Aug 17, 2012

Wade Prince

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GSA is Changing the Multiple Award Schedules Program and Wants your Input

As most GSA Schedule holders (and all wannabes) know, the Schedules program takes way too long; up to months to process mods and up to a year to award new contracts. GSA is getting the message and initiated a “Demand Based Model” (DBM) to mitigate the costs and burdens associated with the current process while maintaining the benefits of a program that facilitates easy access to cost-effective competitive small and large businesses

The DBM model will modify its current practice of a continuous open season for all Schedules to a practice whereby the Schedules will be individually assessed to determine whether a continuous open season should continue or whether one of the variations described below would be suitable. This might include, without limitation; maintaining a continuous open season for the Schedule or SIN; a temporary closure of the Schedule or SIN; temporarily re-opening after a decision to close the Schedule or SIN temporarily; merging the Schedule or SIN into one or more other Schedules or SINs; or the cancellation of the Schedule or SINs. According to this notice, DBM will become effective September 21, 2012

GSA is giving Industry, especially small businesses, the opportunity to weigh in generally on the plan or in response to specific questions they’ve posed below:

1. There are a wide range of considerations GSA should employ in determining whether additional capacity is needed on a certain Special Item Number (SIN). This includes considerations such as number of contracts, sales trends, average sales per contractor, geography, socio-economic status on the SIN, degree of innovation in the industry, and views from other Federal Agencies. What else should GSA consider in making this decision?
2. How much advance notice should GSA provide before making a decision for temporary closure? What business factors drive the amount of notice needed? Show citation box
3. Once GSA makes an announcement for temporary closure, there is potential for a high number of new offers before the effective date of the temporary closure. It is highly likely that nearly all of these offers will not generate business. What should GSA do with offers received in this window?
4. To help industry best plan, should GSA’s reassessment be conducted annually, every two years, or every three years? What actions can GSA take to assist industry with planning? For example, is it better to know with certainty when a schedule or SIN will reopen even if that means the duration of closure is longer, or is it better for GSA to take a shorter term view of the question?
5. Currently, over 50 percent of schedule contracts will not meet the sales retention criteria. Is reducing this percentage to 30 percent an appropriately aggressive interim goal?
6. Are there other considerations on how to ensure minimum impact to industry with the implementation?”

Comment Date: Interested parties should submit written comments to the Regulatory Secretariat on or before August 22, 2012 by any of the following methods:

Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching for “Notice-QDA-2012-01”. Select the link “Submit a Comment” that corresponds with “Notice-QDA-2012-01.” Follow the instructions provided at the “Submit a Comment” screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and “Notice-QDA-2012-01” on your attached document.

Fax: (202) 501-4067.

Mail: General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (MVCB), Attn: Hada Flowers, 1275 First Street NE., 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20417.

The full notice.

If you are interested in pursuing a GSA Schedule contract before these closures begin or have questions about how the DBM may affect your Company’s Schedule contract strategies, contact Hope Lane at 301.231.6266 or hlane@aronsonllc.com.