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GSA

GSA and Perplexity Sign First Direct-to-Government OneGov Deal for AI Services

The General Services Administration has finalized its first direct OneGov agreement with frontier AI firm Perplexity, giving federal agencies steeply discounted access to advanced AI technology. (NEXTGOV/FCW November 19, 2025)

Under this groundbreaking contract, agencies can obtain Perplexity Enterprise Pro for Government for just $0.25 per agency over 18 months through a direct purchase on the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS). Unlike previous OneGov agreements, Perplexity can now sell directly to federal buyers without a reseller, supporting the administration’s push for tighter engagement with original tech developers and lower acquisition costs. (ibid)

Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum emphasized the importance of the deal:

“This OneGov agreement, directly with Perplexity, offers the federal government an additional pathway to leverage the transformative advantages of AI.”

Perplexity’s AI-powered search platform has grown rapidly in 2025, now serving more than 30 million monthly users with real-time, cited answers. Demand within federal agencies has surged, especially during this year’s 43-day government shutdown. (ibid)

The company’s Enterprise Pro Platform lets government users query multiple leading AI models—including OpenAI and Anthropic—within one interface while adding enhanced, mission-focused security features. (ibid)

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas celebrated the partnership, saying:

“Accurate AI serves America. We’re proud to support President Trump’s AI Action Plan by giving federal employees cited, verifiable answers across every major AI model.”

To bring its services to government buyers quickly, Perplexity participated in FedRAMP’s accelerated 20x authorization pilot and secured AI prioritization under GSA criteria. (ibid)

Jerry Ma, Perplexity’s VP of Policy and Global Affairs, noted the urgency of the effort:

“This Administration has made clear that agencies should have the best of American AI not in 2028, 2027, or 2026—but right now, in 2025.”

With this agreement, Perplexity becomes the first multimodel AI platform tailored specifically to federal needs and directly accessible via the GSA MAS, marking a new era in procuring mission-critical AI. (ibid)

Questions about Perplexity? Give us a call.

GSA Drops a Game-Changing MAS Refresh: Are You Ready for #30?

The General Services Administration (GSA) has announced a major update to the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program—and it’s more than a routine refresh. On October 17, 2025, the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) revealed that Refresh #30 will land sometime in November. Contractors had until October 31 to submit feedback, but the real work begins once the update is released.

Why This Refresh Matters

GSA issues periodic MAS “refreshes” to keep contract terms aligned with evolving rules and policies. But Refresh #30 stands out. It’s designed to sync the MAS Solicitation with the sweeping changes from the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO)—the government’s biggest procurement rewrite in years.

Here’s what GSA plans to do:

  • Update dozens of clauses and provisions with new GSA-issued deviations
  • Highlight new guidance on MAS ordering procedures on GSA.gov
  • Revise the MAS solicitation instructions (SCP-FSS-001)
  • Update the Special Item Number (SIN) for Order-Level Materials (OLMs), impacting 60 subcategories

Contractors will have 90 days to accept the Mass Modification after it’s released.

What We Know So Far

While the full text isn’t out yet, GSA already published a list of 94 clauses and provisions that will change. According to the supporting document, “MAS Refresh 30 Clause and Provision Changes,” the update aims to:

  • Simplify acquisition requirements
  • Remove language not required by statute
  • Use clearer, more straightforward terms

GSA plans to replace 53 clauses, add five new deviation clauses, and delete 36 clauses—a sign of the government’s push toward streamlined, plain-language contracting.

A Continued Shift in Federal Procurement

Refresh #30 fits squarely within the goals of Executive Order 14275, Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement. With GSA leading the RFO effort, contractors can expect continued, rapid modernization of these large commercial contract vehicles.

These shifts aren’t happening through traditional rulemaking. Instead, GSA is using its deviation authority, which allows faster changes. More adjustments may follow. For most contractors, the real impact will depend on what they sell and how the new framework interacts with their business model. In theory, the RFO is designed to create less friction—not more.

What Contractors Should Do Now

With such a broad update on the horizon, early preparation is key. GSA is under pressure to increase commercial buying even while working with leaner staffing, which means contractors should prepare for a more streamlined, results-driven environment.

Here’s how to get ahead:

1. Set up your internal review process

If you don’t already have a workflow for reviewing MAS updates, now is the time to create one. Add a calendar reminder for the 90-day acceptance deadline.

2. Review your contract terms

Identify any parts of your existing contract that could be affected by the upcoming changes.

3. Align your compliance programs

Check whether your compliance systems need updates based on the new FAR/GSAR deviations.

4. Track inconsistencies with SAM.gov

GSA has warned that SAM.gov may lag behind Refresh #30. If the system still reflects outdated clauses, contracting officers will rely on the solicitation—not SAM. Document discrepancies so you have a record.

5. Get help if you need it

If any clauses are unclear or have operational implications, consider bringing in legal or compliance experts to interpret the revisions.

Do you want to understand how the refresh directly affects your contracts? Give us a call.

Stop! Don’t Upload Your MAS Catalog Until You Get FCP Access

Effective immediately, newly awarded contractors must not use SIP or EDI-832 to upload catalogs to GSA Advantage!.

What to Do

  1. Use the required templates.
    Since MAS Refresh 29 (Aug 28, 2025), vendors must submit offers using:
  • FCP Product File
  • FCP Services Plus File
  • SIN-Specific Price Proposal Templates (limited SINs) (buy.gsa.gov 9.29.25)

If you used Products PPT or Services & Training PPT, convert your data to the FCP template. Templates live on the MAS Required Templates page. (ibid)

  1. Wait for your “Welcome to FCP” email before uploading data.
  • Awards Aug 28–Oct 7 → FCP access Oct 14, 2025
  • Awards Oct 7–Nov 5 → FCP access Nov 11, 2025
  • Awards after Nov 5 → Timeline coming soon
  • Awards before Aug 28 → Continue SIP/EDI-832 until bulk onboarding moves you to FCP (28-day notice). (ibid)
  1. Register your contract with the Vendor Support Center (VSC).
    Do this as soon as you win. Registration is required to use FCP and show your contract on eBuy. (ibid)

In the meantime, validate your Product and Services Plus Files. Clean data = fewer FCP errors later. (ibid)

If you’re a newly awarded MAS contractor and unsure how to handle catalog uploads or registration, give us a call.

GSA Taps Industry to Transform Federal Contracting with AI

The General Services Administration (GSA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) today, seeking input from suppliers and industry associations to create a single, integrated, and highly efficient procurement ecosystem. This new system will incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive collaboration and strengthen the federal acquisition lifecycle. (General Services Administration Press Release August 18, 2025)

“President Trump, through his executive orders and AI Action Plan, is prioritizing the consolidation ​of federal procurement ​and acceleration of AI adoption across government. GSA ​plays a central role in both these efforts and will deliver a more effective, data-driven, and unified acquisition lifecycle,” said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum. “Leveraging AI to consolidate procurement processes and provide insightful recommendations is critical to this transformation. We welcome our industry partners’ expertise as we build an acquisition system that reduces waste, delivers better value for taxpayers, and better results for government.” (ibid)

The RFI represents GSA’s initial outreach to industry partners to gather their perspective on its vision for modernizing procurement. On behalf of the federal government, GSA seeks innovative solutions that apply AI and automation to existing data, structured and unstructured, to achieve greater efficiency and scalability in acquisition practices. (ibid)

GSA invites input from suppliers and associations with expertise in information technology, data architecture and storage, AI and Machine Learning, data analytics, user experience design, and innovative small businesses and startups. (ibid)

Interested parties should review the draft RFI package, which outlines the scope, objectives, functional and non-functional requirements, information about current systems, and related challenges. Respondents may submit White Papers up to 10 pages. (ibid)

Responses are due August 29, 2025. GSA will use the feedback to inform follow-on engagements, including additional RFIs, draft solicitations, and potential individual discussions. GSA anticipates issuing solicitations in support of this initiative shortly after reviewing feedback. (ibid)

Should you have questions concerning the creation of the White Paper or need guidance, give us a call.