GETTING ON THE GSA SCHEDULE
What NAICS Code Do I Need for a GSA Schedule?
You do not choose a single NAICS code for a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract. You choose Special Item Numbers (SINs), and each SIN is associated with one or more North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. Your job is to confirm those codes, make sure your SAM.gov profile is accurate, and check your size status under them.
Which NAICS code should I use?
Use the codes that are listed with the SINs you are proposing, as shown in the current MAS solicitation and GSA’s SIN descriptions. If your company has a primary NAICS code in SAM.gov, it does not have to match every SIN, but your profile should describe your business honestly.
Why does the code matter?
The main reason is size. The SBA assigns each NAICS code a size standard, based on average annual receipts or employees. Whether you count as a small business for a given SIN depends on the standard for the code tied to it. That can affect small business representations in your offer and how buyers consider you for set-asides.
How do I find the right code?
- Pick your SINs first. See GSA MAS Schedule Categories, SINs and How to Get Listed.
- In the MAS solicitation, look up each SIN and note its NAICS code or codes.
- Compare those codes with the list in your SAM.gov registration. Add any that are missing and appropriate.
- Look up the size standard for each code in SBA’s table of size standards.
- Decide whether you are small under each code and make sure your representations match.
What if I am small under one code and not another?
That happens. A company can be small for one SIN and other than small for another. Represent each accurately, and understand that GSA may ask you to confirm size or update it during the contract in accordance with the solicitation.
What are common mistakes?
- Copying a list of “common NAICS codes” from a website instead of the current solicitation
- Adding codes to SAM.gov that do not reflect the business
- Forgetting that size standards change
- Assuming the code determines what you can sell. The SIN does that
What is the difference between NAICS, SIN, and PSC?
Think of them as three different labels for a similar purchase.
SIN
The SIN defines what you can sell on the MAS.
NAICS
The NAICS code classifies the industry and drives size standards.
PSC
The Product Service Code, or PSC, describes what a buyer is purchasing and is used in federal reporting.
NAICS Selection FAQs
Questions about registrations, SINs, and size standards.
Confirming your codes and size
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Can I change my NAICS codes in SAM.gov?
Yes, you can update them when you renew or amend your registration. Changes should reflect your real operations.
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Does a NAICS code guarantee I will be small?
No. Size depends on the standard for the code and your own receipts or employees, calculated under SBA rules.
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Do I need a separate NAICS code for each SIN?
Not necessarily. Several SINs may share a code, and some SINs list more than one code.
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Where can I see the SBA size standards?
SBA publishes a size standards table and a lookup tool. Check it near the time of your offer, since standards are updated.
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