GSA first awarded the One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services (OASIS) contracts in 2014. There are two, soon to be three, GSA OASIS contracts: 1) OASIS Unrestricted, 2) OASIS Small Business, and 3) the upcoming addition, OASIS 8(a). The OASIS contracts cover approximately 30 NAICS Codes that are grouped into 7 pools within each contract.
Under OASIS, GSA has the option of conducting on-ramps as needed. This means they can open the contract for acceptance of new offers (typically within a specific pool) within a set period of time. GSA recently announced on-ramps for OASIS Small Business (SB) Pools 1, 3, and 4, as well as the newest OASIS contract, OASIS 8(a). Responses to both are due on June 20, 2019 June 27, 2019 (Update: On May 23rd, GSA extended the deadline for responses from June 20th to June 27th).
GSA OASIS – PSS Comparison
While OASIS and the GSA Professional Services Schedule (PSS) Contract are both multiple award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts administered by GSA, OASIS it is not part of the GSA Schedules Program. If your company offers professional services to the federal government, you may wonder how GSA’s two largest services contracts compare.
The GSA Professional Services Schedule that we know today did not exist when OASIS was released in 2014. OASIS was the first GSA Schedule to combine a wide range of non-IT based services under one contract. It wasn’t until fiscal year 2016 that GSA merged seven previously stand alone GSA Schedules (covering Consulting, Engineering, Logistics, Environmental, Financial, Advertising, and Language services) into the GSA Consolidated Schedule, which they renamed the Professional Services Schedule.
While there is significant overlap in what can be offered through OASIS and PSS, the contracts are subject to different ordering procedures. Another significant difference is that OASIS allows for all types of contracts — including cost plus contracts, which are not allowed under the GSA Schedules. In fiscal year 2018, cost plus type contracts accounted for over 60% of all OASIS sales.
GSA OASIS vs PSS Sales
The chart below provides a 3-year snapshot of sales under the OASIS (Sales for OASIS Unrestricted and OASIS Small Business are Combined) and PSS Contracts.
Since OASIS has a limited open period, it has significantly less awardees than the GSA Professional Services Schedule, which is continually open to new offers. As of this month, approximately 200 companies hold an OASIS contract and 4,000 hold a PSS contract. The majority of OASIS contractors, approximately 78%, also hold a GSA PSS Contract. While there is significant overlap in what can be offered through each contract, the key differences in the contracting mechanisms provide benefits to both buyers and sellers.
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