Multiple Award Schedule Program Experience

By far the largest procurement vehicle that the Federal government utilizes to procure goods and services is via the General Services Administration’s Multiple Award Schedules (“MAS”) Program and Veterans Administration’s Federal Supply Schedule (“FSS”) Program. Claro’s extensive MAS and FSS experience can help you effectively manage the regulatory compliance risks associated with these types of contracts. We couple regulatory expertise with our business, data mining and technology skills to effectively and efficiently support you throughout the MAS and FSS contracting lifecycle. We have assisted contractors across many industries including electronics, office furniture and equipment, medical equipment, devices, supplies, and pharmaceuticals, successfully and compliantly manage their MAS and FSS contracts.

In fiscal year 2009, the government spent over $40 billion with companies that were approved to do business with the government through GSA. The intent of both programs is to provide the government with a streamlined process to obtain commercial goods and services based on discounted commercial prices comparable to prices offered by a company to its commercial customers. Despite the Government’s best attempts to mirror a commercial procurement process these programs expose contractors to a number of unique government contract compliance risks.

The most notable requirements include the extensive pre-award sales and discount disclosures associated with the proposal process and the Price Reduction clause requirements post-award. The pre-award requirements are critical to protecting the Contractor’s pricing under the contract and minimizing exposure to financial risk during the contract period. Likewise, compliance with the Price Reductions clause requires appropriate controls and systems to be implemented by contractors to guard against unintended price reductions having to be provided to the government and any corresponding refunds, penalties and interest.

The Claro Group’s services include:

• Pre-award / Proposal Assistance: We can help you establish appropriate baseline pricing and discount information during the proposal stage which is critical for minimizing both the potential for inadequate disclosure and price-reduction risk after contract award.
• Contract Period / Post-Award Disclosure Matters: During performance of the contract, we can help to establish and implement systems, procedures and practices to effectively monitor sales transactions for the applicable tracking customers as well as under the MAS and FSS contracts to enhance compliance with the contract requirements.
• Audit, Dispute, or Investigation Response and Rebuttal: During contract performance, we can help you respond to government audit or investigation requests, or findings of alleged noncompliance. This can include development of the requested information, to the analysis and preparation of responses and rebuttal of alleged findings.

Please contact John Sasaki for more information about The Claro Group's multiple award schedule program solutions.