Prioritizing optimal value through the Multi-Award Schedules
The General Services Administration (GSA) has proposed a significant change to its Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) program, aiming to shift the focus from the lowest cost to seeking best value products and services for the federal government.
This legislative proposal, titled "Providing Best Value Through the Multiple Award Schedule Program," was one of 16 published by the GSA on July 16. The change is expected to encourage a more holistic evaluation of offers under the MAS program, potentially improving mission support for federal agencies and delivering higher quality goods and services to government customers and the public.
Currently, the MAS program is governed by statutory language from 1984 (Competition in Contracting Act) that requires contracts and orders to result in the lowest cost alternative. The proposed update aims to reflect a 21st-century procurement approach that emphasizes outcome and value rather than just price.
Under the best value approach, the MAS program will consider a broader set of factors including administrative costs, product quality, delivery time, and other performance aspects to better meet government needs. In government procurement, best value involves evaluating factors beyond just the initial price, such as a vendor's past performance, technical capabilities, and overall cost of ownership over the item's lifespan.
The update is poised to enhance how the GSA’s MAS program supports federal purchasing by shifting the focus to best value, improving quality, delivery, and overall government outcomes. By empowering procurement officials to select suppliers based on best value criteria rather than lowest price alone, the proposal aims to balance cost with quality and service considerations, aligning with modern procurement principles.
Moreover, the proposed update will provide GSA with greater flexibility to eliminate barriers to entry for innovative commercial firms seeking entry into the federal market. This could lead to a more diverse and competitive marketplace, benefiting both the government and the public.
The administration's legislative proposal aims to enshrine "best value" as a foundational principle in the MAS program, its implementing regulations, and contracts. This change will encourage the federal government to focus on outcomes rather than low price, ensuring that public funds are spent wisely and effectively in government procurement.
The "best value" language will enhance GSA's ability to craft MAS processes and contract terms that promote effective and efficient outcomes for the federal government. The update will further enhance the ability of GSA, customer agencies, and contractors to focus on outcomes that deliver best value mission support for the American people.
In conclusion, the proposed update to the GSA’s MAS program is a step towards modernizing government procurement practices, prioritizing quality, delivery, and overall value over just the lowest cost. This shift is expected to lead to improved mission support for federal agencies and higher quality goods and services for the public.
[1] General Services Administration. (2021, July 16). 16 legislative proposals to modernize GSA's multiple award schedule program. Retrieved from https://www.gsa.gov/news/16-legislative-proposals-modernize-gsas-multiple-award-schedule-program [2] Federal Acquisition Regulation. (n.d.). Best value. Retrieved from https://www.acquisition.gov/contracting/farsystem/html/Subpart_15_2_001.html
The General Services Administration's legislative proposal aims to modernize the MAS program, focusing on best value products and services for the federal government, as illustrated in the document titled "Providing Best Value Through the Multiple Award Schedule Program." This shift from the lowest cost alternative to a holistic evaluation of offers under the MAS program could lead to improved mission support for federal agencies and higher quality goods and services for the public. (From the context of the text, it's clear that 'business' is implied in the context of 'best value' related to government procurement, and 'finance' is also implied in the context of public funds in government procurement.)
