Many of the MAS program's oldest and most successful contractors are now approaching the end of their 20-year contract periods. While this achievement is a direct result of the success of the MAS program overall, it has also created several challenges.
One such challenge is that Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) and orders cannot extend beyond the expiration date of the underlying MAS contract unless there are option periods remaining under the MAS contract that, if exercised, would cover the BPA's/order's period of performance.
For example, an ordering activity cannot establish a one-year BPA with a contractor if only six months remain on the underlying MAS contract (with no remaining option periods). At the order level, an order can be placed up until the very last day of the Schedule contract, but no order option periods can be exercised once the underlying Schedule contract has expired.
GSA's solution is to allow for the award of overlapping or continuous contracts. The administration of two MAS contracts is not mandatory and not all contractors are in a position that necessitates holding continuous contracts. Each contractor will have to make this determination for itself.
How does a continuous contract work?
Typically, the award of a new contract will result in the cancellation of the existing contract upon award. However, if the contractor has one or more active BPAs or orders under its existing contract (or has submitted quotes for either and is awaiting an award decision), it is eligible for the award of a new contract that is allowed to overlap and run alongside the existing one. This is referred to as holding continuous contracts.
Holding continuous contracts enables the MAS contractor to complete work under BPAs and orders awarded via the existing contract, while utilizing the new contract for new business opportunities. Contractors should be aware that there may be additional administrative and reporting burdens caused by managing the overlapping contracts for a period of time.
GSA's Streamlined Offer Process
If you are an existing MAS contractor and you want a follow-on MAS contract, a bilateral Close Contract for New Awards modification is required with the award of the new offer. For more information, please visit the MAS Modification Guide on gsa.gov.
The MAS program now offers a streamlined process and revised set of requirements for historically successful MAS contractors submitting an offer for a new MAS contract.
What is streamlined about the new process?
In an effort to make the offer process less burdensome while still complying with Federal Acquisition Regulations, the following requirements were eliminated or reduced to the greatest extent possible:
- Readiness Assessment
- Financial Statements
- Past performance questionnaires
- Corporate Experience
- Relevant Project Experience
- Pathways to Success
How do I know if I am an eligible "successful MAS contractor"?
A successful MAS contractor is defined as a contractor that:
- Is proposing the same Special Item Numbers (SINs) as those awarded under its existing contract
- Has met the minimum sales requirements under its existing contract
- Has a demonstrated pattern of satisfactory past performance under its existing contract
For additional information on GSA's contract continuity initiative and streamlined offer process review, contact your Contracting Officer.
Contract Management Tips
- Having trouble entering your contract number into systems and sites? Try removing the dashes. None of our sites require or accept the dashes.
- Are you looking for a copy of your contract? or "welcome package?" We no longer send paper copies of contracts or welcome packages. All the necessary award information can be found in eOffer. The company official that submitted the proposal through eOffer can access those documents online.
- Using third-party consultants? If you use third-party consultants, be aware of and stay involved in their activities so you can take over contract administration if necessary. If a consultant is no longer in your service, update your contact information with your PCO, ACO, and appropriate websites, otherwise you may miss valuable opportunities and information.
- Want to prepare for potential personnel changes? When registering at sites, consider using a general company email address (contracts@companyname.com) instead of an individual's address and allow the necessary folks access. Consider creating a database or record of steps, log-in information, etc to share information.
- Market, market, market! Check out our marketing resources to help you attract and keep customers.
- Keep your GSA Advantage catalog up-to-date. Check your catalog regularly and make any necessary updates.If left idle for two years or more, your catalog will automatically be removed from GSA Advantage and you will no longer have access to GSA eBuy.
- Anticipate your own needs, as well as those of customers. Don’t wait until the last minute to submit modifications, such as a price adjustment or adding an item to your contract in order to receive an order.