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Schedules Modernization

Does your MAS software contract comply?

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requires federal agencies to use only software that meets government-specified secure development practices. To comply, agencies require software producers to complete a form attesting that their software follows National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) guidelines. These self-attestation forms may be publicly posted by software producers, or, if not, uploaded to a Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) repository accessible by agencies. (buy.gsa.gov August 27, 2024)

Ordering activities should review publicly posted attestation forms, those already in the CISA repository, or add new forms to the repository. If a software producer cannot attest to all required practices, the ordering activity must require them to submit a Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) and review it before using the software. (ibid)

What Does This Mean For You?

  • MAS contractors without software on their MAS contract need not take any action.
  • MAS contractors with awarded software:
    • If the software producer has already posted or provided a form to the CISA repository, they don’t need to submit it again for the same software version.
    • If not, the software producer or MAS contractor must upload a completed form to the CISA repository. If the producer cannot attest to all practices, the ordering activity will require a POA&M for any deficiencies. (ibid)

Have questions or need forms? Give us a call.

GSA streamlines and saves you time

The General Services Administration (GSA) appears to have successfully modernized its catalog management system for the Advantage! program. (Federal News Network February 5, 2024)

GSA is increasing the user base of the new FAS Catalog Platform (FCP) after a successful trial period with Office Supplies 4 vendors. (ibid)

Mike Shepherd, the director of GSA’s catalog management office, explains the significant improvements of the FCP over the previous SIP system. He states that the FCP, replacing SIP, offers new features benefiting suppliers, acquisition workforce, and customers. It integrates with e-modification, capturing catalog updates and automating publishing modifications to GSA Advantage!. This greatly reduces the time it takes for vendors to add new products and delete items. It saves vendors an averge of 34 days by adding the products to their catalogs. Catalog deletions take place within 1 to 2 days of a modication submitted by the contractor, whereas it was common for it to take 10 or more days to delete products prior to the improvements. (ibid)

In addition to addressing long-standing issues, the platform includes automated data validation, a central hub for catalog actions, access to catalog history and a shared user interface. (ibid)

GSA plans to add more users and initiate a pilot for professional services on the platform. In addition, GSA aims to migrate the majority of Advantage! catalogs to the new platform by fiscal year-end. The plan also includes expanding the catalog platform to services contractors later this year, aiming for a simplified submission process. (ibid)

The new catalog is part of a broader effort to modernize GSA Advantage!, including consolidating schedules and updating user tools and backend systems, that both run and feed Advantage!. (ibid)

GSA will continue to gather feedback from users to address challenges and ensure ongoing improvement.(ibid)

Questions about the FCP improvements and how they might affect your contract? Give us a call.