GSA MAS Refresh #22 to Bring TDR Updates, New Price Proposal Templates, and More
By Maureen Meyer on August 1, 2024
Changes are coming to General Services Administration’s (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation 47QSMD20R0001. With Refresh #22 and an associated mass modification (mass mod) anticipated in early August 2024, it’s important for MAS contractors to know what lies ahead. To help your business determine the impact of Refresh #22, we are breaking down each change discussed by the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) in a recent webinar.
Changes to Overall MAS Solicitation.
1. Implement revisions to SCP-FSS-001 Instructions Applicable to All Offerors.
a. Add a note to highlight that specific MAS Special Item Numbers (SINs) participate in Transactional Data Reporting (TDR) (paragraph (f)). Offerors should review the MAS Available Offerings solicitation attachment published on SAM.gov to determine if a particular SIN is TDR eligible.
b. Add clarification on the requirement for Government Purchase Card (GPC) fees to be built into the awarded MAS price (paragraph (i)(3)(ii)(F)).
i. The following note will be added to clause 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party, the standard Price Proposal Templates (Read Me First tab) and MAS Modification Guidance on gsa.gov.
– “Proposed prices must be inclusive of all costs associated with acceptance of the Governmentwide commercial purchase card (e.g., payment processing fees). Schedule contractors may not impose a surcharge at the order level for payment by Governmentwide commercial purchase card.”
2. TDR Pilot Expansion to 67 new SINs.
a. Expand the TDR Pilot to include the 67 SINs listed below.
Category SINs Planned for Expansion
Facilities None
Furniture & Furnishings 321918PF, 337122OSB, 339920PARK, 339920S, 339950
Human Capital None
Industrial Products & Services 321920, 322220, 326220, 327910, 331315A, 332913, 332999BMS, 332999P, 333414, 333415HVAC, 333912, 333914, 333921, 333922, 333923S, 333997, 33512, 335911, 335999, 339999S, 3PACK, 532412
Information Technology None
Miscellaneous 3152, 316210, 339113PA, 339992, 339999ASB, 339999F
Office Management 325992, 333316P, 333318, 333318SBSA
Professional Services None
Scientific Management and Solutions 333314, 333415, 333999, 334511, 334513, 334515, 334516, 334519ENV, 339112, 339113LAB, 339113R
Security and Protection 325412, 332216, 332312F, 332994, 332999, 336320, 337215, 339920, 339999E, 3FIRE
Transportation & Logistics Services 326211, 326212, 332439, 333318T, 334419, 336350, 3363P, 336612R, 336991
Travel None
b. Participating in TDR is optional. However, once you decide to participate in the TDR pilot, you must continue to participate in TDR until the end of the pilot. You cannot opt out of TDR after you decide to opt in.
c. If you opt in to TDR, the entire contract is subject to TDR terms and conditions for the remainder of the contract, including any option periods.
d. If you opt in to TDR after your contract is awarded by submitting a Participate in TDR modification request:
i. The effective date will align with the beginning of the next sales reporting quarter (e.g., October 1, January 1, April 1, or July 1).
ii. You are required to capture transactional data beginning on the effective date of the Participate in TDR modification (e.g., October 1, January 1, April 1, or July 1)
iii. Price Reductions Clause liability ends effective on the 1st day of the next sales reporting quarter following the execution of the Participate in TDR mod. e. For more information on the TDR pilot visit the TDR page on GSA.gov.
3. Add note to clause I-FSS-600, Contract Price Lists.
a. Note: “MAS contractors may indicate if a software producer has attested that software complies with Government-specified secure software development practices by adding the following standard language under bullet 18b.Terms and Conditions in their text file. Provide a statement for each software offering that has an attestation form uploaded to the CISA repository:
– A software attestation common form for {Software Producer/Software Offering Name} has been uploaded to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) repository under the file name ______.”
4. Implement minor revisions to the Modification Products Price Proposal Template (PPT).
a. Revise note for Economic Price Adjustments (EPAs) against Options.
– Note: “For EPAs against ‘Options’, a modification must be issued against the base product. Use the “Options tab” to populate the increase or decrease to the applicable option, using column K, ‘New Price.’”
– Add a ‘New Price’ column to the Options tab.
5. Incorporate clause and provision updates, as necessary, through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-05 and General Services Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) Change 182.
Changes to Specific Large Category, Subcategory or SIN.
1. Facilities (B).
a. Facilities Maintenance and Repair (B02): SIN 541690E – Energy Services.
– Remove “Four-phase Comprehensive Energy Management Solution” from the SIN instructions.
2. Industrial Products (E).
a. Hardware and Tools Subcategory (E04).
– SIN 332510C – Hardware Store, Home Improvement Center, Industrial or General Supply Store, or Industrial Maintenance Repair and Operations (MRO) Distributor – Catalog & SIN 332510S – Hardware Store, Home Improvement Center, Industrial or General Supply Store, or Industrial Maintenance Repair and Operations (MRO) Distributor – Store Front.
1. Remove “Point of Sale requirements” from the SIN instructions.
ii. SIN 332510S – Hardware Store, Home Improvement Center, Industrial or General Supply Store, or Industrial Maintenance Repair and Operations (MRO) Distributor – Store Front.
1. Remove “sustainable acquisition purchasing requirements of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 23” from the SIN Instructions. This is required for all SINs and is addressed in the Solicitation under Section III A. Terms and Conditions Related to Schedule Contract Administration.
b. Industrial Products Subcategory (E05).
i. SIN 325320 – Pest and Animal Control Products and Services.
1. Remove “Service Contract Act (FAR 22.10) and Davis-Bacon Act (FAR 22.404)” applicability from the SIN instructions. Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS) is applicable at the Schedule level for all service offers and the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) is not applicable under this SIN.
2. Remove “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (recycled content) program or the U.S. Department of Agriculture BioPreferred (biobased) program” requirements. This is required for all SINs and is addressed in the Solicitation under Section III A. Terms and Conditions Related to Schedule Contract Administration.
3. Transportation and Logistics Services (K).
a. Package Delivery Subcategory (K03): SIN 492110 – Package Delivery and Freight Trucking & SIN 492210SB Local Courier Delivery Services (SBSA).
– Add ‘Page Location’ and ‘Country of Origin’ columns to the required SIN template.
b. Transportation of Things Subcategory (K05): SIN 485 – Ground Transportation and SIN 532111 – Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing – Rental Supplemental Vehicle Program (RSVP).
– Add ‘Page Location’ and ‘Country of Origin’ columns to the required SIN templates.
4. Travel (L)
a. Employee Relocation Subcategory (L01): SIN 531 – Employee Relocation Solution.
– Add ‘Page Location’ and ‘Country of Origin’ columns to the required SIN templates.
b. Lodging Subcategory (L02): SIN 531110 – Long Term Lodging.
i. Add ‘Page Location’ and ‘Country of Origin’ columns to the required SIN templates.
Changes to Modification and mass modification guidance.
1. Revisions to Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Modification Guide and Sample cover letters on gsa.gov.
a. Add Joint Venture (JV) requirements.
These changes are anticipated for early August 2024. Contractors, make sure to be on the lookout for the solicitation drop on SAM.gov.
Changes are coming to General Services Administration’s (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Solicitation 47QSMD20R0001. With Refresh #21 and an associated mass modification (mass mod) anticipated in late May 2024, it’s important for MAS contractors to know what lies ahead. To help your business determine the impact of Refresh #21, we are breaking down each change discussed by the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) in a recent webinar. For a summary of GSA MAS Refresh #20 click here.
Changes to Overall MAS Solicitation:
1. Implement minor revision to SCP-FSS-001 Instructions Applicable to All Offerors.
a. Revise provision (i)(1)(iv) to:
i. Clarify that the 12-month waiting period and additional documentation requirements apply to Joint Venture partners who held a previous Schedule contract that was canceled/allowed to expire due to low or no sales or on-compliance.
2. Add the following note to clause 552.238-83, EXAMINATION OF RECORDS BY GSA (FEDERAL SUPPLY SCHEDULES):
a. Note: “The types of books, documents, papers and records shall include but are not be limited to:
– Eligible users of the GSA Sources of Supply and Services, as defined by Ordering Guide Publication (OGP) 4800.2I and/or subsequent orders,
– Basis of Award customers, 552.238-81 Price Reductions, and 552.238-80 Industrial Funding Fee and Sales Reporting,
– Verifying Commercial Sales Practices (CSP-1) Form accuracy and completeness,
– GSA MAS Contractor Team Arrangements (CTAs), and
– Authorized Dealers incorporated into the MAS contract by the Contracting Officer.”
3. Add the following note to clause 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party:
a. Note:“Credit card fees or convenience fees may not be charged to the end customer.”
4. Add 4 new optional TDR Data Elements.
a. The below new optional TDR Data Elements will be added to Alternate I of General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) 552.238-80, INDUSTRIAL FUNDING FEE AND SALES REPORTING.
i. Order Date
ii. Ship Date
iii. Zip Code Shipped To
iv. Federal Customer – Treasury Agency Code.
5. Incorporate clause and provision updates, as necessary, through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-05 and GSAR Change 179.
Changes to Specific Large Category, Subcategory or Special Item Number (SIN):
1. All Large Categories.
a. Add Standard “General Information” section:
i. Add below language to clearly define the scope of the MAS Solicitation as it pertains to firearms, live ammunition, explosives, and artillery weapons.
“Firearms and Ammunition: GSA will not award weapons such as firearms, live ammunition, explosives, and artillery weapons under this Solicitation. This also includes components that are solely used to produce functional weapons. Components that will not be awarded under this Solicitation include, but are not limited to, barrels, chambers, bolts, trigger groups, stock, magazines, rockets, grenades, grenade launchers, mines and mortars, cases, primers, powder, and projectiles. This exclusion does not apply to non-lethal ammunition types intended to be used for training, safety, and marking purposes.”
2. Office Management (A).
a. Printing and Photographic Equipment (A10): SIN(s) 333316C – Copiers and Digital Duplicating Equipment; 333316CPC – Cost-per-Copy Plan for Copiers (to include Analog, Digital, Multifunctional and Engineer Copiers); 333316F – Flat Rate Monthly Fee for Copiers (to include Analog, Digital, Multifunctional and Engineer Copiers); 333316OS – Overseas Copiers and Supplies; 532420C – Copier Rental Solutions; 532420LC – Operating Lease Plan For Copiers; 532420LTOP – Lease to Ownership Plans (LTOP) Copier.
i. Revise SIN descriptions to include multifunction printers (MFP) and multifunction devices (MFD).
3. Information Technology (IT) (F).
a. Add Standard “General Information” section:
Add language to clarify payment for software licenses delivered via Software as a Service (SaaS): “In the context of software licenses delivered or accessed via SaaS, payment is often made “upfront”, meaning that payment is made contemporaneously with receipt of the software license and the beginning of the license service term. Upfront payments are not considered an advance payment. Advance payment is a specific type of contract financing method where payments are made prior to delivery or completion of the product or a service. There are statutory limitations (e.g., 31 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 3324 and 41 U.S.C. § 4505) on the Federal Government’s use of advance payments. Advance payments to Government contractors for goods and services are generally prohibited unless specifically authorized. Advance payment is not authorized for the purchase of software licenses delivered or accessed via SaaS. (To clarify, upfront payment for software licenses delivered or accessed via SaaS are not considered advance payment. The central distinction is the contemporaneous access.)”
b. Electronic Commerce Subcategory (F01):
i. Remove the below language for SIN 54151ECOM Electronic Commerce and Subscription Services.
1. “All services shall be billed in arrears in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3324.”
c. IT Solutions Subcategory (F05):
i. Remove the below language for SIN 541519ICAM – Identity, Credentialing and Access Management (ICAM) and SIN 561422 – Automated Contact Center Solutions (ACCS).
1. “All services shall be billed in arrears in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3324.”
ii. Revise SIN Instructions for SIN 518210C – Cloud Computing and Cloud Related IT Professional Services and SIN 518210FM – Financial Management Quality Service Management Office (FM QSMO) Core Financial Management (FM) Solutions and IT Professional Services.
1. Remove all language related to “must be billed in arrears”.
2. Remove all language related to “must adhere to the ‘pay as you go’ pricing model and must be billed in arrears in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3324.”
iii. Revise “Solutions Subcategory SIN 518210C – Specific Information for Offerors” document (which is located on the Multiple Award Schedule website).
iv. Establish New SIN 541519CSP – Credential Service Provider.
1. Managed service offering for component or full service Credential Service Providers (CSPs) that meet the requirements of NIST SP 800-63 Digital Identity Guidelines (current version), to include public facing and enterprise.
d. Telecommunications Subcategory (F07):
i. Remove the below language for SIN 517410 – Commercial Satellite Communications Solutions (COMSATCOM) and SIN 517312 – Wireless Mobility Solutions.
1. “All services shall be billed in arrears in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3324.”
4. Professional Services (H).
a. Identity Protection Services (H04): SIN 541990IPS – Data Breach Response and Identity Protection.
i. Revise the 4 supplemental proposal documents with the following:
1. Document 1C (Shared Service Provider (SSP) Template).
a. Update the System Security Plan template In Accordance With (IAW) with the latest version of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-53.
2. Documents 1A (Important Definitions) and 1B (Additional Proposal Instructions).
a. Update hyperlinks to the NIST Cybersecurity and Privacy Reference Tool (CPRT) catalog which shows all of the latest documentation instead of the individual documents.
b. Remove references to specific revisions and replace with “(latest revision)”, and added formatting for emphasis.
3. Add language to all the documents except 1C (SSP template) to further explain how SSP changes (outside of GSA requirements.) are handled when they are requested at the order level.
4. Add formatting to the last page of SIN 541990IPS ordering guide to emphasize the order reporting requirements.
ii. Revise SIN instructions to include the following: 1. These documents are located on the Multiple Award Schedule page under SIN 541990IPS.
5. Travel (L).
a. Travel Agent Services (L03): SIN 561510 – Travel Agent Services.
i. Revise Statement of Work (SOW) to account for changes in commercial travel capabilities and services offered by the Travel Management Companies (TMCs).
1. The next generation of the E-Gov Travel Service (ETS) program (ETSNext) is using the model in which travel agent services, provided by the TMCs on this SIN, will no longer be embedded and included as part of the ETSNext contract. Instead, each individual civilian agency is responsible for requesting Travel Agent Services.
These changes are anticipated for May 2024. Contractors, make sure to be on the lookout for the solicitation drop on SAM.gov.