GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)

The GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), commonly called the GSA Schedule, is the federal government's largest acquisition vehicle, providing all federal agencies pre-negotiated commercial pricing and terms from thousands of vendors across hundreds of product and service categories.

What is the GSA Multiple Award Schedule?

The MAS program is administered by GSA's Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) and consolidates what were previously dozens of separate Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) into a single unified program. Every federal agency (and many state and local governments through cooperative purchasing authority) can use MAS to procure commercial off-the-shelf products, IT hardware and software, professional services, facilities services, scientific equipment, and numerous other categories.

MAS is a vehicle, not an order. Companies apply for and are awarded a MAS contract by negotiating their commercial price list with GSA and agreeing to MAS-specific clauses. Once awarded, the MAS contract is the framework, agencies then issue individual orders (purchases) against it. MAS is an IDIQ vehicle with an indefinite ordering period (the contract runs for up to 20 years: an initial 5-year base with three 5-year option periods).

Key MAS structures:

Large categories (formerly separate schedules): MAS is organized into Large Categories (Administrative, Facilities, Human Capital, IT, Industrial Products, etc.) with Sub-Categories and Special Item Numbers (SINs), the specific category codes that define what products or services a contractor is authorized to offer.

Schedule pricing: Contractors negotiate with GSA on their commercial pricing and commit to their "MAS price", a ceiling price (not the minimum the government pays, but the maximum). Orders below $25,000 (the MAS simplified acquisition threshold equivalent) can be placed with any single MAS contractor. Orders above $25,000 must go through a fair opportunity process, comparing at least three MAS vendors.

Industrial Funding Fee (IFF): All MAS contractors pay GSA a percentage of sales (currently 0.75%) called the IFF to fund the program. This is typically built into quoted prices.

The MAS program is a "Best-in-Class" vehicle under OMB guidance, meaning agencies are encouraged (but not required) to use it over standalone contracts for commercial requirements.

Why MAS matters for government contractors

A MAS contract is often the first government contract a commercial company pursues, it is the access point to the federal marketplace. With a MAS contract, any federal buyer can purchase from the company without a separate competitive procurement (for orders under $25,000) or through a streamlined fair opportunity process (for larger orders). The application process requires negotiating commercial pricing and disclosures with GSA, maintaining compliance with MAS clauses (especially the Price Reduction Clause), and paying the IFF on sales. Read more about how to find government contracts to understand how MAS fits into a broader federal market entry strategy.

Example

A cybersecurity services firm applies for and receives a MAS contract under the IT Large Category, SIN 54151S (IT Professional Services). The firm's MAS contract lists negotiated ceiling rates for 12 labor categories. An agency's contracting officer needs cybersecurity assessment services. They go to GSA eBuy, post a request for quotes against SIN 54151S, and receive quotes from the firm and four competitors. The firm's competitive rate and strong past performance record win the order, a $350,000 task order placed against the MAS contract. The firm pays GSA 0.75% ($2,625) as the IFF.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a MAS contract?

GSA targets a 4-month review-to-award timeline for new MAS offers, but actual timelines vary by offering complexity and GSA workload. Companies should plan for 4-9 months from application submission to award. Incomplete offers (missing documentation, non-compliant pricing, missing past performance references) substantially lengthen timelines.

Is there a minimum sales requirement on MAS?

Yes. MAS contractors must generate at least $25,000 in MAS sales within the first two years and each subsequent year. GSA can cancel MAS contracts that fail to meet this minimum sales threshold. Companies should have a realistic plan for generating MAS orders before applying.

What is the difference between MAS and GWAC?

GWACs are for IT services specifically, competed via task orders with technical proposals and evaluation criteria. MAS is broader (all commercial categories), primarily catalog-based or quote-based, and does not require a technical proposal for most orders. GWACs typically support larger, more complex IT service requirements; MAS supports a wider variety of commercial requirements including IT.

Can state and local governments use MAS?

Yes, for IT and security services through the Cooperative Purchasing Program (authorized by the E-Government Act). State, local, and tribal governments can place orders against specific MAS SINs for cybersecurity and IT without any additional agreement. This is separate from a full MAS ordering authorization.