After nearly a year of planning, GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service is ready to begin consolidating its Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) process.  MAS awards are indefinite quantity, indefinite delivery contracts linked to Federal Supply Schedules (more commonly known as General Schedules).  Due to the nature of these contracts, a contractor could have more than one contract with an agency, each managed separately and by a different individual.  This can be confusing to the contractor as well as labor intensive for the agency.

Consolidation efforts are aimed at streamlining the award and contract management process for government agencies.  However, this new approach should provide contractors with an opportunity to reduce overhead attributed to multiple contract awards with the same federal agency.

PTAC clients currently operating under such agreements may have recently been asked to apply standardized part numbers or special item numbers to goods and services they provide as part of this process.  These changes are a means to improve product and price comparisons and could lead to stronger competition among contractors.

Contracts will be issued under the first consolidated schedule in March 2015.  The Professional Service Schedule is a consolidation of 8 current General Schedules covering services such as management and financial consulting, business integration, logistics, public relations and advertising.  Review and potential consolidation of the remaining GSA General Schedules will continue throughout the year.

Further information regarding the MAS consolidation effort can be found at:

Modernizing the GSA Schedule Program:   http://gsablogs.gsa.gov/gsablog/2014/06/12/modernizing-gsas-schedules-program-for-todays-marketplace/

MAS Services Consolidation:  https://interact.gsa.gov/blog/improving-professional-service-schedules-changes-are-coming

General information on GSA Schedules: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100635

Nearly 10 percent of all federal purchasing is completed through General Schedule contracts.  This equates to $50 billion dollars each year.  Contact a PTAC Specialist today at 907-786-7201 or 1-800-478-7232 to see if a General Schedule contract is right for you.