My firm has a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract for IT services, specifically under NAICS code 541511, which covers custom computer programming services. We've been active on it since 2016. What I've noticed is that sometimes a federal agency will issue an RFQ for IT services through GSA eBuy, which is what we expect. Other times, for what seems like similar IT services, the same agency will put out an open market RFP on SAM.gov. We even bid on a few of those open market RFPs when they were a small business set-aside. It feels like they could have used the GSA MAS contract for those requirements. I'm trying to understand the factors that drive a contracting officer to choose one method over the other. When is a GSA MAS contract the go-to, and when do they opt for an open market solicitation?
When is a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract appropriate versus an open market bid?
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A contracting officer will choose a GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract for efficiency and ease of acquisition, while an open market solicitation is used when the requirement cannot be met by available schedule contracts or when specific FAR parts apply. Agencies are encouraged to use the GSA Multiple Award Schedule for commercial products and services because it provides ready access to vetted contractors and pre-negotiated pricing. However, if the requirement is highly specialized and not adequately covered by existing MAS contracts, or if the agency needs to conduct a full and open competition under FAR Part 15, they will opt for an open market RFP on SAM.gov. For example, if the estimated value exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold and specific evaluation factors are needed that aren't well-suited for a MAS order, an open market approach is common. Also, some requirements might have specific clauses or terms that are not compatible with the MAS contract terms, leading to an open market solicitation.