GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts are indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts available to all federal agencies worldwide. GSA awards and administers MAS contracts pursuant to section 201 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended. Under the MAS Program, GSA enters into governmentwide contracts with commercial firms to provide over 4 million commercial services and products. Agencies place orders directly with MAS contractors. Interagency agreements are not required to use MAS contracts. The Economy Act does not apply to orders placed against MAS contracts.

Governmentwide acquisition contracts (GWACS) are task order or delivery order contracts for information technology established by one agency for governmentwide use. Each GWAC is operated by an executive agent designated by the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to section 5112(e) of the Clinger-Cohen Act. The Economy Act does not apply to orders under GWACs.

Multi-agency contracts (MACs) are task order or delivery order contracts established by one agency for use by government agencies to obtain a variety of supplies and services. The Economy Act (Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 17.5) applies to orders placed under MACs, with the exception of MACs for information technology that are established pursuant to the Clinger-Cohen Act.

GSA Order ADM 4800.2E, "Eligibility to Use GSA Sources of Supply and Services," provides detailed information regarding those agencies, activities, and organizations that have been determined to be eligible to use GSA Multiple Award Schedule contracts.

GSA's goal is to be the best value supplier of choice.

Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contracts offer "most favored customer" pricing/discounts. Quantity discounts may also be available. With the elimination of maximum order limitations, and the implementation of maximum order thresholds, contractors may now accept "any size" orders. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.404(b)(3), the maximum order threshold represents the point where it is advantageous for customers to seek price reductions. In fact, for orders exceeding this threshold, after a customer reviews additional Schedule contractors' pricelists or GSA Advantage!, the FAR, as well as the Ordering Procedures for Services (Requiring a Statement of Work), instructs the customer to generally seek price reductions from Schedule contractor(s) appearing to provide the best value (considering price and other factors). Agencies are encouraged and empowered to seek price reductions, not only for orders over the maximum order threshold, but also when circumstances warrant, for orders below this amount in order to ensure that when using MAS contracts, they receive the best value at the lowest overall cost.

Purchasing from MAS contracts offers the following advantages over procuring on the open market:

• GSA has determined prices under MAS contracts to be fair and reasonable.
  
• Synopses are not required for MAS purchases.
  
• MAS contracts have been awarded in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
  
• Administrative time is reduced.
  
• MAS contracts offer a wide selection of state-of-the-art commercial services and products.
  

Although the Ordering Procedures for Services Requiring a Statement of Work differ from the Ordering Procedures for Products and Services That Do Not Require a Statement of Work in FAR 8.404(b), both sets of procedures are designed to simplify the acquisition process.

• For orders of services and/or products up to the micro-purchase threshold: Place the order with any Schedule contractor.
  
• For orders above the micro-purchase threshold but below the maximum order threshold:
  
  
  
  • Services Requiring a Statement of Work: Prepare a request for quotes that includes the statement of work; transmit the request to at least three Schedule contractors; evaluate responses; and make a best value selection.
    
  • Products and Services That Do Not Require a Statement of Work: Review the GSA Advantage! online shopping service or at least three Schedule contractors' pricelists; evaluate; and make a best value selection.
    
  
  
• For orders above the maximum order threshold:
  
  
  
  • Services Requiring a Statement of Work: Follow the same procedures for orders above the micro-purchase threshold, except transmit the request for quotes to additional Schedule contractors; seek price reductions; evaluate responses; and make a best value selection.
    
  • Products and Services That Do Not Require a Statement of Work: Follow the same procedures for orders above the micro-purchase threshold, except review additional Schedule contractors' pricelists or use the GSA Advantage! online shopping service; seek price reductions; evaluate; and make a best value selection.
    

Documentation should be kept to a minimum, but should contain the following basic information:

• For services that require a statement of work?
  
  
  
  • Identify the services purchased, the Schedule contractor (contractor's name and contract number) from which the services were purchased, and the amount paid.
    
  • If other than a firm-fixed price order is placed, include the basis for the determination to use a labor-hour or time-and-materials order.
    
  • For requirements over the micro-purchase threshold, document the evaluation of Schedule contractors' quotes that formed the basis for selecting the contractor that received the order and the rationale for any trade-offs made in making the selection.
    
  
  
• For products and services that do not require a statement of work?
  
  
  
  • Identify the products and services purchased, the Schedule contractor (contractor's name and contract number) from which the products and services were purchased, and the amount paid.
    
  • For requirements over the micro-purchase threshold that are so defined as to require a particular brand name, product, or feature peculiar to one manufacturer, include an explanation as to why the particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to satisfy the agency's needs.
    
  
  

The GSA Advantage! online shopping and ordering system includes services and products under all of the GSA Multiple Award Schedules. With over 3.2 million services and products currently available, electronic ordering through GSA Advantage! allows a customer to send an order directly to the Schedule contractor, creating a direct customer-contractor relationship. However, for services that require a statement of work, a customer cannot order such services directly through GSA Advantage!. The customer must create the order through the ordering agency's internal system.

E-Buy is an online Request for Quote (RFQ) tool designed to facilitate the request for submission of quotes for a wide range of commercial services and products offered by Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contractors who are on GSA Advantage!.

E-Buy, a component of GSA Advantage!, allows federal agencies (buyers) to maximize their buying power by leveraging the power of the Internet to increase Schedule contractor participation in order to obtain quotes which will result in a best value purchase decision. E-Buy provides Schedule contractors (sellers) with greater opportunities to offer quotes and increase business volume for services and products provided under their Schedule contracts. E-Buy streamlines the buying process with point-and-click functionality by allowing RFQs and responses to be exchanged electronically between federal agencies and Schedule contractors. In short, e-Buy provides both agencies and contractors with a tool that will result in savings of both time and money.

With over 4 million commercial services and products available, Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) can meet the vast majority of a customer's needs. For those large or complex requirements, MAS contractors can join with other Schedule contract holders and submit a total solution to meet a customer's needs under a Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA). MAS contractors may request that their contracts be modified at any time during the contract period to add new services and products to meet a customer's requirements. The modification process also ensures that the latest technology is always available to the customer. Schedule contract periods are as long as five years with three five-year option periods to provide for continued sources of services and products. Most MAS solicitations now have continuous open seasons, which enable companies to submit offers at any time and further ensure that customers have, not only a variety of services and products to meet their requirements, but also the latest technology available in the commercial marketplace.

Yes. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) has been amended to incorporate policies that address the handling of open market items.

Note: Open market items are also known as incidental items, noncontract items, non-Schedule items, and items not on a Federal Supply Schedule contract.

In accordance with FAR 8.401(d), for administrative convenience, an ordering office contracting officer may add items not on the Federal Supply Schedule (Multiple Award Schedule) contract?i.e., open market items?to a Federal Supply Schedule blanket purchase agreement (BPA) or an individual task or delivery order only if?

1. All applicable acquisition regulations pertaining to the purchase of the items not on the Federal Supply Schedule contract have been followed (e.g., publicizing (Part 5), competition requirements (Part 6), acquisition of commercial items (Part 12), contracting methods (Parts 13, 14, and 15), and small business programs (Part 19);
   
2. The ordering office contracting officer has determined the price for the items not on the Federal Supply Schedule contract is fair and reasonable;
   
3. The items are clearly labeled on the order as items not on the Federal Supply Schedule contract; and
   
4. All clauses applicable to items not on the Federal Supply Schedule contract are included in the order.
   

MAS contracts have the same delivery times as the Schedule contractors' commercial delivery times. MAS contracts may also contain expedited delivery terms, or customers may request expedited delivery to meet their requirements.

An MAS BPA is a simplified method of filling recurring needs for services and products, while leveraging a customer's buying power by taking advantage of quantity discounts, saving administrative time, and reducing paperwork. A BPA is an "account" established by a customer with a Schedule contractor. MAS BPAs are authorized by FAR 13.303-2(c)(3).

With an MAS BPA customers can order as little as they want, as much as they want, and as often as they want. Customers are not restricted by any dollar limitations when placing orders under an MAS BPA. A BPA can be set up for field offices across the nation to use, thus allowing them to participate in a customer's BPA and place orders directly with Schedule contractors. In doing so, the entire agency reaps the benefits of additional discounts negotiated into the BPA.

A BPA cannot exceed the contractor's Schedule contract period. Customers should always perform an annual review of each BPA to determine whether the BPA is still a "best value."

Contractor Team Arrangements, which are permitted with MAS contractors in accordance with FAR 9.6, may be incorporated into a BPA.

Acceptance of the governmentwide commercial purchase card is a strongly encouraged payment method. Schedule contractors are required to accept the purchase card for payments equal to or less than the micro-purchase threshold. Schedule contractors are also encouraged to accept the card for dollar amounts above this threshold.

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d)(3), use of the Multiple Award Schedules Program is considered a "competitive procedure" under CICA when the MAS ordering procedures are followed; i.e., the ordering procedures in FAR 8.404 and the Ordering Procedures for Services (Requiring a Statement of Work).

A CTA under the MAS Program is an arrangement in which two or more Schedule contractors join together to provide a total solution to meet a customer's needs.

Orders placed under a CTA are subject to the terms and conditions of each team member's Schedule contract.

Yes.

In accordance with FAR 8.405, an ordering agency Contracting Officer may terminate an order for cause or for the convenience of the government. Such terminations shall comply with FAR 12.403. The GSA Contracting Officer shall be notified in all cases where an order has been terminated for cause or fraud is suspected.

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