GSA Contracts: Streamlined Federal Procurement
- EMT Holdings Team
- Oct 8
- 2 min read
For businesses seeking to work with federal agencies, a GSA (General Services Administration) contract is one of the most valuable tools in government contracting.
What Is a GSA Contract?
A GSA contract, formally known as a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS), is a long-term government-wide contract between commercial companies and the federal government. These contracts pre-negotiate prices, terms, and conditions, creating a simplified procurement vehicle for federal, state, and local agencies. A GSA contract is similar to a "pre-approved vendor list" that streamlines the complex federal acquisition process.
Benefits for Federal Agencies
GSA contracts accelerate procurement from months to weeks or days while providing pre-negotiated competitive pricing. With terms already established, contracting officers gain streamlined access to thousands of contractors across hundreds of service categories.
Benefits for Contractors
For businesses, a GSA contract unlocks the multi-billion-dollar federal marketplace and signals credibility to government buyers. The simplified sales process and typical five-year contract term provide long-term stability and predictable revenue opportunities, while the GSA eLibrary serves as a marketing platform where agencies discover your services.
Key Components
GSA contracts include:
Special Item Numbers (SINs) that categorize offerings
Detailed labor categories describing available professionals
Established pricing structures with volume discounts
Geographic coverage specifications
Contract ceiling amounts defining a maximum lifetime value
The Award Process
Companies must demonstrate at least two years in business and a commercial track record. The comprehensive application includes pricing, past performance, and service descriptions. After demonstrating price reasonableness and negotiating with GSA contracting officers, successful applicants receive contracts published to the GSA eLibrary. The process typically takes 6-12 months.
Maximizing Value
Contractors must actively market their GSA number, maintain competitive pricing, build relationships with buyers, track contract modifications, and deliver exceptional service to build strong past-performance records.
Common Misconceptions
GSA contracts provide market access but don't guarantee sales. Contractors must still actively compete. And they are not just for large businesses, in fact, GSA actively encourages small business participation. Maintaining relevance requires continually updating contracts, staying price-competitive, and delivering excellent performance.
Real-World Impact: EMT Holdings
EMT Holdings recently secured a five-year, $7.5 million GSA MAS contract encompassing management consulting, background investigations, and IT professional services. As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and HUBZone-certified company, this contract provides federal agencies streamlined access to specialized capabilities.
Conclusion
GSA contracts bridge federal government needs with private sector solutions. By pre-negotiating terms and establishing trusted vendor relationships, they enable agencies to accomplish missions efficiently while providing businesses sustainable access to the government marketplace.
About EMT Holdings
EMT Holdings is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business and HUBZone-certified company specializing in investigative services, management consulting, IT professional services, and logistics support. With 25 years of cumulative government contracting experience and 2025 Inc. 5000 recognition, EMT delivers customer-centric solutions to meet client needs.
Until Next Time,
The EMT Holdings Team
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