Readiness Assessment

General Services Administration (GSA) is committed to providing innovative solutions to meet the needs of all Federal agencies through the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracting vehicles and by so doing, foster effective, sustainable and transparent government for the American people. GSA offers consolidated contracting to negotiate better prices and reduce administrative costs for Government agencies purchasing goods and services through GSA schedules. GSA pre-negotiates prices and terms with Industry Partners and awards a contract under the MAS program. This type of contracting does not involve a sale to GSA, but creates an agreement where any participating Government agency may purchase the products or services covered by the contract according to the prices and terms specified, enabling Government agencies to make purchases faster and to leverage the buying power of the government. However, GSA MAS contracts will not be a good fit for every Industry Partner. In order to succeed as a GSA MAS contractor, you must be properly prepared and positioned for success. GSA has created the following materials and information to help you learn more about the process and requirements and help make sure you have the best chance of success. Below are some facts and figures about GSA Contracts of which you should be aware.

GSA Contracting Success Factors

Research shows that the following factors will increase your probability of success as a GSA MAS contractor:

2 years of experience in federal contracting either as a prime or subcontractor;

Contacts and relationships within the federal contracting community;

Working with a mentor who is a successful GSA MAS contractor;

Attending GSA seminars and workshops on contracting; and

Investing between $80K-$130K to find and manage your initial government contract.

GSA MAS in Figures:

80% of GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contractors are small businesses who represent 36% of sales;

More than $40B flows through GSA MAS contracts every year;

In FY12, approximately 10% of government needs were procured through the GSA MAS contracts;

GSA had over 19,000 MAS contracts in FY12; and

Approximately 40% of the 19,000 GSA MAS contracts generate sales

The Challenges:

Competing for and winning Government contracts is costly in both time and resources;

Not all Government agencies use GSA MAS contracts for their procurement; and

Allocating time, money, other resources and a willingness to stay the course is needed to be successful.

Research, Analyze and Decide

The Vendor Toolbox is divided into three steps; Research, Analyze and Decide. It is designed to help you learn about and understand the Federal market while you walk through a process that will enable you to Research, Analyze, and ultimately Decide whether to submit a proposal to GSA (i.e. apply to get on schedule). The Vendor Toolbox contains training materials that will help you learn more about the Federal market, tools that will help you uncover opportunities, and links to resources that can assist you in being a successful MAS contractor. It is also worth noting that GSA does not seek task orders and business for contractors.

Step 1: Research

Step 2: Analyze

Step 3: Decide