One of the easiest entries into federal contracting (especially for small businesses) is through the use of the Multiple Award Schedules programs (MAS). GSA runs many of them but so does NASA (called SEWP) and DOD, among other agencies. Think of these in terms of being “Amazon” for consumers, but it is not just products as there are a lot of services offered on a schedule program. Services such as: Building Maintenance, Painting, Facility security, help desk, networking, training, etc.

Getting on a MAS (for federal supply schedule -FSS) is only part of the deal. Once you become an approved vendor, you will be able to bid on task awards.  For instance, Agency XYZ has a building that needs a new coat of paint. The GSA (or other agency that runs the MAS) has vetted 30 different painting organizations. Agency XYZ access the schedule and puts out a solicitation to the 30 pre-vetted painters and can select one who they choose through a competitive bid process from those 30 who decided to put in a bid.

Alex Major and John Able from Winvale talk through this process and it’s challenges and rewards.