“Two weeks ago, Part 1 of this blog series focused, in part, on how BIC MAC duplicates the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. Part 1 included a “table of features” which outlined the significant convergence in key contractual terms and capabilities between BIC MAC and the MAS program. The table showed that except for one feature, cost-reimbursement contracting, BIC MAC essentially would mirror key aspects of the MAS program. BIC MAC would provide for cost reimbursement task orders against the backdrop of the MAS program, which, currently, does not include this capability, as it is limited in scope to commercial item task orders. The blurring of lines between BIC MAC and the MAS program brings us to the focus of this blog: adding cost reimbursement capability to MAS contracts.”
“As readers of the FAR & Beyond blog know, adding cost reimbursement capability has long been seen as a wonderful opportunity for GSA to increase value for customer agencies. Cost reimbursement capability would enhance customer agency access to an existing base of small, medium, and large businesses. Significantly, GSA recently indicated that of the respondents to its Request for Information (RFI) for BIC MAC, over 80 percent (863 of 1048 respondents) already had MAS contracts. Thus, there is already an established base of current contractors (small, medium, and large) with contracts readily available to be modified to provide cost reimbursement capability.”
“There is nothing in statute that limits the MAS program solely to commercial item contracting other than GSA’s decision to so constrain the program. Given GSA’s discretion on this subject, and in the face of the proposed BIC MAC follow-on to OASIS, it is time for GSA to modify the MAS program to add cost reimbursement capability.”
“Modifying the MAS program to establish hybrid contracts that include both commercial and cost reimbursement capabilities at the task order level has been done before. One need only look to GSA’s Alliant, OASIS, and OASIS SB contract vehicles. Each of these contracts include both capabilities. So, the precedent has been set, and, if commercial and cost reimbursement capabilities can be leveraged for other multiple award IDIQs, then it is clear they can be leveraged for the MAS program, especially where doing so would work to increase competition, reduce contracting costs and bring greater value for customer agencies…” Read the full article here.
Source: Part 2: Cost Reimbursement Capability for the MAS Program — April 23, 2021. The Coalition for Government Procurement.
