GSA Professional Services : Category & Details

The GSA Multiple Award Schedule provides a fast, easy, and cost-effective approach to receiving the items and services you need to complete your project. Through the expedited processes created by FAR Subpart 8.4 Federal Supply Schedules, the GSA Multiple Award Schedule gives government agencies access to thousands of business services-related contractors that offer a variety of commercial professional services at discounted and competitive pricing. The Management Services Category offers new professional services solutions to federal, state, and municipal governments. 

The Professional Services category includes the following professional services:

Business Administrative Services- These services are targeted at boosting federal agency performance and assisting clients in achieving their objectives. Management and financial consulting, acquisition and project management services, and business information services are all included in this category.

Environmental Services- Environmental services such as environmental remediation and environmental consulting services assist agencies in meeting regulatory requirements and streamlining contracting procedures.

Financial Services- Financial Services provides superior financial services to federal agencies, such as economic advising, loan servicing, investment management, financial instrument resolution, payroll processing, and budget and debt collection.

Identity Protection Services- As part of our commitment to provide federal clients with integrated, comprehensive service solutions, GSA offers data breach and security practices services to provide people with Sheltered Health Information (PHI) monitoring and alerting.

Language Services- The GSA offers translation and interpretation in a variety of languages. Contractors with expertise in a variety of fields provide services ranging from simple transcribing to complex analytical consultation.

Legal Services- Government entities can use the GSA's Multiple Award Schedule to get legal help in resolving, managing, and possibly selling government assets.

Logistical Services- Federal agencies in need of complete logistics solutions, including planning, consulting, and management, as well as Supplying and Value Chain Management solutions.

Marketing and Public Relations - Marketing and Public Relations is a subcategory that offers expert guidance on advertising, marketing, and allied communications sectors including video/film production, visual design, web-based marketing, marketing consultancy, and advertising.

Engineering and technical services (non-IT)- Engineering Services provides certified businesses in a variety of engineering disciplines, including aeronautical engineering, nuclear engineering, bioengineering, and marine architecture, to federal agencies and the US military.

Training - The Training subcategory includes support staff as well as educational services. Flight instruction, educational assistance, off-the-shelf training resources, and managerial and professional development training are all available. The GSA professional services category holds monthly virtual office hours to answer inquiries concerning professional services purchases from federal client agencies.

WHAT IS A GSA PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CATEGORY?

The Professional Services Category is a result of the Multiple Award Schedule Consolidation that took place in 2019-2020. This category has replaced the legacy Professional Services Schedule, which in turn consolidated eight legacy Schedules in 2015 (see below). Now, contractors providing professional services to the government can have just one single-stop contract in this one GSA Schedule Category.

The Professional Service Schedule encompasses almost every type of professional service that a federal, state, local and tribal organization may need. Some examples include financial services, construction services, GIS services, marketing (including web marketing) and PR, photography services, training and education services, translation services, and others. Do we need to emphasize how much in demand many of those services are? Almost every government agency needs at least some GSA professional services from the list. And more often they need a lot.

The high demand explains high budgets. In 2019, the Legacy Professional Services Schedule (PSS) was responsible for $9.687 billion in sales. About 4,500 contractors compete for this budget, which means there is about $2 million per contractor, on average. Quite a sum of money. Winning a PSS contract would for sure propel your business upward for the next 5 years because the duration of a GSA contract is typically 5 years. 

HOW TO OBTAIN A GSA PROFESSIONAL SERVICES SCHEDULE (PSS)

As you see above, there are a lot of SINs where you can sell your services to the government. And your potential piece of cake is large, too. So, how can you get a Professional Services contract?

There are a lot of individual nuances of the GSA application process that depend on the specific GSA Schedule Category, solicitation, and your company's capabilities. Each stage is filled with technical details and requires experience, diligence, and time. However, some very basic steps are a "must".

1. Preliminary preparation. This important stage includes obligatory training, preparation of documents that match the most stringent GSA requirements and submitting them via the eOffer platform.
2. GSA review. After you submit the documents and forms required to apply for a GSA professional services contract (make sure to read the entire solicitation to learn what documents you need), the GSA will review your submission for some time. It is OK if your submission is not accepted on the first attempt. A GSA officer can reach out to clarify missing things and request documents or modifications.
3. Negotiation. After your submission is reviewed and approved, a contracting officer initiates a negotiation step. Conditions and terms of the contract are negotiated, and so is the price list. After that, you are awarded a contract.
4. Keep up the diligent work. Good job! You've won the contract. Now you need to market and maintain it to remain successful. This needs a lot of self-education and time allocation. At times, you may want to hire a third-party GSA consultant that will act as an agent between you and the GSA and will help resolve all the arising issues and maintain the contract in compliance and up to date.