Attention 8(a) MAS Contractors

The SBA and GSA have signed a revised 8(a) Program Partnership Agreement to increase contracting opportunities for 8(a) firms, and make it easier for GSA customers to purchase from 8(a) firms. This will provide for increased ordering flexibility under the MAS Program, including authority for sole source awards to 8(a) firms.

is working with the SBA to establish a MAS 8(a) pool. This pool will include:

·       New MAS 8(a) contractors who are current, active 8(a) Program participants

·       Existing MAS 8(a) contractors who are current, active 8(a) Program participants

·       whose contracts have been accepted into the pool by SBA. 

Once accepted into the pool, these contractors will be eligible for both competitive and sole source 8(a) set aside awards made against their MAS contracts.  MAS 8(a) pool contractors will be eligible for sole source awards for as long as they remain active in the 8(a) Program, and continue to qualify as small for the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the sole source order, at the time of award.

8(a) pool contractors will continue to remain eligible for competitive set aside awards for up to five (5) years from the date of award, or until re-representation in accordance with FAR 19.301-2(b) (whichever is first), even after the contractor has exited the 8(a) Program.  

GSA has identified existing MAS 8(a) contractors who are currently active 8(a) Program participants, and has conveyed those contracts to SBA for acceptance into the 8(a) pool.  8(a) GSA vendors may receive an email from SBA requesting financial statements and/or other documentation needed to determine contractor eligibility for participation in the pool.  If you receive a request from SBA, please provide the requested information so that that all eligible MAS 8(a) contractors will be included in the 8(a) pool.

Additional information will be relayed via GSA Interact’s MAS Community as this process is carried out.  GSA anticipates full MAS implementation in 2023.

As always if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us at info@elevategsa.com.