What Contractors Should Know about GSA’s MAS Consolidation

As announced in detail at the Federal Marketplace Industry Day in December, the General Services Administration (GSA) plans to undergo the MAS Consolidation Initiative, by folding 24 Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) into a single schedule for government products, services and solutions. The MAS Consolidation is one of four major parts to GSA’s larger Federal Marketplace Strategy vision, seeking to streamline and modernize federal buying and selling experiences.

The consolidated schedule will be organized by categories, mapped to the 10 government-wide categories structure that is currently in place. Each product and service is intended to be paired by only one category at a time to make it easier on customers and contractors to find needed products and schedules. Special Item Numbers (SIN) under the Schedules will be reviewed, mapped and consolidated under the categories. Contractors with multiple offerings will be able to apply to applicable SINs vs. holding a separate schedule for each. Ultimately, the SIN will be replaced with a NAICS-like structure to classify the products and services under the consolidation schedule program.

Small business set asides will continue under applicable categories within the schedule. Moreover, the Order Level Materials (OLM) process is intended to continue and be expanded to every contractor under the consolidated schedule. Conversely, the Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) pilot will remain for those contractors participating in the pilot but will not be expanded into the categories outside of the pilot program.

The following 24 GSA-managed schedules will be consolidated. Note, VA Schedules administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs are not included in the consolidation.

• 00CORP The Professional Services Schedule
• 03FAC Facilities Maintenance and Management
• 23 V Automotive Superstore
• 36 Office, Imaging and Document Solution
• 48 Transportation, Delivery and Relocation Solutions
• 56 Building and Building Materials / Industrial Services and Supplies
• 51 V Hardware Superstore
• 58 I Professional Audio/Video, Telemetry/Tracking, Recording, Reproducing, and Signal Data Solutions
• 66 Scientific Equipment and Services
• 67 Cameras, Photographic Printers and Related Supplies and Services
• 70 General Purpose Commercial Information Technology Equipment, Software and Services
• 71 Furniture
• 71 II K Comprehensive Furniture Management Services (CFMS)
• 72 Furnishings and Floor Coverings
• 73 Food Service, Hospitality, Cleaning, Equipment and Supplies, Chemicals and Services
• 75 Office Products/Supplies and Services and New Products/Technology
• 76 Publication Media
• 78 Sports, Promotional, Outdoor, Recreation Trophies and Signs (SPORTS)
• 81 I B Packing and Packaging Supplies and Services
• 84 Total Solutions for Law Enforcement, Security, Facilities Management, Fire, Rescue, Clothing, Marine Craft and Emergency/Disaster Response
• 599 Travel Services Solutions
• 736 Temporary Administrative and Professional Staffing Services
• 738 X Human Capital Management and Administrative Support Services
• 751 Leasing of Automobiles and Light Trucks

The consolidation is anticipated to take place in three phases.  

The first phase is already underway within GSA with completion expected by the end of FY 2019. Phase I activities include, creation of the solicitation for the consolidated schedule, review of all terms and conditions, mapping SIN among the current solicitations, and releasing the new schedule while closing existing schedules to new offerors. According to Questions and Answers from a recent industry meeting, a draft list of mapped SIN has been established and is anticipated for release for public comment by the end of June 2019.

Beginning in FY 2020, the second phase will consist of mass modifications to update terms and conditions for existing contract holders. Moreover, Phase II will allow vendors to select and apply for SIN previously held on separate schedules. GSA anticipates that the new SIN will be made available on eBuy starting January 2020.

In the final phase, the remainder of FY 2020 will be dedicated to consolidating multiple contracts into a single contract for contractors that hold multiple schedules. The agency will plan to allow contracts near expiration to simply expire during this time. Nonetheless, GSA will allow task orders, such as those placed under BPAs, to finish their terms to avoid a disruption in services.

For now, however, all is business is as usual when it comes to the schedules program.

GSA provides the following pointers regarding the MAS consolidation for CURRENT SCHEDULE HOLDERS:

• All updated terms and conditions must be accepted for contracts to transition to the consolidation
• GSA plans to work with vendors on a case-by-case basis in a path to consolidation of contracts, taking option periods and the status of contracts into consideration
• Contractors will need to submit a formal modification request via eMod to add any new SIN to their contracts
• There will be no change in how firms negotiate pricing under the consolidated schedule
• Contracting Officers will likely be the same for each individual contract during the issuance of mass modifications. Thereafter, only one Contracting Officer is anticipated per single consolidated contract

For NEW OFFERORS:

• Those currently in the process of pursuing a schedule will need to accept updated terms and conditions to continue
• The schedule solicitation will remain open to new offerors during and after consolidation
• New contracts after October 1, 2019 may take a little longer than usual due to a possible surge of incoming offers. Lead times are anticipated to return to normal or improve after initial consolidation