be then required to accept the clause without exception.

Changes to Cloud SIN 518210C

In an effort to better align GSA’s Cloud SIN 518210C with commercial practices, GSA is expanding the SIN to allow for consumption based special ordering procedures and to increase the allowed pricing increment beyond 30 days. GSA hopes the new flexibilities will increase vendor participation, make it easier for government buyers to purchase cloud computing services, and ultimately lead to an increase in Cloud SIN sales.

• Per Acquisition Letter MV-21-06, GSA is establishing special ordering procedures for buying commercial cloud computing services on a consumption basis. GSA plans to publish a SIN 518210C Ordering Guide in July; look for the guide on http://gsa.gov/cloudsin or https://cic.gsa.gov.
• GSA will revise the SIN 518210C attachment, “SIN 518210C – Specific Information for Offerors”, to allow for pricing increments greater than one month.

Retirement of SIN 541519CDM

SIN 541519CDM, Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) Tools, will retire as of June 30, 2022. CDM tools can still be offered through the GSA MAS Contract. However, instead of having a dedicated SIN, CDM Tools will be identified by a logo on GSA Advantage.

If you currently hold SIN 541519CDM, you will receive a unilateral mass modification to delete the SIN from your Contract. You will then have until July 31, 2022 to update your GSA price list and catalog file on GSA Advantage. To learn more about this change, you can view GSA’s video here.

Retirement of SIN 561210FS

SINs 561210FS, Facilities Support Services, will retire as of June 30, 2022. If you currently hold SIN 561210FS, you will receive a unilateral mass modification to delete the SIN from your Contract. You will then have until July 31, 2022 to update your GSA price list and catalog file on GSA Advantage.

What Should GSA Contractors Know About Refresh 13?

While GSA did not issue a mass modification with the previous two refreshes, contractors should expect a mass modification to accompany Refresh 13.

Need Help Navigating GSA Contract Changes?

FEDSched has been helping companies manage their GSA Schedule Contracts for 35 years. Learn more about our GSA MAS Contract support services.