Breaking Down the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)

At a Glance:

• Main Takeaway: The General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), also known as the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), is a long-term government-wide contract vehicle allowing commercial companies to sell to federal, state, and local governments at pre-negotiated rates.
• Business Impact: Businesses have the opportunity to scale rapidly by securing a MAS contract.
• Next Steps: Aprio’s GSA Consulting team will guide and help you understand the complexities of obtaining and managing a GSA Schedule. If you are looking to expand your business by securing a MAS contract, schedule a consultation with us today.

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The Full Story:

The Federal Government spends billions of dollars on goods and services annually, making it the world’s largest buyer. In fiscal year 2024, GSA Schedule sales totaled approximately $52 billion. This is likely to increase due to a recent Executive Order consolidating domestic Federal procurement of common goods and services under GSA. Businesses have the opportunity to scale rapidly by securing a MAS contract.

Navigating the Federal Government’s rules, regulations, and requirements for obtaining a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) can be time-consuming and often challenging. The GSA Schedule is one of the largest and most favored programs for the acquisition of commercial products and services among the different federal procurement vehicles.

The MAS is available to a wide range of government and quasi-government entities, including:

• Executive and other Federal agencies
• Mixed-ownership government corporations (e.g., FDIC, IMF, NATO)
• State and local governments through the Cooperative Purchasing and Disaster Recovery Programs
• District of Columbia

What is the Multiple Award Schedule?

The GSA MAS, also known as the Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), is a long-term government-wide contract vehicle allowing companies to sell commercial products and services to federal, state, and local governments at pre-negotiated terms and conditions and pricing.

The GSA MAS has unique characteristics that distinguish it from other contract vehicles, such as: 

• Continuously Open: Companies may submit a proposal in response to GSA’s MAS solicitation at any time.
• Unlimited Awards: MAS is a multiple award contract with unlimited seats, meaning that GSA can award contracts to all qualified offerors, enabling companies to join a broad pool of approved vendors.
• No Order Ceiling: The GSA Schedule is an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with no ceiling value, which allows agencies to purchase an unlimited quantity of supplies and/or services throughout the contract period.
• Evergreen Contract: The period of performance of a MAS contract can extend for up to 20 years. The initial contract term is five years, and GSA may grant up to three additional five-year option periods.

What are the benefits of the MAS vs. other contract types and vehicles?

The GSA MAS presents various advantages to the federal government and contractors while streamlining the procurement process.

Firstly, the GSA Schedule enables contractors to market various commercial products and services. It grants an easy access point into the federal market, allowing commercial companies to sell products and services under a single, government-wide contract. GSA also promotes collaboration among MAS contractors via teaming to provide comprehensive solutions.

Agencies benefit when ordering from MAS contracts from cost savings through pre-negotiated prices, rates, and terms, which eliminate the need for extended contract negotiations. It also provides flexibility, convenience, and a wide range of options not available under other contract vehicles.

What can you sell on MAS?

Under the GSA Schedule, companies can virtually sell anything to the U.S. government. Companies can offer millions of commercial products and services divided into 12 Large Categories and hundreds of Special Item Numbers (SINs).

GSA MAS Large Categories

All GSA Schedule contractors are required to publish their price lists outlining awarded terms and conditions, products and services, and pricing to a public GSA website, which allows for easy access to crucial competitive insights.

MAS Demographic Data Overview

Engaging in business with the Federal Government through the Multiple Award Schedule is a highly attractive opportunity. In fiscal year 2024 alone, GSA reported over $52 billion in MAS sales from 16,108 contractors. Small businesses play a considerable role in government contracting, contributing more than $18 billion to total MAS sales (35.25% of all sales), with 12,348 small business vendors actively engaged, according to GSA’s Schedule Sales Query (SSQ+) database.

Source: Schedule Sales Query Plus (SSQ+) for fiscal year 2024

The Bottom Line

Doing business with the Federal Government remains a highly appealing opportunity, allowing companies to expand their businesses. The GSA Multiple Award Schedule is a preferred procurement vehicle for many federal agencies due to its efficiency and streamlined process. However, holding a GSA Schedule is not a guarantee of sales and is more akin to a hunting license. Securing sales requires companies to actively market their products and services similarly to the commercial sector.

Aprio’s GSA Consulting team is here to help you understand the complexities of obtaining and managing a GSA Schedule. Schedule a consultation today.

Related Resources:

• GSA’s Rightsizing Initiative – What Does it Mean for MAS Contractors?
• 3 GSA Trends in the Office of Inspector General Audits and Investigations
• Your Future GSA Business Depends on Obtaining a New GSA Schedule Now