Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to GSA Travel MAS Contracts for Small Businesses

The GSA Travel MAS Category offers opportunities for companies providing travel, relocation, lodging, ticketing, and reservation solutions to government agencies through the GSA Schedule for Travel Services. Let's explore the GSA Travel category and how your company can benefit from securing a contract within it.

WHAT IS THE GSA TRAVEL CATEGORY OF MAS?

The GSA Travel, formerly known as GSA Schedule 599, is one of the 12 categories of products and services within the Multiple Award Schedule program. It provides government agencies with an efficient means to procure travel services.

The GSA Travel Category encompasses a wide array of solutions, including hotel reservations, long-stay apartment rentals, employee relocation services, ticket bookings, consultations, and other services in high demand by federal employees across the U.S. These services are essential for the efficient functioning of various government services.

The GSA Travel Large Category includes several Special Item Numbers (SINs):

1. Employee Relocation Subcategory:

   - SIN 531: Employee Relocation Solutions, covering various relocation services, including property management and home sale assistance.

   - SIN 541511T: Employee Relocation Management Software, offering software tools for authorizing, planning, repatriating, and managing employee relocation expenses.

2. Lodging Subcategory:

   - SIN 531110: Long-Term Lodging.

   - SIN 561599L: Lodging Negotiations and Management Services, providing services related to leasing apartments or houses, including reservation, location assistance, price negotiation, lodging management, reporting, etc.

3. Travel Agent and Miscellaneous Services Subcategory:

   - SIN 561510: Travel Agent Services, encompassing travel services like booking, reservation, ticketing, quality control, reporting, and more.

   - SIN 561599: Travel Consulting Services, offering various consulting services related to travel, such as assessment, market research, benchmarking, security, and others.

WHY PURSUE A GSA TRAVEL SCHEDULE?

Acquiring a GSA Travel Solutions contract can prove immensely beneficial for small businesses, even though it may not appear obvious at first glance. The profitability of this Schedule stems from two major factors:

1. HIGH VOLUME OF GSA TRAVEL SALES:

In FY 2022, the GSA reported nearly $750 million in sales within the GSA Travel Category. This impressive figure continues to grow annually.

2. LIMITED COMPETITION IN TRAVEL SOLUTIONS:

Presently, only 87 companies offer travel services through GSA Travel contracts. With a relatively small number of contractors, you have a significant opportunity to share in the $8.6 million average value of a GSA Travel Contract.

HOW TO GET ON GSA TRAVEL SOLUTIONS CONTRACT?

Securing a GSA Travel Solutions contract is entirely attainable if you approach it with determination and dedication. The process involves several steps:

1. Register your legitimate small business at SAM.gov.
2. Prepare all necessary documents and submit your application via the GSA eOffer system.
3. Bid for RFPs and RFQs published by federal agencies and submit your proposals.
4. Negotiate prices and conditions with a GSA Contracting Officer.
5. Finally, get awarded and start offering your travel services to federal buyers.

Timing and accuracy are critical throughout this process. Any discrepancies in financial documents, compliance, past performance, or pricing can necessitate starting the process anew. This may lead to months of wasted effort, making it essential to get everything right from the start.

While it's possible for large companies to win contracts independently, for small businesses, enlisting the help of a dedicated GSA consultant can be a prudent choice. Such consultants have experience in GSA contract consultations, document preparation, legal support, and federal market research. They can guide small businesses through the process and increase their chances of securing GSA contracts.