Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel; Notification of Public Advisory Panel Meetings

AGENCY:

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel (MAS Panel), a Federal Advisory Committee, will hold a public meeting on Friday, May 1, 2009. GSA utilizes the MAS program to establish long-term Governmentwide contracts with responsible firms to provide Federal, State, and local government customers with access to a wide variety of commercial supplies (products) and services.

The MAS Panel was established to develop advice and recommendations on MAS program pricing policies, provisions, and procedures in the context of current commercial pricing practices. The Panel is developing recommendations for MAS program pricing provisions for the acquisition of (1) professional services; (2) products; (3) total solutions which consist of professional services and products; and (4) non professional services. In developing the recommendations, the Panel will, at a minimum, address these 5 questions for each of the 4 types of acquisitions envisioned above: (1) Where does competition take place?; (2) If competition takes place primarily at the task/delivery order level, does a fair and reasonable price determination at the MAS contract level really matter?; (3) If the Panel consensus is that competition is at the task order level, are the methods that GSA uses to determine fair and reasonable prices and maintain the price/discount relationship with the basis of award customer(s) adequate?; (4) If the current policy is not adequate, what are the recommendations to improve the policy/guidance; and (5) If fair and reasonable price determination at the MAS contract level is not beneficial and the fair and reasonable price determination is to be determined only at the task/delivery order level, then what is the GSA role?

The meeting will be held at U.S. General Services Administration, Federal Acquisition Service, 2200 Crystal Drive, Room L1301, Arlington, VA 22202. The location is within walking distance of the Crystal City metro stop. The start time for each meeting is 9 a.m., and each meeting will adjourn no later than 5 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Information on the Panel meetings, agendas, and other information can be obtained at www.gsa.gov/masadvisorypanel or you may contact Ms. Pat Brooks, Designated Federal Officer, Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel, U.S. General Services Administration, 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 911, Arlington, VA 22205; telephone (703) 605-3406, Fax (703) 605-3454; or via email at mas.advisorypanel@gsa.gov.

AVAILABILITY OF MATERIALS: All meeting materials, including meeting agendas, handouts, public comments, and meeting minutes will be posted on the MAS Panel website at www.gsa.gov/masadvisorypanel or www.gsa.gov/masap .

MEETING ACCESS: Individuals requiring special accommodations at any of these meetings should contact Ms. Brooks at least ten (10) business days prior to the meeting date so that appropriate arrangements can be made.