GETTING ON THE GSA SCHEDULE
GSA Letter of Supply: When Is It Required Under Current MAS Rules?
A Letter of Supply (LOS) is no longer a blanket requirement for resellers on the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS). Since MAS Refresh 27, GSA has limited the requirement to certain product offerings, primarily Information Technology products and Printing and Photographic Equipment, and generally only where the manufacturer is not covered by GSA’s Verified Products Portal (VPP). Confirm the current rule for your specific SINs before you spend time chasing a letter.
What is a Letter of Supply?
An LOS is a written statement from a manufacturer, or another source in the supply chain, that supports a reseller’s ability to offer and supply the manufacturer’s products under a MAS contract. GSA uses it to reduce the risk that a reseller lists products it cannot actually obtain.
When is an LOS required today?
Under the rules that took effect with Refresh 27, the LOS requirement is limited to:
- Information Technology product offerings, and
- Printing and Photographic Equipment offerings (subcategory A10 under Office Management),
and, in general, only for products from manufacturers that are not participating in the Verified Products Portal. For other SINs and categories, GSA no longer requires the letter at submission.
Because GSA updates solicitation language with each refresh, always check the current offer instructions (SCP-FSS-001) and the SIN-specific requirements for your offering. If your case is unclear, ask your contracting officer.
What is the Verified Products Portal and why does it matter here?
The Verified Products Portal is GSA’s system through which manufacturers can register and verify information about their products for the MAS program. When a manufacturer participates, GSA can rely on the portal’s information, which reduces the paperwork resellers otherwise carry. If a manufacturer you resell is not in the portal, you should ask whether they will join, or whether the LOS rule applies to your SIN.
Do resellers still need manufacturer authorization if no LOS is required?
Even where GSA does not require a letter at submission, you should still keep your own records that show you are authorized to sell the products and can obtain them. If a buyer, auditor, or contracting officer asks, you should be able to show that authorization. Your contract obligations, including Trade Agreements Act compliance where applicable, do not go away. See Trade Agreements Act Compliance for GSA MAS Contracts.
How do you plan for this in your offer?
- List the manufacturers whose products you plan to offer.
- Check whether each participates in the Verified Products Portal.
- Identify which of your SINs, if any, still call for an LOS.
- For manufacturers that need to provide letters, start early. Some are unfamiliar with the request.
For the content of a letter and tips on getting one, see What Goes in a GSA Letter of Supply.
Letter of Supply FAQs
Answers about manufacturers, letter timing, and product additions.
Common reseller questions
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Do manufacturers need an LOS?
The LOS is a reseller document. Manufacturers who sell direct under their own contract generally do not need one, but they may need to meet other requirements, such as product verification.
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Does an LOS expire?
The instructions or your contracting officer may specify a timing expectation, such as a recent date. Check the current SCP-FSS-001 and ask your contracting officer if the letter is more than a few months old.
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What if a manufacturer refuses to give me a letter?
Escalate to a government or channel sales contact at the manufacturer. If they still decline, you may not be able to offer that brand under the affected SIN.
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Does the LOS affect modifications?
If you add products from a new manufacturer through a modification and the rule applies, you may need the letter for that addition. Confirm in eMod and with your contracting officer.
Plan your MAS product offer
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