GSA improves schedule program for contractors, agencies

The General Services Administration is changing regulations that may make the Multiple Award Schedule program run more smoothly for contractors and agencies, according to The GSA Blog.

The Transactional Data Reporting Rule would require companies to electronically report the price it charged a federal agency for a product or service through one of GSA acquisition vehicles. In return, GSA would eliminate burdensome tracking and reporting requirements from the Price Reduction Clause. The clause is a price-reporting rule that keeps companies from overcharging the government compared to their commercial customers. GSA issued a proposed rule March 4.

GSA is proposing a class deviation rule that deals with 15 commercial supplier agreements, or user agreements, that run counter to federal law, such as automatic renewals for software or services. GSA said the proposed change would mainly affect the IT Schedule 70 program.

Lastly, GSA and other regulation acquisition agencies are planning for two new Federal Acquisition Regulation rules. One rule would allow agencies to add order-level materials to a current contract, instead of competing an entirely new contract. In addition, a currently open FAR case would expand the authority for agencies to establish fair and reasonable pricing requirements when placing orders against the MAS program. NASA and the Defense Department already require their contracting officers to set up those requirements.