GSA Startup Springboard
Outside of the GSA Startup Springboard program, a company must have at least two years in business to qualify for a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Contract. While the two-year business requirement helps GSA vet the stability of businesses interested in obtaining a GSA Schedule Contract, it stifles the availability of emerging technologies typically associated with startups.
GSA recognized the requirement designed to protect government buyers from companies without proven success, was also preventing the government from accessing innovative technology. GSA’s Startup Springboard was created to help address this issue.
GSA introduced the Startup Springboard program in 2016 as part of the “Making It Easier” initiative. At the time, the program provided an exception to the two-year corporate experience requirement under the IT Schedule 70 Contract. In 2022, the Startup Springboard was expanded to allow startups from any industry. Today, GSA is on the verge of not only reversing course on the expansion of Springboard, but of also adding additional restrictions to limit participation even further.
Who Qualifies for GSA’s Startup Springboard?
As of the release of Refresh 31, expected in March or April of 2026, GSA’s Startup Springboard will be limited to companies that qualify under GSA’s FASt Lane program.
Startup Springboard/FASt Lane Qualifications:
In order to qualify for the FASt Lane program, and by extension, Startup Springboard, a company must:
- Pursue a GSA MAS Contract with IT Large Category SINs only;
- Be associated with a FASt Lane eligible initiative; and
- Have a written request from a federal agency ordering activity that states your company should participate in FASt Lane to support the agency’s IT requirements
Learn more about GSA FASt Lane here.
Getting a GSA Schedule Using Startup Springboard
Keep in mind, under the Startup Springboard, you must still demonstrate financial stability, as well as the ability to manage a company of the size and scope you propose to GSA. While you do not need to provide two years of financial statements, you do still need to provide past performance, references, pricing, and invoicing – all of which can be a challenge for startups.
Aside from eliminating the two-year business requirement, the Startup Springboard also allows you to use the experience of your company executives. However, you will still be required to address:
- Financial documentation that demonstrates your financial responsibility
- Number of employees, experience in the field, and resources available to enable it to fulfill requirements
- Past performance projects or history of activities contributing to development of expertise and capabilities
- Organizational structure and accounting controls
- Current in-house resources or the ability to acquire the type and kinds of personnel/products proposed
- Government marketing strategy
- Planned use of subcontractors
GSA Springboard and Joint Ventures (JVs)
Historically, the two-year corporate experience requirement has presented a challenge to joint ventures interested in pursuing a GSA Schedule. Joint ventures are a type of partnership where two or more small businesses or companies in a Mentor-Protégé relationship combine their resources and capabilities to compete for government contracts.
The expansion of GSA’s Startup Springboard provided an opening for JVs and JV Mentor-Protégé partnerships. A formal JV policy, announced in 2023, provided an official path for joint ventures to pursue a GSA Schedule Contract. Learn more about getting a GSA Contract as a joint venture here.
Need Help with the GSA Startup Springboard Proposal Process?
Our team here at FEDSched has been working with GSA’s Startup Springboard since the program was first announced in 2016. In fact, FEDSched helped develop and negotiate some of the first GSA Contract awards under the Startup Springboard. Contact us to discuss if your company is eligible for Springboard and how we can navigate you through the process.