In June of 2022, the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) signed a revised 8(a) Partnership Agreement. That new Partnership Agreement is now being implemented this month with the release of Refresh 17.
What changed? The most significant change is that the latest Partnership Agreement establishes a pool under the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Contract for companies in the 8(a) Program.
MAS 8(a) Pool Benefits
The new GSA 8(a) Pool allows 8(a) contractors to:
- Stand out to federal buyers with an 8a or 8aS icon to signify participation in the pool.
- Qualify for sole source and/or competitive 8(a) set asides.
- Provide buyers with a streamlined ordering process for competitive set-asides. As of the release of Refresh 17 this month, the 8(a) offer and acceptance process happens at the contract level upon award of your GSA MAS Contract. We should note, buyers must still complete offer and acceptances at the order level for sole source awards.
How Do You Get Into the 8(a) Pool?
First, you must be an active 8(a) Program participant to qualify for the MAS 8(a) Pool. You must also qualify as a small business for the applicable NAICS assigned to the contract and meet all other SBA 8(a) Program eligibility requirements at the time of your MAS offer. If you meet these requirement, when you submit an offer to obtain a GSA MAS Contract, your GSA Contracting Officer will offer you to SBA for acceptance into the 8(a) Pool. Once accepted by SBA and upon award of your GSA MAS Contract, you will be added to the 8(a) Pool and will receive the 8aS icon within applicable GSA website.
If you are an active 8(a) Program participant who already holds a GSA MAS Contract, GSA has already offered your contract to SBA for acceptance into the 8(a) pool. If accepted by SBA into the pool, you’ll receive a modification that you must accept to be added to the pool.
MAS 8(a) Pool Details
- 8(a) Pool Members will be eligible for 8(a) sole source task/delivery order awards as long as:
- They are active participants in the 8(a) Program at the time of the award of the task/delivery order;
- Continue to meet all 8(a) Program eligibility requirements, as determined by SBA; and
- Qualify as small for the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the order, at the time of award for the task/delivery order.
- 8(a) Pool Members who have exited the 8(a) Program:
- Can continue to receive new competitive orders under the MAS contract for up to five (5) years from the date of entrance into the 8(a) pool, or until re-representation in accordance with FAR 19.301-2(b)(1), whichever occurs first.
- Cannot represent its size status as an 8(a) participant if a Contracting Officer requests recertification of size status in connection with a specific 8(a) order.
Need Help Submitting Your GSA MAS Contract Offer?
FEDSched is an employee-owned small business that has specialized in helping companies obtain and manage their GSA MAS Contracts for over 35 years. Contact us to discuss how our experienced team can save you time and frustration.
