Late last month, the Biden administration launched the 8(a) MAS Pool Initiative. This initiative is a joint effort between the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to help small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) participating in the 8(a) Business Development Program gain access to more federal contracts in GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Program.

The MAS Program is part of the GAO’s Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) and seeks to issue long-term, government-wide contracts that provide federal, state, and local government buyers access to commercial products, services, and solutions at pre-negotiated pricing. 

Customer agencies will be able to place 8(a) directed awards via the MAS Solicitation, and the MAS 8(a) companies are in the pool, beginning later this year.  This initiative will result in increased ordering flexibility under the GSA Schedule program and streamline the acquisition process, further incentivizing agencies to contract with 8(a) firms. It will also provide government buyers with greater access to a large number of 8(a) contractors that will help agencies meet their small and socioeconomic business contracting goals.

For more information, you can learn more at https://www.sba.gov/article/2023/05/25/biden-harris-administration-launch-new-initiative-increase-federal-contracting-small-disadvantaged.