Title: GSA MAS Consolidation

Are you familiar with the changes that GSA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) Program underwent? In October 2019, a significant consolidation took place. A transformation that involved the merging of 24 legacy GSA Schedules into one single MAS Contract. This post presents a detailed examination of the GSA MAS Consolidation. So, let's dive in.

1. What was the GSA MAS Consolidation?

If you were not familiar with the situation before the consolidation, the GSA Schedules Program had 24 separate schedules, each with its unique set of products or services, like IT, security solutions, or furniture. The consolidation aimed to simplify the buying and selling process for both government agencies and contractors. It also desired to streamline the contract acquisition and management process.

2. Key Aspects of the GSA MAS Consolidation

Phase One:

1. Terms and Conditions Review: GSA reviewed and standardized clauses across schedules, eliminating about 150 duplicate or obsolete clauses.

2. SINs Consolidation: More than 900 Special Item Numbers (SINs) were consolidated into around 300 SINs.

3. Release of Single MAS Schedule: On October 1, 2019, GSA closed all 24 legacy schedules to new offers and dramatically launched the single MAS Schedule.

Phase Two:

1. For Existing GSA Schedule Contractors: Starting January 2020, GSA issued a mass modification to transition existing contractors to the new MAS Schedule. Contractors had up until July 2020 to review and accept the modification.

2. Impact on Contracts: Contract numbers, expiration dates, and the number of remaining options didn't change. Negotiated items like pricing and terms also remained the same.

3. Multiple Contract Holders: Contractors holding multiple schedules were not consolidated at this stage.

Phase Three:

1. For Contractors with Multiple Schedules: Starting July 2020, GSA began working with companies holding multiple schedules to consolidate them. This process was tailored based on each company's situation by considering their contracts and existing Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs).

3. New Structure of the GSA MAS Contract

• Categories: The new MAS Schedule is categorized into 12 large categories.

• Subcategories and SINs: These categories are further broken down into 83 subcategories and approximately 300 SINs, each with a descriptive title and number mapping to NAICS Codes.

• Mapping to NAICS Codes: Each SIN is mapped to one or more NAICS Codes, facilitating alignment with industry standards.

Why was this Consolidation Important?

• Simplification: The consolidation simplified the GSA Schedules Program for both government buyers and sellers. It reduced complexity in obtaining and managing GSA Schedules.

• Efficiency: Streamlining the schedules into a single contract vehicle made the process more efficient and user-friendly.

• Flexibility: Contractors can now provide a broader range of products and services under one schedule instead of managing multiple schedules.

Post-Consolidation Considerations

• Contract Management: Contractors had to adjust to new terms and manage their contracts under the unified MAS Schedule.

• Expanding Offerings: Post-consolidation, contractors obtained the flexibility to expand their offerings across various categories under a single contract.

Conclusion

The GSA MAS Consolidation marked a significant shift in the GSA Schedules Program, aiming to create a more streamlined, efficient, and user-friendly process for all parties involved in government procurement. This change reflects GSA's commitment to modernizing and simplifying the procurement process. As previous GSA Schedule Reviewer advisers, we can proudly say that we offer the best GSA Schedule Consulting services. To learn more about our services, click here.