R -- Notification of MAS EXPRESS PHASE 2 ROLL-OUT on August 15 2007

On January 16, 2007, the General Services Administration, Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) introduced Phase I of the MAS Express Program (referred to as ?MAS Express? in this document). MAS Express is a pilot program designed to reduce the time it takes to get a basic GSA Schedule contract. During Phase I, the core criteria of the program was established, and specific Schedules and Special Item Numbers (SINs) were selected to participate.On August 15, 2007 FAS is scheduled to roll out Phase II of MAS Express. Under Phase II, FAS has increased the number of Schedules participating in the program from 5 to 15, and the number of Special Item Numbers (SINs) in the program is also increasing. In addition to the expansion, the program is also being enhanced to provide our Industry Partners the ability to submit electronic MAS Express Program offers under Express EOffer. Initially, the ability to submit an Express eOffer will be available for specific schedules. This feature will be expanded over the coming months. MAS Express offers several benefits to GSA customers and prospective GSA Industry partners. The near-term benefit will result in a reduction in the amount of time it takes to process an offer. This will make selected products and services available quicker to GSA?s customers. The program will also allow for streamlined collaboration and communications between our Industry partners and GSA Contracting personnel. Besides meeting MAS Express offer criteria Offerors are required to successfully complete the ?Pathway to Success? course. The ?Pathway to Success? course is available via live sessions or online at http://vsc.gsa.gov, Vendor Training. The primary function of the ?Pathway to Success? course?s is to provide our Industry partners information about the MAS Schedules program so that potential Offerors can make an informed business decision as to whether it is in their best interests to have a MAS contract. Another important objective of the course is to improve the quality of Schedules offers submitted by our Industry partners. The ?Pathway to Success? course includes discussion sessions covering: - the proposal submission process and the MAS solicitation - the obligations involved in being a Schedule contractor - How an Offeror must differentiate their firm (through; pricing, service, delivery, and/or terms conditions) in order to be successful in the Federal marketplace. Individuals who satisfactorily complete the ?Pathway to Success? course will receive certificates, which they must submit with their offer. The certificates are valid for one year, and the firm?s employee who completes the course must still be employed by the firm at the time a proposal is submitted. Additional MAS Express Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible for the MAS Express, a company must first offer products/services from one of the participating Schedules. The eligible SINs are product/service specific (with associated maintenance). Selected SINs from the Schedules listed below are in the MAS Express Program. 36 The Office, Imaging & Document Solution 71 III Special Use Furniture 48 Transportation, Delivery, & Relocation 73 Food Service, Hospitality, Cleaning, Equipment 51 V Hardware Superstore 75 Office Products/Supplies & Services 58 I Professional Audio/Video Telecommunications, & Security Solutions 78 Sports, Promotional, Outdoor, Recreational Trophies, & Signs (SPORTS) 67 Photographic Equipment ? Cameras, Photographic Printers & Related Supplies and Services (Digital Film Based) 81 IB Shipping, Packaging, & Packing Supplies 69 Training Aids, Devices, Instructor-Led Training; Course Development; Test Administration 599 Travel Service Solutions 70 General Purpose Commercial Information Technology, Equipment Software & Services 899 Environmental Services 71 I Office Furniture In addition, Offerors must meet all other MAS Express criteria. The basis of the program criteria is to demonstrate that the Offorer?s company is financially sound, has a proven track record of sales and is willing to offer GSA its best pricing. Additional information on MAS Express criteria requirements can be found at www.gsa.gov/masexpress and in the MAS Express Program ?Letter to the Offeror,? which is located with the Solicitation of each Schedule in the program. Vendors may obtain additional information regarding MAS Express by accessing the Vendor Support Center (VSC) at http://vsc.gsa.gov and clicking on the "Business Opportunities" tab. For questions specifically related to MAS Express, vendors may contact the Schedule Program Express Evaluation Desk at (312) 886-8897. For questions regarding a particular Schedule solicitation, vendors are advised to contact the point of contact listed for the specific solicitation in FedBizOpps or in the actual solicitation document.