Regulatory Foundation

The FAR provides the primary regulatory guidance for the GSA Schedules program. The General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) is the GSA FAR supplement. The GSAR provides guidance tailored to GSA acquisitions, including GSA Schedules contracting. GSAR guidance primarily affects GSA Schedules by providing supplementary guidance to the Contracting Officers awarding and administering GSA Schedule contracts.

FAR Subpart 8.4, Federal Supply Schedules, prescribes procedures that Federal Government ordering activities must follow when issuing orders using GSA Schedules. Orders placed following these procedures are considered to be issued using full and open competition. (See FAR 8.404(a)).

FAR Part 38, Federal Supply Schedule Contracting, prescribes procedures that GSA must follow when establishing, discontinuing, or changing Federal Supply Schedules.

FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items, prescribes policies and procedures unique to the acquisition of commercial items. It implements the Federal Government’s preference for the acquisition of commercial items contained in Title VIII of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-355) by establishing acquisition policies more closely resembling those of the commercial marketplace and encouraging the acquisition of commercial items and components.

FAR 6.102(d)(3), Competition Requirements, this subpart pertains to use of competitive procedures. It states use of MAS issued under the procedures established by the Administrator of General Services consistent with the requirement of 41 U.S.C. 259(b)(3)(A) for the MAS Program of the GSA is a competitive procedure.