If you sell identity, credentialing, and access management products or services, and the federal government is on your target list, there’s a specific route you’ll need to take through GSA before you can sell.
Federal agencies need their systems to be functional, secure, and able to work with everyone else’s technology and GSA backs that up in two ways. The Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) runs long-term, government-wide contracts that give federal, state, and local buyers access to commercial products and services at pricing that’s already been negotiated. Separately, the Office of Government-wide Policy handles testing and certification for certain categories of products.
For most ICAM vendors, this means applying for a Special Item Number, or SIN, under the Multiple Award Schedule, known as the MAS. Think of a SIN as the specific lane on the schedule your product or service needs to sit in before an agency can buy it from you.
Here’s where it gets more involved. Two FIPS 201 product categories can’t go straight to the MAS. They need testing at an approved facility first.
Smart card credentials, specifically PIV Card Bodies, have to be listed on the GSA FIPS 201 Approved Products List for PIV Cards. Physical Access Control Systems, or PACS, have to be listed on the GSA FIPS 201 Approved Products List for Physical Access Control System Components. If you have questions about getting a product approved, reach out to fips201ep@gsa.gov.
On the services side, four ICAM professional services require verification or attestation of your capabilities before you can apply to the schedule. These are Credential Service Provider under 541519CSP, Public Key Infrastructure Shared Service Providers under 541519PKI, Identity, Credential, and Access Management Solutions under 541519ICAM, and HSPD-12 Products and Service Components under 541519PIV.
The bottom line know which category your product or service falls into before you start the application. It’ll save you a round trip.
GSA Proposal Maven Inc. is a government contract firm that has helped thousands of businesses increase their bottom line with the GSA MAS contract program, 8(a) Certification Program, VOSB Certification, SDVOSB Certification, and other federal agency contracts. Contact us at (877) 302-3773 or click here to schedule your FREE fifteen-minute consultation by clicking here.
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