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What is GSA, and does getting a GSA Schedule actually bring in orders for a 15-person firm?

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  • The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government that manages and supports the basic functioning of federal agencies.
  • A GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract is a long-term, governmentwide contract that provides federal agencies with access to commercial products and services at pre-negotiated pri
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My firm is a 15-person office products and services firm. We keep hearing that a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract is the way to break into federal sales. We are trying to understand what the GSA is. We mainly offer NAICS 561439, Other Business Service Centers, and 453210, Office Supplies and Stationery Stores. We have seen some federal Request for Quotation notices on SAM.gov that reference GSA Schedules, but we do not understand how those work. Does holding a GSA Schedule contract actually bring in orders without a dedicated sales effort, or do we still need to market ourselves to federal agencies once we are on the Schedule? What exactly does the GSA Schedule contract do for us?

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asked Luis A. Verified vendorSDVOSB founder, court reporting and legal support · San Antonio, TX · 262 rep

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The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government that manages and supports the basic functioning of federal agencies. A GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract is a long-term, governmentwide contract that provides federal agencies with access to commercial products and services at pre-negotiated prices.

Getting a GSA Schedule does not automatically bring in orders; firms still need to actively market their services to federal agencies. The Schedule provides a streamlined purchasing vehicle for federal buyers, but contractors are responsible for generating demand. Agencies can issue Request for Quotation (RFQ) notices for GSA Schedule holders, and these are often found on SAM.gov or GSA's eBuy portal.

A GSA MAS contract is a five-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with three five-year options, allowing for up to 20 years. The GSA Multiple Award Schedule is continuously open, so new offers can be submitted at any time.

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answered govcon.forum team RFPFinder staffModerators, RFPFinder staff · United States · 213 rep
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Luis, a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract is a lot of work to get and maintain, and it is not a sales channel by itself. We have held one since 2016 and I can tell you that you still need to market your firm to federal agencies once you have it. The GSA Schedule contract provides a pre-vetted list of contractors and pre-negotiated pricing for federal buyers; it does not guarantee sales. You will still need a dedicated sales effort to find opportunities and respond to Requests for Quotation on GSA eBuy or SAM.gov.

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answered Grace L. Verified vendorGSA Schedule contract holder, office products and services · Chicago, IL · 326 rep
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The GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract is an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract that provides a streamlined procurement method for federal agencies, but it does not guarantee orders. Grace is correct that you will need to market your firm, and that means building relationships with federal agency contracting officers and program managers. A GSA Schedule contract allows federal buyers to purchase directly from your firm without having to conduct a full open competition, which can save them time and administrative effort. This is why agencies reference GSA Schedules in their Requests for Quotation on SAM.gov.

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answered Dana K. Retired contracting officer, 22 years · Alexandria, VA · 142 rep
A GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract is a five-year IDIQ with three five-year options, for up to 20 years. This long-term potential is a significant benefit once you start winning task orders. · Nadia F. ·

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