When Was GSA Refresh 24 Released?
GSA released Refresh 24 of the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) solicitation on January 19, 2025. This is the first refresh issued in the 2025 calendar year.
What Changed with Solicitation Refresh 24?
The biggest change in the latest refresh is the closing of small business set-aside SINs. Refresh 24 also includes several clarifications that were originally slated for Refresh 23.
In addition to the updates highlighted below, Refresh 24 includes a correction to the Regulations Incorporated by Reference document to include the full text of clause 52.240-1 (which was officially added in Refresh 23), as well as the incorporation of clause and provision updates through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2025-02 and GSAR Change 194 (with the exception of Change 187).
Overview of Refresh 24 Changes
- The End of Small Business Set-Aside SINs (SBSAs)
- Clarification of Instructions Applicable to All Offerors
- Price Proposal Templates (PPTs)
- CONUS/OCONUS Requirements
- Updated Modification Guide
- SIN Specific Changes – New Subgroups
The End of Small Business Set-Aside SINs
Refresh 24 implements the first step of GSA’s three-step plan to remove small business set-aside (SBSA) Special Item Numbers (SINs) from the GSA Multiple Award Schedule. This plan may sound like a drastic step backwards for small businesses. However, the removal of small business set-aside SINs does not eliminate the option for small business set-aside task orders and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) under the GSA Schedule. In fact, the change is actually meant to help reduce the administrative burden for small businesses.
Brief Background on SBSA SINs
In the past, set-asides weren’t possible under multiple award contracts like the GSA Schedule. SBSA SINs were created as a work-around to provide opportunities limited to small businesses. However, because SBSA SINs cannot be comingled with non-SBSA SINs on a GSA MAS Contract, companies with both types of SINs have been saddled with managing two GSA MAS Contracts.
More than a decade ago, federal regulations changed to allow set-aside orders and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) under the GSA Schedule. Since that change, SBSA SINs went from being a helpful solution to an administrative weight.
Steps to Remove SBSA SINs from the GSA Schedule
- Step 1 – As of the release of Refresh 24 on January 19, 2025, all SBSA SINs are now closed to new awards. Companies that already hold an SBSA SIN can proceed as normal.
- Step 2 – From now until May of this year, GSA will work with companies who hold an SBSA SIN(s) to transition their offerings to an appropriate, equivalent SIN. Once all offerings are transferred, and provided there are no active task orders or BPAs under the SBSA contract number, GSA will cancel the SBSA contract number.
- Step 3 – In May of 2025, GSA plans to issue a refresh to officially remove all SBSA SINs from the GSA MAS Contract.
Closed SBSA SINs and Non-SBSA SIN Equivalent
Clarification of Instructions Applicable to All Offerors
The latest refresh includes additional language within the Solicitation instructions to clarify the items listed below.
- Streamlined Offers – Language was added that streamlined offers must be submitted under the same UEI as the existing contract. However, there is an exception. A small business that is part of a JV that holds a GSA MAS Contract, may qualify to obtain its own GSA MAS Contract (if it does not hold one already) under the streamlined offer process. In this case, the UEI must be different than the JV’s UEI, and the small business can only pursue SINs that it has performed as part of the Joint Venture.
- Rejection Response – The requirement to provide a response letter to any previous rejections is now officially stated within the Solicitation instructions.
- Accessories – The language has been adjusted to clarify that product accessories may be sold as a standalone or with a base item.
- Minimum Years of Experience – Language has been added to clarify that the minimum years of experience included within the proposed labor category descriptions must be relevant experience.
- 12-Month Waiting Period After Contract Cancellation – Previously, if your contract was cancelled or allowed to expire due to low sales or non-compliance, you were required to wait a 12-month period to resubmit a new offer with the same SIN(s). The new language states if you are cancelled due to non-compliance, you are required to wait a 12-month period to resubmit even if you are pursuing different SINs. Companies cancelled due to low sales only may still submit prior to the 12-month period if they are pursuing different SINs.
| Reason for Contract Cancellation | SINs Included in New Offer | Required Waiting Period to Resubmit |
| Low Sales | Same as Cancelled Contract | 12 Months |
| Low Sales | Different from Cancelled Contract | No Waiting Period |
| Non-Compliance | Same as Cancelled Contract | 12 Months |
| Non-Compliance | Different from Cancelled Contract | 12 Months |
CONUS/OCONUS Requirements
All Large Category attachments now include the following note within the General Information section:
“CONUS/OCONUS Requirements: Some requirements may apply only to applications in the Continental United States (CONUS), Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For products and services proposed internationally (OCONUS), the commensurate standards will apply and should be provided with the offer, but will be reviewed by the ordering activity for compliance with the local requirements and standards.”
Price Proposal Templates (PPTs)
According to GSA, there was just one update to the definition of “Manufacturer Name” in the Products Price Proposal Template for both new offers and modifications. The revised Manufacturer Name definition is as follows:
“The commercially recognized manufacturer brand name for the corresponding manufacturer part number. NOTE: GSA may request additional information related to the identification of the manufacturing facility for a given item in order to confirm product attributes and/or compliance with the MAS Solicitation.”
Updated Modification Guide
The MAS Modification Guide was updated last month with Refresh 23. The January Refresh 24 update includes the two changes below:
- Added the following: “Please note as of 1/19/2025, all Small Business Set-Aside (SBSA) SINs are closed to new MAS contract-level awards/modifications.”
- Edited the notes that stated “I-FSS-600 should be updated…” to “I-FSS-600 must be updated when impacted items will be published on the text file posted on GSA Advantage!”
SIN Specific Changes: New Subgroups
If you hold one of the two SINs listed in the chart below, you now have a new subgroup option available in eBuy. The new geographic coverage subgroup allows companies that hold SIN 561210FAC or SIN 541990 to highlight their coverage in Europe to interested buyers.
| Large Category | SIN | New Subgroup |
| Facilities | SIN 561210FAC – Facilities Maintenance and Management |
Geographic Coverage includes Europe, to indicate a contractor has the ability to operate, perform or deliver to this area. |
| Professional Services | SIN 541990 All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (Non-IT) |
Geographic Coverage includes Europe, to indicate a contractor has the ability to operate, perform or deliver to this area. |
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